Express & Star

Nightclub hit with music ban

A popular nightclub has been banned from playing music after it was caught playing tracks illegally.

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Club Lounge in Church Street, Cannock, was visited by an inspector from royalties collectors Phonographic Performance Ltd in July this year.

Owner Mark Harrison was caught playing recorded copyrighted music at the club when he didn't have a PPL licence.

At London's High Court yesterday, Harrison was banned from playing recorded music at the nightclub and was also ordered to pay £1,667 in legal costs.

Failure to obey the order, and turn the premise into a music-free zone until all licence fees are brought up to date, would be regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to six months in prison.

During the hearing Mr Justice Norris was told that Harrison was caught playing The Night Out by Martin Solveig and We'll Be Coming Back by Calvin Harris and Example during the inspector's visit. Making the order he said: "I am satisfied that the facts support the claim for relief. I will accordingly grant an injunction.

"Costs should follow the event. I am satisfied that the sum of £1,667 is a reasonable and proportionate sum to award in respect of the costs."

PPL's representative Fiona Clark told the hearing that solicitors had sent letters to Harrison informing him of the nature and extent of PPL's repertoire and the fact that playing the music without a PPL licence constituted an infringement of copyright.

However, she said: "We have had no contact."

The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs in PPL's repertoire.

Nazneen Nawaz, spokesperson for PPL, added: "PPL issues licences to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations across the UK when they play recorded music to their staff or customers and therefore require a licence by law.

"Licensees include bars, nightclubs, shops, hotels, offices, factories, gyms, schools, universities and public sector organisations. After the deduction of PPL's running costs, all licence fee income is distributed to members. PPL does not retain a profit for its services."

The club was open as normal on Friday. Mr Harrison was unavailable to comment.

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