[Dixielandjazz] ASCAP Launches Infringement Actions

[BillSargentDrums at aol.com]

Press  Release  
Source:  ASCAP 
ASCAP Launches  Infringement Actions against Establishments Performing 
Copyrighted Music without  Permission
Monday January 24, 1:27 pm  ET   
NEW  YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24,  2005--Today, the American Society of  
Composers, Authors and Publishers filed 24 separate copyright infringement  
actions against nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in 15 states and the District 
of  Columbia. These establishments (listed  below) have publicly performed the 
copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's  songwriter, composer and music publisher 
members without receiving their  permission to do so, resulting in lost 
income.  
"Informing business owners  of their obligations under Federal Copyright Law 
is one of ASCAP's key roles,"  said Vincent Candilora, Senior Vice President 
of Licensing at ASCAP. "We provide  any business using music the opportunity to 
receive permission through  acceptance of a license covering the use of over 
8 million copyrighted songs and  compositions, and we make every effort to 
educate business owners concerning  their music licensing responsibilities. If 
our good efforts are ignored, then  our only recourse is legal action."  
During 2004, ASCAP  achieved a 100% success rate with its copyright 
infringement litigation, with  all concluded cases resulting in either a cash 
settlement or a judgment in favor  of ASCAP members. This is significant as ASCAP 
represents over 200,000 member  owners who, for the most part, are songwriters and 
composers who rely heavily on  their ASCAP royalties, as well as ASCAP's 
enforcement efforts on their behalf.  Over 86 cents of every dollar collected is 
distributed to its members, the music  creators.  
According to Vince  Abbatiello, ASCAP Vice President of Sales and Director of 
General Licensing,  "When business owners ignore their obligations and 
violate Federal Copyright  Law, they are actually stealing from the songwriters and 
composers who created  the music compositions that those businesses are using. 
Individual songwriters  and composers are the ultimate small business people, 
working on their own with  limited opportunity for sustained success. We only 
take legal action when all  other means of resolution have been exhausted. 
But when we litigate on behalf of  our members, our success rate is always very 
high. Business owners who ignore  the Copyright Law in the belief that they 
can escape penalty should treat this  very seriously. Don't steal our members' 
music." 
Establishment, City and State:
Challengers, Pelham, AL
Back Porch, Tuscalossa, AL
Hard Dock Cafe, Decatur, AL
Saddlerack, Chandler, AZ
Josh Slocum's, Newport Beach, CA
Joe's Cafe, Branford, CT
Home Nightclub, Washington, DC
Jade, Miami Beach, FL
Estate (f/k/a Nocturnal), Chicago, IL
Hundred South Grille a/k/a 100 South Chop House, Elmhurst, IL
Le Passage/Yow Bar, Chicago, IL
Costello's, Jamaica Plain, MA
Buffalo Billiards, Gaithersburg, MD
American Sports Cafe, St. Paul, MN
Buffalo Tap & Grille, Savage, MN
Soulard Ale House, St. Louis, MO
Gilligan's, Surf City, NC
J. Lindsay's, Columbus, OH
Denim, Philadelphia, PA
R.P. McMurphy's, Holmes, PA
Wolfy's, Nashville, TN
Happy Town Karaoke, Houston, TX
OUI Club, Wichita Falls, TX
Scuttlebutts Restaurant and Bar, Lubbock, TX
About ASCAP   
Established in 1914, ASCAP  is the first and leading Performing Rights 
Organization in the U.S., representing the world's largest  music repertory. ASCAP 
is committed to protecting the rights of its members by  licensing and 
collecting royalties for the public performance of their  copyrighted works, and then 
distributing these fees to the Society's members  based on performances. 
Unlike the other American Performing Rights  Organizations, ASCAP's Board of 
Directors is made up solely of writers and  publishers, elected by the membership 
every two years. Every year ASCAP provides  over $3 million dollars in special 
awards to promising music creators whose  works may be performed in venues that 
may not be actively surveyed. And the  ASCAP Foundation, established in 1975 
by ASCAP members, has the mission of  nurturing new talent and promoting music 
education. It has assisted countless  aspiring music creators in career 
development and fulfillment. 
 
____________________________________

Contact: 
     ASCAP
     Pauline Stack, 212-621-6278
     _pstack at ascap.com_ (mailto:pstack at ascap.com)