ASCAP Hit Multiple U.S. Bars With Copyright Lawsuits
On Monday (February 25) the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) filed a lawsuits against 13 bars and restaurants across the country for copyright infringement, The Baltimore Sun and Associated Press report. Find the list of bars being sued below.
According to court documents viewed by The Baltimore Sun, ASCAP’s suit against Baltimore sports bar Carlos O’Charlies alleges that the establishment played three songs owned by members of ASCAP without obtaining proper licensing on August 4 and 5, 2018. In a statement to The Baltimore Sun, Carlos O’Charlies owner Carlos Cruz reportedly said that the bar licensed music through a Pandora business account. ASCAP is reportedly seeking between $750 and $30,000 for each of the three songs it claims, according to a complaint viewed by The Baltimore Sun.
ASCAP representatives said in a statement:
“ASCAP has made numerous attempts at the establishments listed below to offer a license and educate the business owners about their obligations under federal copyright law. Despite these efforts, the owners of these establishments repeatedly have refused to take or honor a license. Instead, they have continued to perform the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's songwriter, composer and music publisher members for the entertainment of their patrons without obtaining permission to do so.”
Establishments sued by ASCAP:
Bamboula’s - New Orleans, LA
Carlos O'charlies - Baltimore, MD
Cask Social Kitchen - Tampa FL
Flamingo Resort - Saint Petersburg, FL
The Fur Shop - Tulsa, OK
HonkyTonk Saloon - Ladson, SC
Houndstooth Saloon - Chicago, IL
J & M Café - Seattle, WA
Lone Star Bar - Wichita Falls, TX
Nook Amphitheater - Austin, TX
Platforms Dance Club - Boca Raton, FL
Roccapulco - San Francisco, CA
surfer [The Bar] - Jacksonville Beach, FL
