Rogue music firm takes in 200 pubs
At least 200 pubs were supplied by a digital jukebox firm that issued copyrighted tunes without permission, the Morning Advertiser has learnt.
Three bosses of Gateshead-based Access All Areas pleaded guilty or were found guilty of copyright infringement at Newcastle Crown Court this month.
Investigators found copyrighted material worth hundreds of pounds in raids of the firm's offices.
Access All Areas was set up in 2001 and traded under different names including Access All Areas Entertainment, Access All Areas Production, Mixopia and Tracks Alive. It sold and rented audio/visual jukeboxes to pubs and other leisure venues.
Richard Stewart of music licensing body PPL — which led the joint prosecution with the BPI, representing UK recorded music businesses — said: "We're not sure how many pubs used [its systems]. We believe there are 200 at least. We will know more in the next few weeks.
"Following the guilty verdicts, police and the Insolvency Service will be interviewing the directors with a view to winding the company up and seizing its assets."
He said a number of licensees that bought or rented the systems have been told about the prosecutions and offered alternative, legitimate suppliers. Other licensees are to be contacted in due course.
Stewart said a number of licensees gave evidence on PPL's behalf as part of the prosecution.
Two company directors, Malcolm Wylie and William Ross, pleaded guilty to copyright offences on 2 March. Another defendant, Peter Wylie, opted for a trial and was found guilty last week. Sentencing takes place at Newcastle Crown Court on 1 July.
Stewart said: "They traded through a series of phoenix companies, deceiving scores of companies across the UK including hundreds of licensees who in good faith paid substantial sums to the fraudsters."
