Ex-licensee to pay PRS £9k in damages

09-Mar-2012 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2017 at 21:59 GMT

A former licensee of the now-shut Remix Bar in Woking, Surrey, will have to fork out £9,000 in damages to PRS for Music for failing to have a licence to play music for two years.

Alexander Burns failed to renew his music licence despite attempts by PRS to ensure he had the correct one. PRS for Music said it “ultimately had to take legal action”. The case is one of three in 30 years that PRS has had to take to trial.

Its director of public performance sales, Keith Gilbert, said: “Although taking legal action is never a preferred option we were forced down this path by the owners of Remix, who repeatedly evaded obligations to pay for the music used.

“I am heartened by the recognition of why PRS for Music had to bring legal proceedings. Our role is to protect members’ rights, ensuring businesses that wish to use music can do so easily and are correctly licensed.”

Kevin Prosser, QC, said: “To protect its rights and the interests of its members, PRS must investigate if music is being performed without a licence, and whether licensees are performing music in public in excess of their declared use. As a last resort, PRS brings legal proceedings for non-payment of royalties and for infringing its copyright.”

Burns was unavailable for comment.