The owners of a bar in Stafford have been fined over £1,000 for playing copyright music without a licence. Ian Alxander and Edward Woodcock, proprietors of the Pulse Bar in Wellington Street, have also been banned from playing any music in the bar until their music licences are up to date. The ban was imposed by Mr Justice Lewison at London’s High Corut after he was told that the pair were caught playing copyrighted music without a licence. Failure to obey the order and turn any premises they run 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 two years prison for any individuals responsible. As a result of the proceedings, Alexander and Woodcock, who were not represented in court, must also pay the legal bill within 14 days. The pay-up or shut-up order was imposed after the judge heard that they were caught by a PPL inspector playing music on the premises when they did not hold a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence. The PPL is the London-based UK music industry service organisation which licenses recorded music and music videos for public performance, broadcast and new media use. Jessie Bowhill said that a PPL inspector had attended the premises on June 20 and heard tracks being played including “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, “Back In The USSR” by the Beatles, “Lay Your Hands On Me” by Bon Jovi, “Run To The Hills” by Iron Maiden and “Fairground” by Simply Red, even though no licence was in force. She said that solicitors had sent letters to the premises informing them of the nature and extent of PPL’s repertoire and the fact that the playing in public of sound recordings without PPL’s licence or permission constitutes infringement of its copyright, and inviting them to acquire a licence. A spokesperson for PPL said: “Whenever you play a sound recording in public, there are two separate licence fees to be paid. PPL distributes its licence fees to record companies, recording artists and musicians, and the Performing Rights Society collects a separate licence fee which they distribute to composers and music publishers. “A licence is required for any event except a family or domestic gathering..” | 
