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Lancashire police accused of playing music without a license

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 15 Jun 2008 2:56 User comments (22)

Lancashire police accused of playing music without a license Steve Finnigan, Chief Constable in Lancashire, England seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the Performing Right Society (PRS). Apparently there's been music playing in police stations where people can hear it, and someone at the PRS noticed that no one has paid any licensing fees for it. The PRS is responsible for collecting performance royalties on behalf of composers and publishers in the UK.
In addition to the music that allegedly plays in 34 separate police stations, they're also being accused of allowing employees to listen to it in gyms and at office parties. They've even gone so far as to use unlicensed music for entertaining the public when they get put on hold while calling in.

Since Lancashire Constabulary's head of legal services, Niamh Noone, instructed officers not to discuss what was being played with PRS representatives, the agency decided to take them to court in order to collect back royalties they believe are owed and arrange for proper licensing so that future royalties may be collected in a more timely manner.



Although PRS representatives didn't personally witness the music being played, or in fact get specifics from representatives of the Lancashire Constabulary, based on information gained from police in other areas of the country they feel confident that the violations are taking place in Lancashire. Given Ms Noone's failure to provide them with a compelling argument, or any argument for that matter, why they shouldn't be receiving royalties they're assuming that the Chief Constable agrees with their assessment.

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22 user comments

115.6.2008 03:10
nobrainer
Inactive

Quote:
Although PRS representatives didn't personally witness the music being played, or in fact get specifics from representatives of the Lancashire Constabulary, based on information gained from police in other areas of the country they feel confident that the violations are taking place in Lancashire.
This is a great move by the industry as it will only isolate them even further. Love the tactics though, "other stations do this, so then you must be to".

In the very near future the licensing on music will stipulate that only the purchaser will be allowed to hear the content or you will be committing copy-write infringement.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 15 Jun 2008 @ 3:13

215.6.2008 03:17

don't you just love how ridiculous this sounds?

315.6.2008 03:20

This is definitely going to make the police your friends.

415.6.2008 04:15
jony218
Inactive

hopefully they can get the police cooperation in a timely manner, next time they have to bust some pirates selling cds in the street corner..

515.6.2008 06:45
susieqbbb
Inactive

I have heard of being money hungry but wow this brings it to a new meaning.

Most police stations are on a musak system so if they are on a musak system to listen to music does this mean every time they run the musak radio station they should be sued as well boy oh boy is this stupid.

615.6.2008 08:35

I find it difficult to find any sympathy for The Piggies though - let's face it - if the PRS had evidence that an individual or shop was doing this - The Piggies would be round there in a flash on the front line with hammers to break the door down and then confiscate all the stuff and arrest them.

715.6.2008 11:18

So by this therory, if I have a barbeque with friends and family, and I have a radio playing some cds of mine, I'm commiting the same crime because I'm "entertaining"?

815.6.2008 11:39
tripplite
Inactive

what a waste of time lol!!! i'd hate to have to arrest police men for play music hahahah!

915.6.2008 15:32

Shocking...I hope they all get their collers felt.

Raises some interesting questions regarding playing music in public buildings...

1016.6.2008 01:55

Now this IS funny and ironic. Guess I better get ready for the slam if I play my radio too loud let alone let a friend borrow a cd!

and this just occurred to me.......


They ought to be glad someone is being forced to listen to elevator music. Nothing like the London symphony doing a string rendition of Stairway to Heaven.

edited for spelling.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Jun 2008 @ 1:56

1116.6.2008 02:22

perhaps we should not be so critical and saying GJ @ the cops..
empathizing so they know how we feel..

1216.6.2008 03:44

Originally posted by bhetrick:
So by this therory, if I have a barbeque with friends and family, and I have a radio playing some cds of mine, I'm commiting the same crime because I'm "entertaining"?
yes, a bunch of small stores in Australia got hit with this crap years ago, I believe they simply don't play any music at all any more as they were required to buy a $30,000 a year lic just to play music.

It's getting to be a bad joke on these companies because soon they'll be sueing people for playing the music CD/what ever they paid for just because someone else might hear the song as well.

no wonder some major bands are wanting out of the major studios for this BS.

1316.6.2008 04:00

WTF? where r u guys from? you seriously are not allowed to play music in public? this makes no sence.. I'm confused I guess I'm the only living in the US, they play music in all the stores, resturants, banks, coffee shops, convienience stores ect. In school classrooms Radios are on and even more than that, this is illegal over seas?

1416.6.2008 09:27

Originally posted by Menion:
WTF? where r u guys from? you seriously are not allowed to play music in public? this makes no sence.. I'm confused I guess I'm the only living in the US, they play music in all the stores, resturants, banks, coffee shops, convienience stores ect. In school classrooms Radios are on and even more than that, this is illegal over seas?
I'm not entirely sure about the radio but I hate to tell you that you do need a license to play recored music in a public place or for commercial use, even here in the States!

[url=http://music.muzak.com/assets/pdf/Music-Licensing.pdf][/url]

1516.6.2008 11:52

wow this article is funny on so many different levels.
1. You got cops being sued
2. Sued by a record label
3. Prove that record labels are greedy
4. Now PRS will be hated by all police officers, so who they gonna go after if they cant get the police involved
5. Theres no real proof.
lol I mean comon this cant be real, or can it.
LD

1616.6.2008 12:56

If I play my music loud enough so that my neighbors can hear, then can i have them arrested for illegally listening to copyrighted music?

1716.6.2008 13:00

Originally posted by BludRayne:
If I play my music loud enough so that my neighbors can hear, then can i have them arrested for illegally listening to copyrighted music?

lol, love it

1816.6.2008 13:16
lynchGOP
Inactive

This is TOO FAR. First.........no money is being made. 2nd...........they're the police and the music promotes a 'calming' effect and last............they're the police, a PUBLIC entity meant to serve and protect. It's not like it Macy's playing music to get shoppers in there. Whomever is following this one up also is better off dead!! AND I HATE COPS!!

1916.6.2008 14:53

We have the same rules here in the USA. Many years ago, I worked for a Muzak competitor. Our customers were mostly grocery stores, and doctor's offices, etc. One of our "selling points" was that the potential customer could be fined for playing the radio (or cassettes in those days). With our service, the royalties were covered in the contract. (The same is true with Muzak.)

But, I don't remember anybody actually getting "busted"...

2020.6.2008 10:52

mmmm..........so what happens if your driving down the street playing a CD in your car with the windows open? Its crazy!

2120.6.2008 21:54

this is utter bs. i cant help but laugh at this article. how did the performing right society notice the music playing in the police station? were they being booked for pirating music?

2221.6.2008 08:22

Ah...another article further proving that greed is the great motivator.

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