PRS and copyright

[Bhasin]

I have been contacted by PRS (Performing Rights Society) demanding that I pay a licence fee because we have TV's in the bed rooms and also a TV in our Breakfast room.

Although they insist that the fee is payable I heard that there is a court case going on and should not pay the fee. I am wondering what they can do if I do not pay the fee.

Regards,

Bobby Bhasin

[KBO]

The arguement is whether once a room is let it is no longer a public room and therefore you do not need a public license to play music etc. Just mention the court case and they should leave you alone. You might have trouble with a TV in the breakfast room though.

[Bhasin]

Thanks,

After a phone call they have sent me a new invoice deducting the amount they want for TVs in bedrooms.

But as you mentioned, they are still insisting on payment for having a TV in our breakfast room. Seeing as this is used just 1 hour per day and just with BBC Breakfast News (for which we already pay the TV licence) I think they are asking for quite a lot.

I have written asking for a reduction considering the short length of time the room is in use. Lets see what happens.

Bobby

[Raincliffe1]

Upon taking over our premises we queried whether we needed to pay the PRS licence. We were told that we pay the licence because music is played either in the dining room/lounge/bar and hotel bedrooms. Also we were advised that it is not a matter of public performance or not, but the fact that music is played - even that which accompanies the adverts between television programmes!!!

A word to the wise - at the time they were persuing the last owner for non payment of this licence and I was also told that they have the power to backdate non payment for up to 5 years, plus they have records of every business on every street. If your neighbour is paying this licence and you are not I would imagine that immediately flags up a query.

[number78]

As I am new to this business this year, I have been watching the comments about PRS on other forums. I took a look at their web site where it quite clearly stated that this property did NOT need one of their licences. A small 8 bed B&B. I have read the terms and conditions of my TV licence and again that states that on a business licence you can have up to 15 TV's on your premises. PRS are sending reminders to the previous owners for renewal, so I contacted them and told them that as a small business with no radio's playing in public areas, I do not need one of their licences, they agreed.

So, I for one will not be paying the PRS no matter how much they may chase me, as far as I am concerned and I have read their conditions, I do not meet the criteria. I got the impression if they think your are concerned and ask if you need one they will say yes, but if you tell them that you dont, they back down.

The TV licence allows for the watching of tv programmes, it does not exclude music payable by seperate licence.

Tell the PRS to take a short walk off a very long pier, I will be, should they pester me.

regards

Jan



I have been contacted by PRS (Performing Rights Society) demanding that I pay a licence fee because we have TV's in the bed rooms and also a TV in our Breakfast room.

Although they insist that the fee is payable I heard that there is a court case going on and should not pay the fee. I am wondering what they can do if I do not pay the fee.

Regards,

Bobby Bhasin

[Starchip]

I am in total agreement with Jan or number78 whatever your first name is.

I have radio/alarm clocks in each room and Freeview (Hah!) TVs. Nothing in the Guest lounge mind. Oops, tell a lie, there is a radio in there.

The only performance that is on public view is my attempts at cooking a breakfast. Lets see them take royalties for that eh?

On a more serious note, this seems to be yet another attempt by some entity to take some of my money. I will not pay. They can come and take my TVs and radios away, I will certify that I have no equipment that is of interest to them before I will give them a penny.

Oh! What about WiFi access? Does PRS have an interest in this method of access to their precious music?

[_Sharpe]

We pay the PRS annually and yesterday we received a request from the DVD Concierge Licence for £55.20 per room annually for allowing guests to use our DVD's. It just goes on and on. What next? No lending of maps or guides without an annual payment?

[imported_Joanna]

So those of you who think one should not have to pay licensing fees, do you give artists free accommodation and free meals?

[_Sharpe]

Is England the only country in the world to make you pay for a TV license? I've lived in Canada, the US, Spain and Gibraltar and I never paid for one. That's because it's a silly idea. I bought the CD's and I paid for the DVD's and if I want to lend them to my guests, they're mine to do with as I wish. Unlike a lot of people, I have never downloaded music or video from the internet for free.

It's a mind set. I make up my own recipes and when guests ask for them, I don't think "How much can I get?" And if I went to your place and you served up something that tasted a lot like a dish my mother prepared, I wouldn't ask you for a fiver.

If I plagarize your novel, then sue for copywright infringement. But if I buy your book, then let me lend it to anyone I choose.

[Jules]

Well said Sharpe, I totally and wholeheartedly agree. It never fails to amaze me how people can think up more and more ways to extract money out of others. It's taking the money and finding a so-called legitimate way of asking for it all over again. Just like double taxation (inheritance tax, e.g.) - you pay your dues then have to pay it all over again.

Coquet Cottages (http://www.coquetcottages.co.uk)