Any pub, club, cafe, restaurant or hotel, which plays recorded music or music videos in their venue, infringes copyright unless appropriately licensed by Phonographic Performance Ltd (known as PPL).
In 2005 – 2006 the licensed trade was hit by a massive 403% increase in tariff charges made by PPL. These high charges were still being faced by the beleaguered sector more than 4 years later. There was some good news last week, however, when a long-running dispute, concluded in favour of the licensed trade. This will mean that the PPL now have to pay back part of those charges dating back to 2005, which were deemed unfair by a case brought to the Copyright Tribunal. At the same time the British retail sector will also benefit from the refunds for music played in shops and stores.