http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060529/APN/605290772
FRESNO, Calif. (AP)
A
second Fresno restaurant faces legal action for allegedly playing songs
copyrighted by famous musicians without paying royalty fees.
Ernesto Vera, owner of Club Fred, was sued by the three surviving members of The
Doors and the parents of the late Jim Morrison for having four of the famed rock
band's tunes on its jukebox without permission.
Also named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit is a music company that owns the rights
to the music of heavy metal group AC/DC.
Richard Reimer, a lawyer for the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers, said Vera ignored letters and other efforts to settle the matter.
The club could play the music legally by paying a fee of less than $1,500, while
the lawsuit seeks between $750 and $30,000 for each song played without
authorization.
Earlier this year, the society sued Porky's, a Fresno rib house, for allegedly
playing licensed songs written by Van Morrison, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams Jr.
and others.
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