Cover bands have long used their passion to perform the songs their idols once did on the biggest stage. However, a little tavern in Spokane, WA is finding out this may in fact be against the law.
Known as The Flame, this tavern/restaurant has recently been slapped with a lawsuit due to copyright infringement concerning songs that are being performed for night time entertainment. Local attorneys representing the artists involved have asked that the plaintiffs be paid “no more than $30,000 nor less than $750.”
The lawsuit and complaint were released earlier this week in which the attorneys stated, “Neither Defendants, nor any of the Defendants’ agents, servants or employees, nor any performer was licensed by, or otherwise received permission from any Plaintiff or any agent, servant or employee of any Plaintiff to give such performances.”
Songs included in the lawsuit are 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop” and Ludacris’ “Get Back,” along with other records from various artists.
This lawsuit comes in hindsight of the fact that people representing the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) have sent numerous letters expressing their dissatisfaction with the “cover bands” performing without permission or consent.
However, all of this has come as a surprise to the manager of The Flame. When asked about the lawsuit, he stated, “This is the first that we’ve heard about this lawsuit. We won’t comment on it until we’ve had a chance to review it.”
Reported By Edwin Ortiz
