"...rep from the ASCAPA ...an unannounced visit to his restaurant one night and heard covers of the songs performed by local band."

"Now they're suing Dorr for copyright infringement - and they're seeking payment of between $750 and $30,000 for each song, along with attorney fees."

www.blogs.oregonlive.com/oregonian/newsu...ault.asp?item=214112

It`s a shame someone has to made an example of in this way, as millions of clubs/restuarants/pubs get away with the same. Having not paid for cover versions has to be akin to illegal downloading, but it is too little too late again. PRS/ASCAP forms simply have to be given to venues to fill in, I don`t like this guy at all being made an example of, there are many I would like to see done for similar, but as allways one of the good guys get it.
He was , in this case , running a restuarant and not even thinking about the bands` set.
And whilst I`m ranting, one over the bows of ASCAP...do you not want live music anymore?

In 1913 or 1914 Victor Herbert heard his music performed in a Broadway cafe. He refused to pay for his meal because he didn't get any money for his music.

He informed his publisher (Whitmark & Sons)
and together with other composers & publishers they founded ASCAP.

Our nipper(see thread on Tipsheet) was proud to find his stuff on illegal download,etc, but has learned his lesson.

DJones wrote:
In 1913 or 1914 Victor Herbert heard his music performed in a Broadway cafe. He refused to pay for his meal because he didn't get any money for his music.

He informed his publisher (Whitmark & Sons)
and together with other composers & publishers they founded ASCAP.
I'd often heard the same story about a French composer in Paris. Hmm. Mythe urbain?

...and I heard it was Burt Bacharach.

If it was French it wouldn't be the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, would it?

Yes, the french were first. SACEM had a US-Bureau before ASCAP.

The story about the restaurant may be a myth - but will in 100 years anyone believe the story of Lars Ulrich walking into the Napster offices with hundred thousands of IP-Addresses printed out on paper?