PPL phone call received and claiming i need to pay to watch TV

sniper786

Hi all,

I was in my shop yesterday when i received a call asking to speak to the owner, i should know better as we get about a dozen silly telemarketing calls daily, but i told him yes i was the owner.

He said he was calling from PPL (i had never heard of them) and asked me what was on in the background and i thought this was a bit strange but i told him the TV is on in the back shop. He then said they cover music copyright holders and commercial enterprises need to pay a license to play copyrighted music - however we don't play the radio at all just i watch TV in the back if the shop is quiet. We already pay a license fee so this seems ridiculous.

I advised him if i had to pay a fee of £148 then i would just get rid of the TV but he said they will have to send the invoice out anyway. Is there anything i can do or argue or am i resigned to losing my TV as there is no way i am paying the fee.

P.S. The sneaky manner in which they phoned and the general conduct of the operator was not professional at all.

paulwf

I think this covers a lot of it:

http://www.ppluk.com/I-Play-Music/Businesses/Why-do-I-need-a-licence/

From that page it says they regard recorded music on the TV the same as from any other source. You're playing it in a commercial setting (i.e. non domestic) so will need a license. PPL licenses should be arranged up front so even if you stop using the TV now they might try and bill you for previous use.

Sorry that's not what the answer you'd like, basically if you're playing music at work in any format a PPL license is normally required.

Mistral001

This subject comes up quite often on this forum, but enforcement of the PPL laws seems to be usually done by officers visiting the workplace etc.

This seems like a new development. It is sneaky and underhand in my view. I would take it up at the highest level with the PPL. I would even maybe try to contact some of the musican's and performers organisations as it is they who get the money. They might not be too pleased that underhand mathods are being used. Then again they might think that anything goes as long as they get their money.

Slinky

It's not a new development, it's the way PPL and PRS have been operating for years. I had PRS phone me a while ago fishing for the same sort of thing. I work from home so nothing for me to pay, but this is a standard way they operate.

sequence

If the tv is in the back of the shop, and not visible by customers, then surely this doesn't apply ?

paulwf

sequence wrote: »

If the tv is in the back of the shop, and not visible by customers, then surely this doesn't apply ?

It is playing music in the workplace that counts, not whether or not customers can hear it. There are a range of tarrifs but the general rule is any (copyrighted) music in a workplace requires a license.

The "do I need a license" section at http://www.ppluk.com/I-Play-Music/Businesses/Why-do-I-need-a-licence/ has more info.

paulwf

sequence wrote: »

If the tv is in the back of the shop, and not visible by customers, then surely this doesn't apply ?

To follow up by looking at the FAQ's if the shop is run by a lone worker and the music can't be heard by customers than PPL and PRS may not require a license. My understanding is for more than one worker a license will be required though. Just call them up, they are usually helpful in my experience.

paulwf

BTW you may need a PRS license as well.

Sorry for all the posts!