The Law…
“By statutory definition, since a corporation or other company is a place ‘where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered,’ (17 U.S.C. SECTION 101) it is a public place for copyright purposes. Whether the performance is by the playing of a CD or tape, by a radio tuned to a particular station or via music-on-hold (which constitutes a public performance by virtue of its being a transmission to the public) permission must first be obtained in order for the use of that music to be lawful.”
The Organizations…
“Songwriters and music publishers are represented by two companies…Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). They’re performing rights organizations, as they are formally known, representing the writers and publishers who own the copyrights.”
The Penalties…
“The law allows copyright owners to receive as damages for infringement between $500 and $20,000 for each work infringed. Moreover, a corporate officer who has the right or ability to supervise the company’s music use and who has a direct financial interest in the corporation can be held personally liable for the infringement.”
The Answer…
ON HOLD:32! All licensing fees are included in all of ON HOLD:32’s Message and Music on-hold programs.
919.847.5432
Why can't I just plug a radio or
CD player into my phone system?
