THE State's publicans, hoteliers and night club owners were facing a £2 million retrospective bill for music copyright charges, a court has been told.
Yesterday Judge James Carroll, in the Circuit Civil Court, adjourned a publican's appeal against a £5,000 award in the District Court in favour of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) to allow the High Court time to determine a number of overlapping issues regarding IMRO's alleged abuse of a dominant position in the music market, its claim to exclusive copyright, and questions relating to agreements and charges.
Mr John Gordon SC, for Ms Bridie O'Sullivan, owner of the Tatler Jack pub in Killarney, said it was asserted by the Performing Rights Society (PRS) and IMRO that nobody could effectively play music in this State without paying royalties to them, because they held the copyright to the vast majority of music works.
Mr Gordon said that proceedings before the High Court would have a direct bearing on many of the issues which had been canvassed in the District Court and which would be the subject of the Circuit Court appeal.
Ms O'Sullivan had appealed a decision of Judge Thelma King in the District Court ordering her to pay increased royalties on traditional Irish music played in her pub.