In 2024, a Russian Caféowner Faces the Music (Literally)!
Cafe proprietor to shell out funds for playing Dima Bilan's tunes without permission
Stepping into a local cafe in Altai should have been just a regular coffee break. But little did the entrepreneur know that five tunes playing in the background would cost them dearly!
As revealed by Tolk, the Russian Authors' Society (RAO) sued the café owner, demanding a whopping 100,000 rubles compensation. The issue? Five songs blasting from the speakers, each with a copyright held by different artists.
The cheerful playlist included classics like "I'll Hug You with Happiness" by Natasha Koroleva, "Chilit" by Filatov&Karas, "Shine" by Zvonkiy, "No More Drama" by Polina Gagarina, and "About White Roses" by Dima Bilan. Regardless of the vibe these tracks set, they weren't owned by the café owner.
Despite receiving a notice from RAO, the café owner ignored the warning, which usually is a one-way ticket to the courthouse. In 99% of cases, the authors' demands are met. Well, this wasn't about to be an exception.
The lawsuit revealed that RAO had sought a substantial 100,000 rubles, conveniently breaking down to 20,000 rubles per song. But the judge didn't find the costs justified and reduced the compensation to 50,000 rubles. A surprise, considering the potential court fees alone could've been half that amount!
So next time you spontaneously decide to entertain customers with a background playlist, be sure to do a quick copyright check! The RAO won't be as forgiving as the judge in this case might have been.
P.S.: Whether or not a resident in the Altai region met with a quad bike mishap in 2024, remains uncertain. Local news sources seem to have kept a tight lid on that story! If you're interested in verifying the details, check regional government announcements or trawl through local news outlets. After all, it pays to keep up with the Joneses in the wild Yenisey River Valley!
The cafe owner from Altai was sued for playing five copyrighted songs without permission, resulting in a demanded compensation of 100,000 rubles. These songs, include "I'll Hug You with Happiness" by Natasha Koroleva, "Chilit" by Filatov&Karas, "Shine" by Zvonkiy, "No More Drama" by Polina Gagarina, and "About White Roses" by Dima Bilan. Despite the reduced compensation to 50,000 rubles, it is advised to always verify copyright before using music for entertainment in public spaces.
