Legal Issues With Using Laptop?

[Dave James 0]

Hi,

 

I'm new to this board, i don't have a mobile disco, i play in bars and clubs who already have an install... however, i wondered if any of you have encountered something which happened to me last night?

 

I was sent home from a venue last night... for playing out with a laptop ! I've never played at this place before, but they are part of a national chain and i've never had an issue at any of their other locations.

 

The manager told me that he could be fined upswards of £50,000 if PRS descovered that I was playing music from a laptop. I am a member of PRS, and have never had any information to support this.

 

Have you experienced any thing similar? I've been using the laptop for 12 months, and have never had an issue with licensing or venues insisting that all music is played from Cd.

 

Cheers

Dave

[TonyB 0]

Hi,

 

I'm new to this board, i don't have a mobile disco, i play in bars and clubs who already have an install... however, i wondered if any of you have encountered something which happened to me last night?

 

I was sent home from a venue last night... for playing out with a laptop ! I've never played at this place before, but they are part of a national chain and i've never had an issue at any of their other locations.

 

The manager told me that he could be fined upswards of £50,000 if PRS descovered that I was playing music from a laptop. I am a member of PRS, and have never had any information to support this.

 

Have you experienced any thing similar? I've been using the laptop for 12 months, and have never had an issue with licensing or venues insisting that all music is played from Cd.

 

Cheers

Dave

 

Have a look at http://www.djlicence.org.uk/. If you are using ripped CD's, technically your are in breach of copyright. Previous attempt by the PRS to introduce a license flopped due to unacceptable terms, price and it wasn't suitable for how a DJ works.

 

The MCPS is now trying to pick up where the PRS left off but as far as I am aware there is no requirement at the moment to have a license.

 

[Ste Owens 0]

Ive never heard of anything like that before... Sounds like you had a bit of bad luck mate, although if that ever happend to me I have CDs with me always aswell incase.

 

Ste

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

The MCPS is now trying to pick up where the PRS left off but as far as I am aware there is no requirement at the moment to have a license.

 

 

there is a requirement by the PRS to have one if you play with a laptop.. and the manager is correct about his licence.

 

however so far not many places have stoped a DJ playing becuase the PRS have not enforced this.

 

maybe the PRS have decided to tell all the licence holders about the licence last week or somthing and now managers all over england are about to sack there laptop DJs..

 

but i doubt its gping to happen...

 

[robbiedj 0]

there is a requirement by the PRS to have one if you play with a laptop.. and the manager is correct about his licence.

 

 

 

There is no PRS licence at this time in reference to use of laptop, nor MCPS These two bodies are currently in negotion with the LWP to produce a suitable licence.

 

PPL licence was suspended last year and has so far not been replaced as talks are still on-going.

 

There is no reason to ban a laptop dj with legal downloads. If music is ripped from cds you must have an SG6 licence from MCPS to do this legally, until a genuine "DJ" licence is brought out.

 

If you are having a problem with a national chain please pm me their name and the venue concerned and, as a member of the LWP, I will look into it for you.

[Gary 0]

I heard talk last month that (during the BPM show) that the chain "LLoyds No.1 bars" (smae? chain as "Wetherspoons"...only noisier ) had informed it's venues by newsletter about watching out for entertainers using copied/handwritten/sticky labelled CD's and also laptops as such usage could get the venues music license revoked/cancelled.

 

I've not seen the newsletter, so don't know exaclty what it refered to. Fingers crossed, the same newsletter reminded venue managers to ask to see the entertainers PAT and PLI proof too...hmmm

 

The pubs etc, are slow on the uptake - but I would expect most pubs etc would be having more DJ nights during December, than any other month - so, it's well timed advice, albeit incomplete.

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

PPL licence was suspended last year and has so far not been replaced as talks are still on-going.

 

that doesnt change the fact that a DJ using copied music is breaking the terms of the venues PRS/PPL licence

 

so the manager is correct to ban laptop useage if its possible a DJ has copied music on there..

 

(yes i know legal down loads are ok)

 

but its not easy for a landlord to tell the difference..

 

so to protect his licence he is making sure the DJ uses original music or thinks he is. as we all know its easy to burn CDs and steal music..

 

Its about time these bars started to check up on DJs ... there would be a lot more work out there and the wages would go up..

[robbiedj 0]

that doesnt change the fact that a DJ using copied music is breaking the terms of the venues PRS/PPL licence

 

so the manager is correct to ban laptop useage if its possible a DJ has copied music on there..

 

(yes i know legal down loads are ok)

 

but its not easy for a landlord to tell the difference..

 

so to protect his licence he is making sure the DJ uses original music or thinks he is. as we all know its easy to burn CDs and steal music..

 

Its about time these bars started to check up on DJs ... there would be a lot more work out there and the wages would go up..

 

If they have an SG6 (as I do) the ripped music is legal and does not breech the PEL regulations.

[Dave James 0]

Thanks for all your replies, makes interesting reading.

 

All the music on my hard drive has been ripped from CD rather than downloaded - the laptop is only used for editing and music playout. I still have the original CDs, but most of them weren't bought - they are promo CD's which record labels send to me for my radio and club work - i have always "assumed" that they wouldn't send free CD's to club DJ's if they didn't want us to play the music in the clubs !

 

I won't name the club chain in question, simply because i have friend who DJ in some of their other venues who wouldn't be happy if their managers heard about this and decided to ban them from using laptops as well !!

 

Since the smoking ban kicked in.... the "automix" feature has become very useful haha !!!

 

Cheers

Dave