Steve Shaw
if it's a radio broadcast that's being played and not a CD or other recording and the people listening are not being charged to do so and the broadcast doesn't substantially effect the prices paid (ie customers are not there for the music) then it's not a copyright infringement under the act.
If it's just a radio they're talking about I'd write back to the cheeky fekers and tell them where to shove their demand as they're taking the p!ss.
EDIT: To save you reading it all here's the appropriate part of the act which I think exempts you from paying for a radio for your staff.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880048_en_1
72 Free public showing or playing of broadcast or cable programme
(1) The showing or playing in public of a broadcast or cable programme to an audience who have not paid for admission to the place where the broadcast or programme is to be seen or heard does not infringe any copyright in—
(a) the broadcast or cable programme, or
(b) any sound recording or film included in it.
(2) The audience shall be treated as having paid for admission to a place—
(a) if they have paid for admission to a place of which that place forms part; or
(b) if goods or services are supplied at that place (or a place of which it forms part)—
(i) at prices which are substantially attributable to the facilities afforded for seeing or hearing the broadcast or programme, or
(ii) at prices exceeding those usually charged there and which are partly attributable to those facilities.
(3) The following shall not be regarded as having paid for admission to a place—
(a) persons admitted as residents or inmates of the place;
(b) persons admitted as members of a club or society where the payment is only for membership of the club or society and the provision of facilities for seeing or hearing broadcasts or programmes is only incidental to the main purposes of the club or society.
please remember that this just 1 persons opinion/interpretation of the rule, not necessarily correct.
i haven't yet had the phone call but would be very interested to know if it was successful in telling them where to get off
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