PHILADELPHIA -- The owners of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania diner and bar were recently sued for alleged copyright infringement related to the public playing of certain songs.
Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), Boy Meets Girl Music, Music Power, Rondor Music International, Inc., Stone Diamond Music Corp. and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Oct. 19 alleging that Flavor Saver, Inc., doing business as Silk City; and Mark and Thomas Bee violated federal copyright laws by publicly playing certain songs without their consent.
The plaintiffs allege that since May 2013 they have submitted more than 130 cease-and-desist notices to the defendants demanding they stop performing their music. The songs include Baby Don't You Do It, I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me, Papa was a Rollin' Stone, Respect, You Can't Hurry Love and Express Yourself.
The plaintiffs are seeking an order preventing the defendants from publicly playing its music, financial damages, punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs. The plaintiffs are represented by Stanley H. Cohen of Caesar Rivise, PC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case no. 15-cv-05670.