Banglamung District will act as a mediator between music-copyright holders and Pattaya-area entertainment venues to resolve long-running conflicts over paying to play tunes.
Deputy District Chief Chatchai Sriphoon said Sept. 21 that a meeting will be scheduled to address complaints by bars and clubs that collection agents – both real and fake – continue to pester them over paying just to play music in their businesses. Many times, bar owners complain, they’re being forced to pay multiple times for the same license.
Meanwhile, music companies claim they’re losing out on revenue legally guaranteed them and have threatened to sue entertainment venues.
Banjong Banthoonprayuk, a former Pattaya city councilman and now president of Pattaya Music Association, said copyright holders want to find an amicable resolution, as some bars had been paying fake agents for as many as 10 years.
Chai Mongkol, manager of Kaffa Music Co., who collects fees on behalf of MPC Co., said his employees help entertainment establishments fairly apprise copyright values and compromises with business owners to reach a fair payment.
He said MPC has sued businesses, through its legal arm Taka Co., but Kaffa wasn’t a party to any lawsuits.
Deputy District Chief Prapan Prathumcumpu said even hotels and restaurants need to know about music copyrights and pay to play songs.
Representatives from copyright collection companies and Ministry of Commerce will be invited to explain relevant laws. So many businesses are involved that the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium may be needed to host the meeting.
 |
 |
