TAMPA – Music entertainment companies allege a Wesley Chapel restaurant has been publicly performing their compositions without paying a license fee.
Broadcast Music Inc., Probnoblem Music, Coral Reefer Music, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., et al. filed a complaint on May 10 in the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida against Prime Bar Tampa LLC and Roger Greenfield alleging violation the United States Copyright Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that they suffered and will continue to suffer great and incalculable damages unless a decision is rendered in their favor. The plaintiffs holds Prime Bar Tampa LLC and Greenfield responsible because the defendants allegedly directly infringed musical compositions from the BMI repertoire by playing them in live performances without paying a license fee.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek enjoining and restraining the defendants from infringing, in any manner, the copyrighted musical compositions licensed by BMI, compensation for statutory damages, attorney’s fees and costs and any further relief that is just and equitable. They are represented by Zachary D. Messa of Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP in Clearwater and by Frank R. Jakes of the same firm in Tampa.
Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida Case number 8:16-cv-01162