Melbourne Bar Fined For Playing Popular Tracks Without Correct Licence

A Melbourne bar has been found guilty of infringing copyright laws by playing popular tracks without the correct licence. 

According to ABC, Hairy Little Sista and Hairy Canary owner Kristine Becker and her company "were found to have infringed copyright by not obtaining a licence to play music." 

Tracks played in the bar included The Ballad of John & Yoko by The Beatles, Be My Baby & Saturday Night by Bay City Rollers, Blow by Blossoms and more, as well as tracks from Australian acts Last Dinosaurs (Andy) and Atlas Genius (Stockholm).

As well as being ordered to stop playing the nine songs, Judge Julia Baird also ordered Becker & Hairy Little Sista Pty Ltd to play $185,000 in damages plus costs, saying that Becker had "ignored" up to 40 phone calls and "some 20 letters and 18 emails" from PPCA in regards to the venue obtaining a licence.

"The respondents [Ms Becker and Hairy Little Sista Pty Ltd] appear to have either acted in a flagrant disregard of copyright, or at least to have turned a blind eye or put their 'head in the sand'," said Judge Baird.

It was also noted that Becker had attempted to obtain a licence back in 2014 but that the "the negotiation stalled".

“PPCA welcomes the judgement," said a PPCA spokesperson when approached by The Music for comment. 

"It demonstrates the importance of upholding the rights of our licensor artists and record labels.”