Broadcast Music, Inc. v. Clark, Civil Action No 1:23-cv-03657-LMM (N.D. Ga. Aug. 17, 2023)

A group of owners of music rights led by Broadcast Music, Inc., has brought a copyright suit in the Northern District. Plaintiffs accuse Defendant Stephen Clark, an individual who operates an establishment known as Old Fountain Tavern, of infringing various copyrights by publicly performing certain musical compositions that are the subject of their copyrights at his establishment.

The Complaint alleges Plaintiff BMI contacted Clark over forty times “in an effort to educate the Defendant as to his obligations under the Copyright Act with respect to the necessity of purchasing a license for the public performance of musical compositions in the BMI Repertoire.” Dkt. 1 ¶ 17.  Defendant allegedly failed to comply.  As such, Plaintiff alleges six claims of willful copyright infringement under the Act.  Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief, statutory damages, and costs in association with its claims.

The case has been assigned to Judge Leigh Martin May.