PPL letter defends trade relationship

08-Dec-2011 - Last updated on 08-Dec-2011 at 09:23 GMT

Related tags Ppl Royalties

Note of concern: PPL denies being ‘litigious bunch’

PPL, the music royalties collection firm, has hit back at accusations that it considers the pub trade as a “handy source” of revenue and is a “litigious bunch”.

In a letter to the PMA, PPL, which collects royalties on behalf of performers and record companies, said it would “like to set the record straight”. It claimed it always tries to avoid court action and is not targeting the pub trade as a source of revenue.

It was sent in response to a column by legal editor Peter Coulson (PMA, 24 November 2011), claiming PPL has complex tariffs which need reviewing, targets the trade as a source of “handy” income and is “happy to go to law whenever it suits them”.

Coulson said: “I get the impression that they (PPL) are wolves in sheep’s cloth-ing when it comes to the licensed trade, seeing pubs and clubs as a handy source of regular income.”

PPL has recently come under fire for its proposal to increase fees for its specially featured entertainment (SFE) by up to 4,000%.

Coulson welcomed news that the consultation is to be extended but said this was a “war of attrition” as it was a “matter of time” before PPL targets the trade again. He supported calls from British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds for a voluntary code on musical copyright fees.

PPL has responded strongly, claiming it has “little choice” but to take legal action in some cases.

It said: “To call us a ‘litigious bunch’ is incorrect and is grossly unfair. We go to great lengths to avoid court proceedings but despite our best efforts [some] music users simply refuse to pay when they use our members’ sound recordings to enhance business.”

PPL supports voluntary codes of practice, publishes tariffs which could “hardly be simpler” on its website and has an independent complaints review service.