Employers could be liable to pay royalties for staff radios

Currently in court, a case is taking place in which the Performing Rights Society (PRS) is suing a car repair firm for unpaid royalties because its employees listen to radios at work. The PRS collects royalties - to which they are entitled by law - for songwriters and performers, including the fees for public performance and recordings. The organisation claims that playing music at work is a public performance, and businesses should therefore pay a fee. Background music during work hours, at meals and breaks throughout the premises should also be paid for, or businesses face charges of infringing copyright.

The car fitters, a well-known chain, wanted the case thrown out. They argued they have banned their mechanics using personal radios at work for ten years. But the PRS has carried out over 250 inspections of the service centres throughout the UK since 2005 and says that staff, colleagues and customers could all hear music 'blaring' from employees' radios.

In allowing the case to be heard, the judge said: "The allegations are of a widespread and consistent picture emerging over many years whereby routine copyright infringement in the workplace was, or inferentially must have been, known to and 'authorised' or 'permitted' by local and central management."

Fees for music at work do not currently include the use of on-hold music for telephone systems, and music at work social events is charged differently.

Operative date: To be announced