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METER PLA UPDATE EDITION EDITION :' Volume 5, 5, Number Number 2 2 Volume February 1, February 1, 1979 1979 ·1 I ASCAP sues ASCAP sues five five more more operators, operators, BMI plans action similar action plans similar BMI Five lawsuits lawsuits for for copyright copyright ininFive fringement against against jukebox jukebox operators operators fringement for failure for failure to to comply comply with with the the compulsory license of the new new the of compulsory license copyright law law have have been been brought brought by by copyright members of the American members of the American Society Society of of Composers, Authors, Authors, and and Publishers Publishers Composers, (ASCAP) . (ASCAP). These suits, suits, brought brought against against opeopeThese Ohio, rators in in Michigan, Michigan, Minnesota, Minnesota, Ohio, rators and Pennsylvania, follow ASCAP's ASCAP's and Pennsylvania, follow recent resolution resolution of recent of infringement infringement claims against against aa New New York York jukebox jukebox claims operator in in the the first first such such suit suit under under operator the new new copyright copyright law. law . the to obtain obtain the the compulsory compulsory Failure to Failure license subjects subjects the the jukebox jukebox operator operator license full liability liability for for infringement infringement under under to full to the copyright copyright law. law . If If aa court court finds finds the has occurred, occurred, damages damages infringement has infringement for each each song song performed performed range range from from for $250 to to $10,000. $250 $10,000. The operators operators sued sued in in the the five five The actions are actions are as as follows: follows: North North AmeriAmerican Interstate, Interstate, Inc. Inc . of of Berkley, Berkley, can and Michigan ; Thiesen Thiesen Vending, Vending, Inc. Inc. and Michigan; Thiesen Music Music Company, Company, Inc. Inc . of of Thiesen Burnsville, Minnesota; Minnesota; DVM, DVM, Inc. Inc. Burnsville, and Dahlco Dahlco Music Vending and Music and and Vending Company of Paul, Minnesota; Minnesota; Company of St. St. Paul, Sanford Brown Brown & & Carl Brown, Sanford Carl Brown, and d/b/a, d/ b/ a , Cleveland, Cleveland, individually and individually Ohio; and and Gerardo Gerardo P. P . Marchese, Marchese, Ohio; individually and and d/b/a, d/ b/ a , Export, Export, individually Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. In the the first first lawsuit, lawsuit, the the jukebox In jukebox operator, Paramount Paramount Cigarette Cigarette and and operator, Entertainment Corp Corp of of New New York York Entertainment pay City, was was reportedly reportedly required required to to pay City, ASCAP an undisclosed sum "in four four ASCAP an undisclosed sum "in figures ," in in addition addition to to registering registering its its figures," jukeboxes under under the the compulsory compulsory jukeboxes jukebox copyright copyright law. law. jukebox BMI, another another performing performing rights rights BMI, society, last last month month advertised advertised that that itit society, too would would "begin "begin taking taking legal legal action action too against unregistered unregistered jukeboxes jukeboxes and and against operators who who are are infringing infringing upon upon operators those [copyright] [copyright) rights." rights ." those In its its announcement, announcement, BMI BMI added In added that "these "these actions actions may may begin begin rather rather that abruptly. " abruptly." The responsibility responsibility for for uncovering uncovering The those in in violation violation with with the the new new law law those not with with the the federal federal government government rests not rests but rather rather with with the the three three performing performing but SESAC, rights societies-ASCAP, rights societies-ASCAP, SESAC, and BMI. BMI . and In aa related related matter, matter, the the U.S. U.S . In Copyright Office Office has has mailed mailed to to all Copyright all those operators operators who who registered registered their their those the application jukeboxes last year the jukeboxes last year application forms for for re-registering re-registering their their boxes boxes forms again this this year. year. The The licenses licenses which which again operators purchased purchased last last year year exexoperators who still pired December December. 31. 31. Those Those who pired still haven't received received·their their forms forms for for their their haven't 1979 licenses licenses should the 1979 should write write the Licensing Division, Division, U.S. U.S. Copyright Copyright Licensing Office , Library Library of of Congress, Congress, WashWashOffice, 20557. ington, D.C. D.C. 20557. ington, Williams heartened Williams heartened by by AMOA reception reception AMOA Williams Electronics, lnc.'s Willia ms Inc.'s Electronics, "flashy" display display at A.M.O.A. "flashy" at the the A.M.O.A. convention in in Chicago Chicago in in November November convention has Williams executives confident confident the the has Williams executives will begin begin 1979 1979 with with aa surge surge and and firm will firm continue the the momentum momentum achieved achieved in in continue the past past year. year. the Highlighted by by the the introduction introduction of Highlighted of the flipper flipper Flash Flash (which (which is is scheduled scheduled the for production production this this spring) spring) amid amid for flashing strobe strobe lights lights and and aa new, new, flashing the Williams Williams colorful island island exhibit, exhibit, the colorful A.M.O .A. display display also also featured featured a a A.M.O.A. the special talking pinball machine, special talking pinball machine, the new widebody widebody flipper flipper Pokerino, Pokerino , the the new eye-catching flipper flipper Phoenix, Phoenix, the the eye-catching new shuffle shuffle alley alley Pompeii Pompeii and and the the new latest William pinball offerings latest William pinball offerings ConContact and and Disco Disco Fever. Feuer. Colorful Colorful tact Williams T-shirts T-shirts and and stickers stickers also also Williams were distributed distributed to to booth booth visitors. visitors. were "The exhibit exhibit was "The was packed packed with with people from from the the moment moment we we opened opened people at noon noon on on Friday Friday until until closing closing at 4 at at 4 Sunday," stated stated Williams Williams PresiPresip .m. Sunday," p.m. dent Michael Michael Stroll. Stroll . "In "In fact, fact , people people dent still were were lined lined up up playing playing the the games games still had to to shut down. " when we we had when shut down." Williams' A.M.O.A. A.M.O .A. show show weekweekWilliams' end was was capped capped with with aa cocktail cocktail party party end and buffet buffet for for special special company company and guests at Continental Plaza guests at the the Continental Plaza Hotel Hotel in Chicago. Chicago. in We're The Hot One! Williams ELECTRONICS, INC. Flashing lights colorful Flashing lights and and aa new new colorful booth attracted attracted crowds crowds to to island booth island Williams ~ exhibit exhibit and and game game display display at at Williams' the A.M.O.A. Show in in Chicago the A.M.O.A. Show Chicago in in Nove mbe r. November.