N.J. Restaurant Denies It Infringed Musical Compositions in BMI Repertoire

Maggie’s Bar and Grill in Jackson, New Jersey, denies the allegations of BMI and five music publishers that it engaged in willful copyright infringement through the public performance of six musical compositions in the BMI repertoire (see 2306080044), said the establishment’s answer Monday (docket 3:23-cv-03135) in U.S. District Court for New Jersey in Trenton. The musical compositions performed at Maggie’s were “licensed use,” or fair use, it said. The six musical compositions “have been performed in public venues with such frequency and duration that they are now part of the public domain,” said the establishment.