Dental practices require licences to play music
The MDDUS has stated that dentists playing music in their practice must have relevant licences, or risk legal proceedings.
Dental practices must pay licence fees towards PPL and PRS for Music so that they can legally play music on their premises.
The cost of these licences depend on several factors, including the size of the dental practice, and how the recorded music is used in the business.
A PRS for Music spokesperson said that “The law in the UK clearly provides that the performance and playing in public of works, sound recordings, films or broadcasts, is an act restricted by copyright and exercisable only with the consent of the copyright owner.”
‘Therefore,” they continued, “PRS for Music has the right to license businesses who use PRS members’ musical works in this way.”
The warnings regarding the licence requirements come after Dentistry.co.uk reported the case of Società Consortile Fonografici v Marco Del Corso. This case found that broadcasting music within dental practices in Italy does not entitle the practice pay remuneration.
The Court of Justice of the European Union told Dentistry.co.uk that because this judgement was made in the Court of Justice, it would apply to all EU member states.
MDDUS head of dental division, Aubrey Craig, stated that “Any business that plays recorded music in public is legally required to have relevant licences – and dental practices are no different.”
“There are two types of licences protecting different copyright owners,” Craig went on to note. “Practitioners need to have both of these licences in order to have permission to play recorded music in waiting areas.”
“Regardless of whether the radio, CD, MP3 or other form of music is played, the licences need to be paid to protect the copyright of those who create, produce and publish the music or performances,” Craig concluded.
