A BAGUIO-BASED businessman was charged by a group of song writers and composers for allegedly violating the Intellectual Property law.
Restaurateur Moises Cating was sued on June 17 by the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc. (Filscap) for 121 counts of alleged copyright infringements.
Cating was accused by Filscap of refusing to pay for license and performance fees due copyright owners.
License fees are collected from establishments that play songs composed and arranged by members of the Filscap, a non-stock, non-profit corporation formed to collect, in behalf of artists, fees for use of works protected by copyright.
Filscap is seeking a payment of close to P600,000 representing nominal damages, compensatory or actual damages, exemplary damages and litigation expenses.
The complaint signed by Filscap counsel Thursday Alciso alleged that Cating, as owner of several restaurants here, have been playing background music for its customers but does not pay license fees to Filscap.
Alciso claimed that despite repeated demands for Cating to pay, "he refuses, and continues to refuse to pay."
The final demand letter was issued to Cating in March last year. Filscap alleged that Cating committed to stop playing music in his restaurants and to study Filscap's claims.
Despite the lapse of over a year, Cating allegedly continued to play copyrighted music in his restaurants.
Sun.Star Baguio tried to call Cating for his comment but he could not be located both in his office at Session Road and at his residence.