Hotels must pay royalties, court rules

THE IRISH Hotels Federation has described as “outrageous” yesterday’s ruling from the European Court of Justice that hotels should pay royalties for the broadcast of recordings on TVs and radios in hotel bedrooms. It would result in extra costs being imposed where many premises are already struggling to survive, the federation said in a statement. 

EU law provides for remuneration for those who produce recordings for commercial purposes, but allows for exemptions for “private use”. The court considered whether such broadcasts in hotel bedrooms were private or public use.

Link (submitted by Lauren)