Bruce Springsteen Sues NYC Pub for Copyright Infringement

Posted on Feb 4th 2010 12:45PM by Emily Tan
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UPDATE: Springsteen's representatives announced that the singer was not involved in the filing of the ASCAP lawsuit against the bar and has since asked that his name be removed from it.

It's cool to get bands to cover Bruce Springsteen's songs, but you've got to pay for it. The Daily News reports that the iconic rocker is suing Connolly's Pub and Restaurant in New York City for copyright infringement after the bar hosted a band that played 'Grown' Up,' 'Because the Night' and 'You're No Good,' and charged patrons cover to see them on Aug. 9.

The songs were written by Springsteen and Clinton Ballard, Jr. who are both co-plaintiffs in the case. Connolly's is under fire for failing to submit a yearly licensing fee to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which makes sure songwriters get paid.

"We had been after [Connolly's] for complying for over two years, so it's not so much about who or where," said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP's senior vice president for licensing. The bar may have to pay a $30,000 fine for not ponying up the $2,700 annual licensing fee.

Although superstars like Springsteen might not need the royalty money, Candilora is merely protecting the songwriters. "It's not about him as a recording artist," he said. "In this instance, he's simply a songwriter with rights."