A CITY nightclub named The Hairy Dog has been ordered to pay £1,800 after inspectors alleged it played the song Cool For Cats without a music licence.
The 1970s hit by Squeeze was among a number of tracks illegally played by the Becket Street bar, the High Court in London was told.
A top judge subsequently banned the premises from playing mainstream recorded music until it pays for a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence.
But owner Paul Keenan said he was furious.
He told the Derby Telegraph that no one told him about the court case and insisted The Hairy Dog was already covered by a licence.
Mr Keenan said: "The music was on a jukebox and the company I brought it from paid for the licence.
"I'm very angry. I knew nothing about this court hearing. I was not given any notification and I was not given a court date or anything.
"I hope to have the case put aside until I have a chance to have a say myself."
Mr Keenan said he had found it difficult to extract information from PPL.
He said: "When we opened last year, we got in touch with PPL and they gave us a list of costs. Some of them were absolutely ridiculous and so I asked for a breakdown of the costs they were charging us.
"The licence fee to have a jukebox was something like £20 a month, but to have a DJ playing the same music would be £500 a month.
"I asked PPL what the difference was and since then I've had absolutely nothing back from them. That was last June or July.
"Now I find out there's been a court case without me knowing."
Mr Keenan added: "I made some calls and it turns out I am covered by a licence. The situation is ridiculous."
Inspectors said they caught the bar playing several music tracks illegally on August 18 last year.
The ban now imposed by the High Court means Alternative Leisure Ltd, of which Mr Keenan is the sole director, must stop playing recorded music until it brings its licence up to date.
But Mr Keenan promised the nights will not be quiet at The Hairy Dog while the matter is sorted out.
He said: "I'm hoping to get the ruling overturned quickly. I've also spoken to my solicitor and we're allowed to play music that is not PPL-registered – for example, songs from local artists."
A spokeswoman for PPL said: "PPL has a large and diverse membership.
"Members include major record labels and globally successful performers, as well as many independent labels, sole traders and session musicians ranging from orchestral players to percussionists and singers – all of whom are entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances.
"We are talking directly with Mr Keenan to resolve the issue."
