AceShowbiz - Swizz Beatz has become part of a federal copyright lawsuit targeting a popular waterfront venue in North Carolina for allegedly playing DMX’s music without proper licensing.

The lawsuit, filed last Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Charlotte, accuses BoatYard Lake Norman and its owner, Chris Boukedes, of publicly performing copyrighted songs for years without securing necessary licenses or paying royalties. The suit is supported by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and several music publishers connected to the affected songs.

Among the tracks highlighted in the complaint is the iconic DMX hit Party Up (Up in Here), co-written by Swizz Beatz. The suit also references other popular songs such as Jump Around, Party All the Time, and Shut Up and Dance, with publishers tied to those works joining the legal action.

The complaint details that ASCAP representatives spent several years attempting to contact BoatYard Lake Norman via phone calls, emails, and formal mailings to offer a licensing agreement that would allow the venue to legally play music from ASCAP’s repertoire. According to ASCAP, these offers were consistently declined, yet the venue continued to perform the protected music publicly.

The plaintiffs include music publishers affiliated with Universal Music Group and other rights holders who are seeking statutory damages potentially reaching $30,000 for each act of infringement cited in the complaint.

Chris Boukedes, a longtime figure in the local nightlife industry, has operated multiple businesses in the region. His past ventures include the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson and the Galway H##### pub in Cornelius, an Irish-style establishment notable for being constructed in Ireland and shipped to North Carolina for assembly.

This lawsuit against BoatYard Lake Norman is one of approximately a dozen copyright infringement cases filed nationwide this week by ASCAP members against bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues accused of similar violations.

ASCAP Executive Vice President of Licensing Stephanie Ruyle condemned the venues continuing to use copyrighted music without proper authorization. She emphasized that the establishments sued chose to infringe on the rights of songwriters despite repeated opportunities to obtain licenses.

The ongoing legal actions highlight the persistent challenges faced by rights holders in protecting copyrighted music from unauthorized public performances in entertainment venues across the country.

This article is based on reporting originally published by AllHipHop.