Springsteen, Bon Jovi vs Bar

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi are suing the owners of a roadside theme bar in Pennsylvania because they say their songs are being played without a licence.

Springsteen alleges that RPM's bar in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, keeps playing his 1984 classic Born in the USA without the relevant licence that means artists are paid royalties when their tunes get public airings.

Jon Bon Jovi sings with his band Bon Jovi at Z100s Zootopia 2002 concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., in this June 2, 2002 Bon Jovi are releasing a new album in the autumn Bon Jovi says the motor-themed venue repeatedly plays his band's hits Wanted Dead or Alive, from 1987, and Bed of Roses, from 1993.

They have filed a lawsuit seeking between $750 (�485) and $30,000 (�19,500) damages from the bar.

RPM's, on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, has motor memorabilia on its walls and hosts live rock bands and regular parties for bikers.

It allegedly does not have a licence from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Ascap), which collects and distributes copyright royalties for musicians whose songs are played in public.

Every bar, restaurant and club that plays music must have an Ascap licence. It should cost the venue $2,818 (�1,831), the lawsuit says.

The bar was repeatedly warned not to play the songs, it says.

The lawsuit was filed by Ascap on behalf of Springsteen, Bon Jovi and Universal-Polygram International Publishing Inc.

It names the bar's owner, Joan Martin, and its corporate owner J&J 1020 Restaurant Inc.

Springsteen is currently at the top of the United States album chart with his new 11 September-inspired album, The Rising.

It is the first new album with his E Street Band since 1984, and sold more than 525,000 copies after a week of release.

Bon Jovi's guitarist Richie Sambora was one of the most outspoken critics of internet download site Napster, which he said allowed "basic thievery".

The band's new album, Bounce, is due to be released in September.