Arbitron Sues Renda For Unauthorized Use Of Jacksonville Ratings

Lawsuit

ARBITRON INC. has sued RENDA BROADCASTING CORP. for copyright infringement, claiming that RENDA used ARBITRON's JACKSONVILLE ratings without paying for them.

The case, filed JUNE 18th in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of FLORIDA, alleges that RENDA's contract to use the data expired in DECEMBER 2010 but that between MAY, 2011 and at least DECEMBER, 2012, RENDA "illicitly obtained copies of the ARBITRON Reports and Database ... from an advertising agency in or near the JACKSONVILLE, FL area)" a senior executive of which "was a long time friend and business associate of (GM) BILL REESE."

REESE allegedly then gave the materials to Country WGNE (99.9 GATOR COUNTRY) Sales Manager CHARLIE JENNINGS and cluster OM/PD CHUCK BECK, and AC WEJZ (LITE 96.1) morning man ARTHUR CROFTON also requested and received the reports from the agency.

The suit asks for at least $150,000 per infringing act plus attorney's fees and enhanced damages, along with injunctive relief and at least $500,000 for inducement of the agency to infringe on the copyright.

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