But the UK courts don't have the final say. If the courts in England start interpreting the Human Rights requirements in an over-restrictive way, they can expect to be slapped down. I'm not suggesting that this issue is necessarily going to be the one to be fought through the highest level, but there are others that will be.

Still no information from people in any other European country, which really would be helpful in this context. I mean, what happens if a bunch of musicians are playing in the corner of a beer garden in Germany, or a French Cafe, or an Irish pub?

I get a vision of a group playing away in some green coffee-house in Amsterdam and the proprietor comes up and says "You'll have to stop playing that music, we aren't licensed for that kind of stuff". And all round the dope-hazy customers nod their head in solemn agreement.