TMCnet News
Federal Magistrate Judge Sides With Global Music Rights in Antitrust Dispute with Radio Music License CommitteeIn a significant legal ruling, a federal magistrate has recommended that a lawsuit filed by the Radio Music License Committee against Global Music Rights be dismissed, concluding it was improperly filed in the state of Pennsylvania. In her Nov. 29 report and recommendation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne Sitarski of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania rejected every one of the RMLC's arguments for filing the antitrust suit in Pennsylvania - a state where neither organization has offices or employees, where no represented songwriters or publishers live, and where no relevant meetings or business have ever taken place. "There is no basis in fact or law to assert personal jurisdiction over GMR in Pennsylvania and therefore, venue in this judicial district is improper," Magistrate Judge Sitarski wrote to Judge C. Darnell Jones II, concluding that the RMLC suit was filed in Pennsylvania solely for tactical dvantage. Global Music Rights is a performance rights organization (PRO) committed to transforming the industry's outdated licensing system and committed to empowering songwriters. By embracing the free market, Global Music Rights can provide better service to songwriters, more transparency to broadcasters, and better content to music lovers. "The Magistrate's recommendation is a vindication of what we have said all along: the RMLC had no business filing a lawsuit in Pennsylvania, a state that has nothing to do with this dispute," said Global Music Rights Founder Irving Azoff. "We look forward to Judge Jones' review of the order and continuing our efforts to protect the rights of songwriters to be paid fairly by the $18 billion commercial radio industry." Magistrate Judge Sitarski recognized that Global Music Rights' home state is California, where the company has filed its own antitrust suit alleging that the RMLC's 10,000 member stations are conspiring to suppress payments to Global Music Rights' 75 songwriters. "Global Music Rights is an innovator in music rights, and we are gratified with the Magistrate Judge's strong recommendation that RMLC's lawsuit was improperly filed in Pennsylvania," said Daniel Petrocelli, Global Music Rights' lead attorney. "We look forward to Judge Jones' review of the ruling and proceeding with our case against the RMLC in California."
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171130006302/en/ |
