Copyright Law | Expert Legal Commentary

September 20, 2007

US v. ASCAP: Downloading Music from the Internet Does Not Constitute a Public Performance for Which a Performance Royalty Fee Is Due to ASCAP; Only A Reproduction Fee Applies.

U.S. v. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

By Olivier A. Taillieu of Zuber & Taillieu LLP

In its decision in US v. ASCAP, 485 F. Supp. 2d 438 (SDNY 2007), the Southern District of New York clarified how the Copyright Law concept of “public performance” applies to the Internet concepts of downloading versus streaming. While on its face, the decision appears to establish a bright line rule, the Court did acknowledge the possibility of more questionable applications in the future.

About the Author

Olivier A. Taillieu is a Partner of Zuber & Taillieu LLP, focusing on intellectual property litigation and arbitration.

1The Court also cited two more cases for the finding that downloading violates reproduction rights: Maverick Recording Co. v. Goldshteyn, No. CV-05-4523, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52422, at 8 (EDNY July 31, 2006) and London-Sire Records v. Armstrong, No. 05CV1771, 2006 US Dist LEXIS 60458, at 3 (D. Conn. July 28, 2006).

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Companies Mentioned

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

AOL LLC f.k.a. America Online, Inc.

RealNetworks, Inc.

SESAC, Inc.

Television Music License Committee

Yahoo! Inc.

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Companies Mentioned

Copyright Law

The following companies are mentioned in Copyright Law Updates:

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers

Mattel, Inc.

MGA Entertainment Inc.

MGA Entertainment (HK) Ltd.

RealNetworks, Inc.

AOL LLC f.k.a. America Online, Inc.

Northern Lights Products, Inc. d.b.a. GlowProducts.com

Litecubes, LLC

Poof Apparel Corp.

Derek Andrew, Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Inc.

Geoffrey Productions, Inc.

Universal City Studios LLLP

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Turner Network Television LP, LLLP

Turner Network Sales, Inc.

Turner Classic Movies, LP, LLLP

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

The Cartoon Network LP, LLP

Paramount Pictures Corp.

NBC Studios, Inc.

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

CSC Holdings, Inc.

CBS Broadcasting Inc.

Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Cablevision Systems Corp.

Cable News Network LP, LLLP

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

Westbound Records, Inc.

Kamind Associates, Inc. a.k.a. KAM Industries

UMG Recordings, Inc.

Janice Combs Publishing, Inc. d.b.a. Justin Combs Publishing

All Headline News Corp.

Bad Boy Records LLC

American Software Development Company, Inc.

Bad Boy Entertainment, Inc. d.b.a. Bad Boy Records

Affordable Video Systems, Ltd.

Yahoo! Inc.

Dream Games of Arizona, Inc.

Television Music License Committee

Frank Diana City Entertainment

SESAC, Inc.

PC Onsite

Robert E. Treuhaft and Jessica L. Treuhaft Trust

The Associated Press

Power.com

The Steinbeck Heritage Foundation

IAC/InterActiveCorp

AHN Media Corp.

Power Ventures, Inc.