Downtown Music Publishing V Peloton Counterclaim MTD Order
Downtown Music Publishing V Peloton Counterclaim MTD Order
Downtown Music Publishing V Peloton Counterclaim MTD Order
APPEARANCES
For plaintiffs:
Jay Cohen
Darren W. Johnson
Elana R. Beale
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
(212) 373-3163
For defendant:
Kenneth L. Steinthal
King & Spalding LLP
101 Second Street, Ste. 2300
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 318-1200
J. Blake Cunningham
King & Spalding LLP
500 West 2nd St., Ste. 1800
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 457-2000
Christopher C. Yook
David P. Mattern
King & Spalding LLP
1700 Pennsylvania Ave., Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20006
Emily T. Chen
King & Spalding LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-2100
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Background
is a member of NMPA.
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songs that are suitable for the feel and tempo desired by the
I. Sync Licensing
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part, by unnamed NMPA members with whom Peloton had not entered
members that had not yet entered into licensing agreements with
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platform.”
agreements.
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publishers.
May 2019. On May 16, Peloton sent HFA an email containing terms
pressure, not just from D.C. but also from New York.” According
V. Procedural History
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September 27, the Music Publishers’ request was granted and they
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on June 12. Any summary judgment motion is due July 13, 2020.
Discussion
Coca-Cola Co., 928 F.3d 198, 199 (2d Cir. 2019) (citation
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Churchill LLP, 902 F.3d 132, 139 (2d Cir. 2018). The plaintiff
I. Antitrust Claim
turn.
A. Noerr-Pennington Doctrine
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585 F.3d 677, 685-86 (2d Cir. 2009). “[G]ood faith litigation
v. Nat’l Broad., Co., 219 F.3d 92, 100 (2d Cir. 2000). Noerr-
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certain NMPA members, Peloton has alleged that NMPA and the
would not permit the Music Publishers to band together and deny
(“PREI”), 944 F.2d 1525 (9th Cit. 1991), teaches that their
wrong. In PREI, the Ninth Circuit held that, “[o]n the facts of
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settlement offer where the offer was made after the initiation
1. Conspiracy
Inc. v. Sabre Holdings Corp., 938 F.3d 43, 54 (2d Cir. 2019).
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Entm’t, 592 F.3d 314, 321 (2d Cir. 2010) (citation omitted).
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(citation omitted).
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evidence that tends to rule out the possibility that each of the
2. Relevant Market
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275 F.3d 191, 199-200 (2d Cir. 2001). “There is, however, no
also Concord Assocs., L.P. v. Entm’t Props. Tr., 817 F.3d 46, 53
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Chapman v. N.Y. State Div. for Youth, 546 F.3d 230, 238 (2d Cir.
songs with sync licenses owned by the Music Publishers for songs
publishers.”
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control.
publishers.
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Corp., 547 F.3d 115, 132 (2d Cir. 2008). Tortious interference
Equifax, Inc., 583 F.3d 103, 107 (2d Cir. 2009) (per curiam)
(citation omitted).
have entered into sync licenses with the Music Publishers but
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only for good cause and with the judge’s consent.” Fed. R. Civ.
Rule 16(b), to amend the pleadings after the deadline set in the
F.3d 229, 243 (2d Cir. 2007). “Whether good cause exists turns
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Royal Bank of Scotland Grp., 859 F.3d 188, 195 (2d Cir. 2017)
(citation omitted).
NMPA members from whom Peloton does not have licenses. It also
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sum, Peloton did not provide any basis to conclude that the
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antitrust counterclaim.
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Conclusion
____________________________
DENISE COTE
United States District Judge
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