Opinion ID: 604165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Joinder of ASCAP

Text: 6 This circuit has no clearly established standard of review for joinder under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19(a). Perrian v. O'Grady, 958 F.2d 192, 196 (7th Cir.1992) (arguments for both a de novo standard and an abuse of discretion standard). However, it is not necessary for us to decide that issue here, since Hunter has not established under either standard that complete relief could not be accorded without the joinder of ASCAP. 6 7 The term complete relief in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 refers only to relief between the persons already parties and not as between a party and the absent person whose joinder is sought. Perrian, 958 F.2d at 196 (internal quotations and citations omitted). A copyright infringement action may only be brought by the 'legal or beneficial owner' of a copyright, and joinder or intervention is limited to persons 'having or claiming an interest in the copyright.' 17 U.S.C. § 501(b). Hulex Music v. Santy, 698 F.Supp. 1024, 1029 (D.N.H.1988). A licensing agent is neither the legal nor the beneficial owner of the copyright and has no interest in the copyright. Therefore, the district court properly denied Hunter's request to join ASCAP as a party in this copyright infringement suit. 7