Opinion ID: 604165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Amended Consent Decree

Text: 9 We also agree with the district court that as a matter of comity the Amended Consent Decree should be interpreted in the Southern District of New York. With regard to the licensing fee, p VIII of the Amended Consent Decree explicitly provides that ASCAP will use its best efforts to determine reasonable fees. Paragraph IX provides that when an applicant for a license disagrees as to the reasonableness of a license fee, the applicant must petition the Southern District of New York for a determination of the reasonableness of the fee. That paragraph clearly states that this was meant to be the exclusive remedy for fee resolution. 10 With regard to the district court's refusal to decide whether ASCAP has complied with p XIV of the Amended Consent Decree (ordering ASCAP to maintain a list of all compositions in its repertoire), we find no error in its decision that the Southern District of New York is the proper forum for resolution of this issue. 8 Although the district court did not specifically rule on ASCAP's duty to furnish a list, the plaintiffs urge us on appeal to decide, as other courts have done, that ASCAP has no duty to furnish a complete list of its repertoire because this would be an impractical burden. See Famous Music v. Bay State Harness Horse Racing & Breeding Assoc., 554 F.2d 1213, 1215 (1st Cir.1977); Hulex Music v. Santy, 698 F.Supp. 1024, 1029 n. 4 (D.N.H.1988); Billy Steinberg Music v. Cagney's Pub, Inc., 9 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1749, 1988 WL 35518 (N.D.Ill.1988). We decline to make this determination. Neither we nor the district court for the Northern District of Illinois are in a position to determine what the Southern District of New York meant when it ordered ASCAP to maintain a list of its repertoire. A list on index cards in New York might be adequate. However, the Southern District of New York might have intended that ASCAP keep a sophisticated list that is more easily accessible. In any case, we find no error in the district court's decision not to interpret that portion of the Amended Consent Decree that refers to maintenance of a list. The district court properly struck Hunter's affirmative defenses and counterclaim.