IN RE CELLCO PARTNERSHIP

Nos. 09 Civ. 7074(DLC)(MHD), 41 Civ. 1395(DLC).

663 F.Supp.2d 363 (2009)

In re Application of CELLCO PARTNERSHIP d/b/a Verizon Wireless. Related to United States of America, Plaintiff, v. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, Defendant.

United States District Court, S.D. New York.

October 14, 2009.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

David Leichtman, Hillel Parness, Eleanor Lackman, Lovells LLP, Richard Reimer, Christine Pepe, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, New York, NY, for American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

Bruce Joseph, Andrew McBride, Michael Sturm, Wiley Rein LLP, Washington, DC, for Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless.

Michael Salzman, Jessica Feldman, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, Marvin Berenson, Joseph DiMona, John Coletta, Broadcast Music, Inc., New York, NY, for Amicus Curiae Broadcast Music, Inc.

Andrea Williams, CTIA—The Wireless Association, Washington, DC, Bruce Keller, Jeffrey Cunard, Michael Potenza, Richard Lee, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, NY, for Amicus Curiae CTIA— The Wireless Association.

Gary Shapiro, Consumer Electronics Association, Arlington, VA, for Amicus Curiae Consumer Electronics Association.

Lee Knife, Digital Media Association, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Digital Media Association.

Michael Elkin, Thomas Lane, Winston & Strawn, New York, NY, Fred von Lohman, Electronic Frontier Foundation, San Francisco, CA, for Amici Curiae Electronic Frontier Foundation, Public Knowledge, and Center for Democracy and Technology.

Heidi Salow, DLA Piper, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Internet Commerce Coalition.

C. Paul Spurgeon, Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Al Daniel, Jr., Toby Butterfield, Christopher Marino, New York, NY, for Amicus Curiae Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada.

Kenan Popwell, Society of European Stage Authors & Composers, Inc., New York, NY, John Beiter, Zumwalt, Almon & Hayes PLLC, Nashville, TN, for Amicus Curiae Society of European Stage Authors & Composers, Inc.

Jonathan Banks, United States Telecom Association, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae United States Telecom Association.


OPINION & ORDER

DENISE COTE, District Judge:

This summary judgment motion presents the question of whether a retail wireless communications company requires a public performance license for musical compositions because it provides ringtones to its customers. For the following reasons, it does not.

BACKGROUND

Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ("Verizon") began this proceeding by filing its January 23, 2009 application...

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