Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc.

861 F. Supp. 2d 30, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71914, 2012 WL 1853883
District Court, D. Puerto Rico·Decided May 22, 2012·No. Civil No. 09-2263(DRD)·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

DANIEL R. DOMÍNGUEZ, District Judge.

This copyright infringement action brought under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., (the “Copyright Act”) arises from the alleged unlawful reproduction, distribution and adaptation of the song and sound recording “Dale Don Dale” (the “Copyrighted Work”). (Docket No. 1, ¶¶1, 30-32, 39, 42-46, 55-75). Plaintiff Luar Music Corp., (“Plaintiff” or “Luar”) alleges that Defendants Universal Music Group (“Universal Music”) and UMG Recordings (“UMG Recordings”)(collectively, “Defendants”) violated its rights when Defendants included the Copyrighted Work as part of the phonorecord Don Omar Da Hitman Presents Reggaeton Latino (“Reggaeton Latino”) and a remixed version of the Copyrighted Work (the “Copyrighted Work Remix”) as part of the phonorecord Fiebre de Reggae-ton. (Docket No. 1, ¶¶ 31-32, 42-46).

Before the Court is Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and Defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment. (Docket Nos. 104, 119). For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is hereby DENIED and Defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment is hereby DENIED in part and GRANTED in part.

BACKGROUND

I. Procedural Background

Plaintiff commenced this action on December 18, 2009. (Docket No. 1). In an [33] Opinion and Order dated July 29, 2011, this Court granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiffs claims relating to the electronic exploitation of the Copyrighted Work. (Docket Nos. 62, 107). Subsequently, in an Opinion and Order dated March 6, 2012, this Court granted in part and denied in part Defendants’ motion to dismiss, granted Defendants’ cross-motion for partial summary judgment, and denied Plaintiffs converted motion for summary judgment. (Docket No. 155); Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc., 847 F.Supp.2d 299 (D.P.R.2012)(“Luar Music I”). Therein, the Court held that Plaintiffs action for damages from alleged copyright infringement occurring more than three (3) years prior to commencing the action was timebarred by the Copyright Act’s statute of limitations, whereas Plaintiffs action for damages from alleged copyright infringement occurring within the three (3) years prior to filing suit was timely. Id. at 306-16.

On July 22, 2011, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for summary judgment. (Docket No. 104). Defendants opposed and cross-moved for summary judgment on September 12, 2011. (Docket No. 119). On October 12, 2011, Plaintiff replied to Defendants’ opposition and opposed Defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment. (Docket No. 129).

II. Factual Background

When analyzing a motion for summary judgment, the Court must view the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See Vera v. McHugh, 622 F.3d 17, 26 (1st Cir.2010); see also Agusty-Reyes v. Dep’t of Educ. Of P.R., 601 F.3d 45, 48 (1st Cir.2010); Cadle Co. v. Hayes, 116 F.3d 957, 959-60 (1st Cir.1997). “Where, as here, a district court rules simultaneously on crossmotions for summary judgment, it must view each motion, separately, through this prism.” Estate of Hevia v. Portrio Corp., 602 F.3d 34, 40 (1st Cir.2010)(citing Houlton Citizens’ Coal. v. Town of Houlton, 175 F.3d 178, 183-84 (1st Cir.1999)). However, while the Court “draw[s] all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to [the non-moving party] ... we will not draw unreasonable inferences or credit bald assertion, empty conclusions or rank conjecture.” Vera, 622 F.3d at 26 (internal quotations and citations omitted) (emphasis in original); see also Ayala-Gerena v. Bristol Myers-Squibb Co., 95 F.3d 86, 95 (1st Cir.1996). Further, the Court will not consider hearsay statements nor other allegations presented by parties that do not properly provide specific references to the record. See D.P.R. Civ. R. 56(e)(“The [C]ourt shall have no independent duty to search or consider any part of the record not specifically referenced.”); see also Morales v. A.C. Orssleff's EFTF, 246 F.3d 32, 33 (1st Cir.2001)(finding that, where a party fails to buttress factual issues with proper record citations, judgment against that party may be appropriate); Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 895 F.2d 46, 50 (1st Cir.l990)(“Hearsay evidence, inadmissible at trial, cannot be considered on a motion for summary judgment.”).

Plaintiff, an entity that manages music projects, including licensing songs, is the owner of the Copyrighted Work.1 (Docket No. 105, ¶¶ 2-3; Docket No. 128-1, ¶3). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants unlawfully included the Copyrighted Work as part of two phonorecords: Reggaeton Latino and Fiebre de Reggaeton. The Court discusses the relevant factual circumstances [34] surrounding the distribution of each phonorecord in turn.

A. Reggaeton Latino’s Distribution

On October 21, 2005, Gustavo Lopez (“Gustavo”), the president of a division of Defendant UMG Recordings, emailed Raul Lopez (“Raul”), Plaintiffs president, the Copyrighted Work Remix.2 (Docket No. 120, ¶ 1). Gustavo told Raul to “listen and call me.” (Docket No. 120-1). According to Gustavo’s unsworn statement under penalty of perjury, “upon hearing the remix, Mr. [Raul] Lopez expressly gave me his consent to use and distribute the record.” (Docket No. 120, ¶ 1; 120-2, ¶ 8).

On October 26, 2005, Jeffery Koenig (“Koenig”), Defendants’ in-house counsel, sent Gustavo and Raul a draft contract entitled Re-Mixer Agreement (the “Re-Mixer Agreement”). (Docket No. 120-3). The Re-Mixer Agreement provided that Plaintiff would grant Defendants the right to, inter alia, remix the Copyrighted Work and include the Remixed Copyrighted Work as part of Reggaeton Latino. (Docket No. 120-3, ¶ 1). Koenig asked for Plaintiffs authorized signatory to sign the document. (Docket No. 120, ¶ 4; Docket No. 120-3).

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Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc., 861 F. Supp. 2d 30, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71914, 2012 WL 1853883 (prd 2012).

861 F. Supp. 2d 30 (Luar Music Corp. v. Universal Music Group, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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