Petitioner
Petitioner
Petitioner
The Court should grant the petition and order the majors
promptly to produce the documents and information sought by the
CIDs for the following reasons. First, absent arbitrary
2
Court need not address the factual questions relating to ultimate
jurisdiction but may rule, simply, that the United States is
entitled to U.S.-located information and documents relevant to
conduct that may be covered and prohibited by the Sherman Act.
Second, should the Court address the issue, it appears that
United States courts will have antitrust jurisdiction over much
of the majors' foreign activity. In this regard, the foreign
conduct may form part of a global conspiracy having U.S. members,
components and effects. Moreover, the foreign conduct by itself
3
I. Background.
The majors and their affiliates collectively account for
approximately eighty to eighty-five percent of the U.S. and
1
Warner accounts for 21.6 percent of the U.S. record
market.
2
Sony, a U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation of Japan,
controls 16.1 percent of the U.S. record market. PolyGram
Holding, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of PolyGram N.V. of The
Netherlands, controls 11.3 percent of the U.S. music market. EMI
Music, a U.S. subsidiary of Thorn EMI Plc. of the United Kingdom,
controls 12 percent of the U.S. music market. BMG, a U.S.
subsidiary of Bertelsmann AG of Germany, controls 13.9 percent of
the U.S. record market. MCA, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of
Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. of Japan, accounts
for 11.4 percent of the U.S. record market.
4
account for at least ninety percent of the music videos aired by
music video programmers.
In the 1990s, several innovative companies began providing
"digital radio" services through which multiple channels of CD-
quality audio programming is delivered via cable or satellite to
consumers in their homes. Subscribers pay a monthly fee for this
service over and above the charge for "basic" cable or satellite
service. The vast majority of music played on digital radio
networks originates with the majors.
A. Programmers.
It is believed that the United States leads the world in the
domestic broadcast and export of music programming services.
Thus far, the United States has identified six U.S. music video
and digital radio programmers that may be affected by the majors'
foreign and domestic conduct.
(CMT) and Z Music Television (Z). Both TNN and CMT air country
music programming. TNN delivers country life-style programming
consisting of country music videos and original programming such
as outdoor programs and car racing. CMT is devoted entirely to
music video programming. Z broadcasts contemporary Christian
music videos mixed with original programming consisting of
interviews, news, information and specials. All three networks
originate from Nashville, Tennessee, and are broadcast via
5
satellite and cable television in the United States, Canada and
Mexico.
In 1992, Gaylord launched CMT Europe, a music video
programming service currently reaching approximately eight
million homes in Europe. The music videos and interstitial
material3/ shown on CMT Europe's network are assembled into a
unified block of programming in Nashville, Tennessee, and
transmitted via satellite "uplinks" to cable systems and
satellite dishes throughout Europe. From the point of assembly
3
In the industry, "interstitial material" refers to
short segments of original programming such as short promotional
ads, lead-ins, public service announcements, and computer-
generated information identifying a music video for the viewer.
6
programming services. MTV's programming consists of music videos
in a rock/pop/urban format, interstitial material and long-form
original programming. Between thirty and forty percent of MTV's
domestic programming consists of original programming developed
and produced in the United States, and much of that programming
is exported to Viacom's foreign subsidiaries. Similarly, VH-1's
programming contains a mix of music video and original
programming.
Viacom's music services reach over 250 million homes
Asia, was on the air from September 1991 to May 1994. Viacom
plans to re-launch MTV Asia in English and Mandarin later this
year and has additional plans for individual countries in Asia.
7
is distributed to parts of the United States and most of Central
and South America.
3. Black Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
Washington, D.C.-based Black Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
owns the BET Cable Network ("BET"). BET is the first and only
basic cable network that specifically targets the viewing
video channel, first in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, and
then expanding to Europe and other regions.
4. MOR Music TV
8
telephone number to call and describing the artist, song, album
and price of a CD. Operated as a video "record club," MOR Music
TV also sells music-oriented material such as promotional T-
shirts. The company plans to expand its music video home-
shopping service into Europe in 1995. All programming decisions
will be made in the United States, and the plan is to beam the
channel from the United States via satellite to the United
Kingdom, where it will be delivered unchanged to consumers. A
joint venture partner will help distribute merchandise overseas.
9
service throughout Europe and to other regions. A London-based
affiliate has discretion over programming. However, the laser
disc containing a "menu" of music videos is produced in the
United States and then sent by VJN to the United Kingdom. VJN
also sends the "boxes" to the United Kingdom. Maintenance and
repair of the boxes is performed in the United States.
6. International Cablecasting Technologies, Inc.
International Cablecasting Technologies, Inc. ("ICT") d\b\a
Digital Music Express ("DMX"), operates a twenty-four hour
10
and music videos that they produce or contract with others to
produce. A collective refusal to physically deliver music videos
to programmers, or a collective decision to charge a high price
before making such a delivery, might adversely affect
programmers' ability to compete. More importantly, the majors
also control the various intellectual property rights that attach
to their records and music videos. The nature of these
intellectual property rights, and the majors' use of them,
require some elaboration.
right does not exist under the laws of the United States but is
often protected in other nations. A programmer operating in
England, for example, cannot broadcast a music video without
11
digital radio programmer operating in the United States can buy a
CD from a retailer and broadcast the music over its system
without a license from the music company. In Europe, on the
other hand, the programmer would violate the music company's
performance right if it did not first obtain a license.
In the United States, music video programmers typically pay
nothing for the music videos they broadcast on their networks.
This has less to do with the absence of a performance right than
with the dynamics of the market. Music videos, although products
C. Collective Licensing.
Outside the United States, the majors have refused to
license the rights to their music and music videos except through
associations called "copyright societies".
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
("IFPI") is an international copyright society which, among other
12
IFPI umbrella, the majors have formed national copyright
societies in many countries. In the United Kingdom, the music
video copyright society is Video Performance, Limited ("VPL"),
4
At least in the case of Europe, the copyright societies
appear specifically designed to avoid the "American" model of
music video licensing and to target American programming services
that attempt to follow that model. For example, according to its
Consultant Director, VPL was formed in 1984 for the following
purpose:
Europe's record companies feared that MTV
type operations were being planned for Europe
and that the UK record industry would allow
these operations to get access to the videos
of certain American-based companies on a
free-of-charge basis and then, for
promotional purposes, the rest of the
industry would be bound also to license their
videos to these operations on a free-of-
charge basis. This was the experience in the
early days of MTV.
To prevent this happening, the UK industry
formed VPL . . . to negotiate a blanket
license . . . .
15
venture. At least two of the remaining majors, BMG and PolyGram,
may have been invited to join the DCR joint venture. When Warner
and Sony joined the venture in 1992, DCR agreed to pay each music
company 2% of revenue, and later agreed to pay the same amount to
EMI when that company joined.5/ A European version of the DCR
joint venture has been formed in Europe, with Warner owning a
5
Each of the license agreements between DCR and the
majors contains a most-favored-nation clause which, in operation,
guarantees that the license fees will remain uniform for each
major. In light of the absence of a performance right in the
United States, it is unclear what rights are "licensed" under
these agreements.
16
monopolization of domestic and international markets for cable,
wire, and satellite-delivered music programming.
On July 7, 1994, CIDs were issued to Warner, Sony, EMI, BMG
and PolyGram by the Department directing the companies to produce
documentary material and to answer interrogatories described in
the attached schedule by August 15, 1994. A CID and schedule
were issued to MCA on July 18, 1994 directing that company to
respond by August 22, 1994. With the exception of the CID
addressed to Warner, the CID document requests were limited in
6
Letters requesting voluntary production of information
and documents were sent to foreign parents.
7
The majors have also raised a number of "boilerplate"
objections, including claims of burdensomeness and ambiguity.
The United States anticipates that such objections can be
resolved through negotiation.
17
With minor exceptions, no documents relating to foreign
activities have been produced.8/
The petition to enforce is brought pursuant to Section
8
Some documents relating to Latin American activities
have been produced, apparently in recognition that the MTV-Latino
signal encompasses some parts of the United States. EMI, while
maintaining its jurisdictional objection, has produced some
information and documents relating to foreign joint ventures.
18
15 U.S.C. § 1312(a). The term "antitrust investigation," in
turn, means "any inquiry conducted . . . for the purpose of
ascertaining whether any person is or has been engaged in any
antitrust violation . . . ." 15 U.S.C. § 1311(c).
Whenever an antitrust investigation encompasses some
overseas conduct, "ascertaining" the existence of an "antitrust
violation" necessarily entails an inquiry into the nature of that
conduct and whether the activity triggers U.S. jurisdiction under
the antitrust laws, i.e., whether there is "conduct" involving
9
Similarly, it has long been recognized that "the grand
jury ha[s] authority and jurisdiction to investigate the facts in
order to determine the question whether the facts show a case
within [its] jurisdiction." Blair v. United States, 250 U.S.
273, 282-83 (1919); accord United States v. Partin, 552 F.2d 621,
630 (5th Cir. 1977). The simple yet compelling rationale for
this holding is that "the identity of the offender, and the
19
In Oklahoma Press, the Court held that statutory language similar
to that contained in the ACPA, and lacking any "express condition
requiring showing of coverage,"10/ clearly authorized the
jurisdiction).11/
12
Although the investigation is not complete, the
"copyright societies" at issue here appear to bear little
22
which the major suppliers of programming participate. See United
States v. Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., 507 F. Supp. 412,
429-30 (S.D.N.Y. 1980) (programming joint venture including major
movie studios condemned as per se illegal), aff'd mem., 659 F.2d
1963 (2d Cir. 1981). The European Commission has issued a
Statement of Objections suggesting that some of the majors'
24
substantial effects on American commerce. Hartford Fire Ins. Co.
v. California, 113 S.Ct. 2891, 2909 (1993); United States v.
Aluminum Co. of Am., 148 F.2d 416, 444 (2d Cir. 1945).13/
The Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act of 1982
clarified the case law relating to "foreign commerce"
jurisdiction under the Sherman Act and provides in pertinent
part:
Sections 1 through 7 of [the Sherman Act] shall
not apply to conduct involving trade or commerce (other
than import trade or import commerce) with foreign
nations unless
--
(1) such conduct has a direct, substantial and
reasonably foreseeable effect--
(A) on trade or commerce which is not trade
or commerce with foreign nations . . .; or
(B) on export trade or export commerce with
foreign nations, of a person engaged in such
trade or commerce in the United States
. . . .
15 U.S.C. § 6a.
13
"Foreign commerce" jurisdiction has often been directed
at the collusive anticompetitive behavior of international
cartels, see Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc., 395
U.S. 100, 114-15 (1969); Laker Airways, Ltd. v. Sabena, Belgian
World Airlines, 731 F.2d 909, 916-17 (D.C. Cir. 1984); Daishowa,
Int'l v. North Coast Export Co., 1982-2 Tr. Cas. (CCH) ¶ 64,774,
p. 71,786 (N.D. Cal. 1982), including their control over
intellectual property rights. Zenith, 395 U.S. at 114-15; United
States v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 471 F. Supp. 532, 538 (N.D.
Cal. 1978), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 648 F.2d 642 (9th Cir.
1981), see also United States v. Imperial Chem. Indus., Ltd., 100
F. Supp. 504, 517 (S.D.N.Y. 1951); United States v. General Elec.
Co., 82 F. Supp. 753, 798 (D.N.J. 1949); United States v. Timken
Roller Bearing Co., 83 F. Supp. 284, 290 (N.D. Ohio 1949); United
States v. General Elec. Co., 80 F. Supp. 989, 1004 (S.D.N.Y.
1948).
25
Here, there is reason to believe that the major American and
foreign music companies, through various associations, ventures
and agreements, may have formed an international conspiracy
designed to dominate, discipline, eliminate or extract monopoly
prices from music programmers. As set forth above, the majors
have (1) created a web of "copyright societies" that collectively
negotiate licensing fees and thus may have fixed the price of the
intellectual property rights to pre-recorded music and music
videos; (2) formed an international network of digital radio and
music video programming joint ventures which may operate to raise
the price of music videos supplied to all programmers or tend to
eliminate competition in the music programming market; and (3)
14
Considerations of comity may also bear on the
Department of Justice's decision regarding the nature and extent
of any action it might bring at the conclusion of its
investigation. See Antitrust Enforcement Guidelines for
International Operations 1994, Draft for Public Comment, 59 Fed.
Reg. 52,810, 52,818-19 (October 13, 1994). The evidence that
bears on the jurisdictional and substantive antitrust issues in
the investigation will also be relevant to the Department's
consideration of comity factors.
26
jurisdiction applies to the entire conspiracy so long as the
domestic effects are direct, substantial and reasonably
foreseeable. 15 U.S.C. §6a; Continental Ore Co. v. Union Carbide
& Carbon Corp., 370 U.S. 690 (1962). In Continental Ore, cited
with approval in the FTAIA's legislative history, the Supreme
Court held that the trial court erred in excluding evidence
15
In so holding, the Court rejected arguments that the
defendants' foreign conduct was immune because it occurred
outside the United States, because there was some foreign
government involvement, and because the conduct was legal under
foreign law. Id. at 704-07.
16
Accord Avis Rent-A-Car System v. Hertz Corp., 782 F.2d
381, 385 (2d Cir. 1986) (court must look at "entire mosaic");
Regency Oldsmobile, Inc. v. General Motors Corp., 723 F. Supp.
250, 258 (D.N.J. 1989) ("the Court must strive to see the
constellation from the stars").
27
Here, the available information, viewed as a whole and in
light of the fact that the investigation is at an early stage,
suggests that the majors have entered into a conspiracy that
includes U.S. members, components and effects. With respect to
participation, Time Warner is an American company and, in
addition, appears to be the driving force behind many of the
collaborative associations and agreements under consideration.
Other CID recipients, though subsidiaries of foreign parents, are
well-known and substantial American companies. It is believed
relevant documents.
More importantly, the majors entered into two American music
programming joint ventures. While their stated purpose is to
28
provided to all U.S. programmers.17/ Moreover, to the extent that
the conspiracy is intended to dominate high-technology
distribution systems, and eventually retail distribution of tapes
and CDs through home-shopping services provided through the same
systems, the domestic joint ventures may share that purpose and
effect with the foreign joint ventures. Both U.S. joint
17
The licensing agreements between DCR and, respectively,
Warner, Sony and EMI contain identical language calling for a
uniform license fee (2 percent of revenue) supported by most
favored nations clauses. An original draft of the U.S. music
video joint venture partnership agreement provided for the
payment of licensing fees identical to the 20 percent figure
routinely demanded by the majors-dominated copyright societies
abroad. Even now, the U.S. music video joint venture channel is
seen as a price-setting "example" to other programmers. See
Martin Peers, Bertelsmann Joins Rival MTV Channel, New York Post,
June 29, 1994, at 24 (BMG executive "admitted that Bertelsmann
wanted music video channels to pay for the use of videos. `We
think one way to influence that would be to be involved in at
least one channel that might set an example to the others', he
added").
18
Many documents already produced by the majors as
relevant to these joint ventures contained references to foreign
activities but have been redacted to exclude such references;
this further supports the conclusion that the domestic and
foreign conduct is intertwined.
29
establishing any such connection is clearly consistent with the
jurisdictional approach of Continental Ore.
19
The exclusive licenses to VPL effectively prevent any
music company from entering into a world-wide license without
receiving permission or withdrawing from the society.
30
of programming actually devoted to the licensed music videos.
This licensing scheme may have the effect of decreasing
programmers' revenues for original programming as well as video
programming. Moreover, in light of the majors' antipathy to such
original programming, it is possible that this was not only an
effect, but a principal intent underlying the total-revenue
structure of the collective licensing scheme.
Accordingly, the United States is seeking to determine the
extent to which these arrangements directly affect commerce in
a. The Relevant
Exports.
Although exports and imports of services are less tangible
than commodities hauled to a loading dock, they are entitled to
the same treatment for jurisdictional purposes. See, e.g., Laker
Airways, 731 F.2d 909 (D.C. Cir. 1984); Pacific Seafarers, Inc.
v. Pacific Far East Line, Inc., 404 F.2d 804 (D.C. Cir. 1968),
cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1093 (1969). Each of the U.S. programming
exporters has developed a complex, unique, consistent and
recognizable type of service in the United States, which the
31
company then brings to market in foreign countries. The total
service package generally includes substantial numbers of U.S.-
produced music videos, trade and service marks, other
intellectual property rights and know-how, original programming,
interstitial material, art and formats--all developed in the
United States. Foreign consumers, businesses and governments
typically identify these services as American in origin.
Indeed, several of the music programmers package each day's
programming in the United States, from which it is beamed
20
Similarly, BET exports six-hours per day of original
programming to its joint venture affiliate in London. In the
case of MOR Music TV, merchandise sold on its proposed overseas
channel may also be exported to its overseas joint venture.
21
The use by a programmer such as Viacom of a wholly-
owned foreign subsidiary or branch, even one that has discretion
over programming, does not alter the "export" character of the
unique package of services being delivered to foreign consumers.
Rather, a court must look to the degree of American involvement
and content in the export. Thus, although the fact that a
foreign service provider is American-owned is clearly not
sufficient to justify treating the service as a U.S. export, see
Power East Ltd. v. Transamerica Delaval, Inc., 558 F. Supp. 47,
48-49 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 742 F.2d. 1439 (2d Cir. 1983), it is
also clear that an American service provider's use of a
subsidiary, branch, joint venture or other entity in the foreign
32
b. Effects on Export
Commerce.
joint ventures not at issue in the case to show the "nature and
34
purposes" of two other joint ventures alleged to have violated
federal securities laws).22/
Rule 404(b) codified, inter alia, "the established judicial
22
Accord United States v. Southwest Bus Sales, Inc., 20
F.3d 1449, 1456 (8th Cir. 1994)(evidence of a Minnesota
conspiracy was of the exact nature of the charged South Dakota
conspiracy and was admissible and relevant to the issues of
intent to conspire, motive, and lack of mistake); United States
v. Misle Bus & Equipment Co., 967 F.2d 1227, 1234 (8th Cir.
1992)(evidence of a conspiracy separate from the charged
conspiracy was admissible on the ground that it was relevant to
and probative of defendants' knowledge and general intent); Movie
1 & 2 v. United Artists Communications, Inc., 909 F.2d 1245, 1250
(9th Cir. 1990) (testimony regarding previous agreements was
admissible to demonstrate other anti-competitive conduct by
defendant), cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1230 (1991); United States v.
Suntar Roofing, Inc., 897 F.2d 469, 479 (10th Cir. 1990)(evidence
concerning similar agreements entered into by defendants charged
with conspiracy in violation of the Sherman Act before and during
the time period charged is admissible as being relevant to the
issue of intent); United States v. Haldeman, 559 F.2d 31, 88-89
(D.C. Cir. 1976)(evidence of a break-in of the offices of a
psychiatrist was relevant to show a central motive for the
Watergate conspiracy), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 933 (1977).
35
n.3, or outside the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court.
See, e.g., Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States, 221
U.S. 1, 46-47 (1911) (activity prior to passage of the Sherman
Act admitted to show nature of subsequent conduct); Whittaker
Corp. v. Execuair Corp., 736 F.2d 1341, 1347 (9th Cir. 1984)
("Evidence of events or transactions which cannot be the subject
of a suit by virtue of a statute of limitations bar may be
introduced to show the nature and character of transactions under
scrutiny or to establish a course of conduct").
CONCLUSION
The United States is entitled to the documents and
interrogatory answers sought by its CIDs because it is authorized
36
WHEREFORE, the United States requests that the instant
petition be granted.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNE K. BINGAMAN ___________________________
Assistant Attorney General Robert P. Faulkner (430163)
ROBERT E. LITAN ___________________________
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Minaksi Bhatt (434448)
MARK SCHECHTER ___________________________
Deputy Director of Operations Stacy S. Nelson
Attorneys
U.S. Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
Civil Task Force
1401 H. Street, N.W.
Suite 3700
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 514-8398
37