Public Knowledge’s consent decree comments (http://bit.ly/1B0OMxJ) to the...

Public Knowledge’s consent decree comments (http://bit.ly/1B0OMxJ) to the Justice Department were aligned with the sentiments of digital broadcasters. PK said the decrees help ward off the “anticompetitive” tendencies of performing rights organizations (PROs) (CD Aug 7 p9; Aug 6 p7; Aug 4 p12)). The decrees are an “important mechanism in encouraging the development of new legal music services, especially online,” said Jodie Griffin, PK senior staff attorney, in a Thursday news release (http://bit.ly/1oqkv6v). DOJ’s Antitrust Division is reviewing the existing consent decrees for PROs American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Broadcast Music Inc. (CD June 5 p9). Comments, which were due Wednesday, are expected to be publicly available this week, said an official associated with the review. “If we look to the publishers’ attempt to withdraw some of their rights from the PROs, we can see how the publishers have the incentive and ability to coordinate instead of compete,” said Griffin. She said DOJ should “ensure the consent decrees continue to protect competition in the music licensing market.”