Pandora wins versus songwriters in court

Pandora Media Inc. (P), the biggest Internet radio service, won a judge’s order to stop a group representing songwriters and music publishers from narrowing the scope of licenses that allow their music to be played.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan said in a ruling yesterday that Pandora’s five-year license beginning Jan. 1, 2011, wasn’t affected by withdrawals of new-media licensing rights from the repertory of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Cote granted Pandora’s request for summary judgment, citing an earlier consent decree.