PORTLAND (AP) – A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday ruled in favor of the British Broadcasting Corp. in lawsuit that pitted rock superstar Mick Fleetwood against the BBC over access to archived music recordings.

Fleetwood’s company, Bee Load Ltd., contended that the BBC reneged on an agreement to let it release CDs of radio performances from the BBC archives featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Elton John, among others.

Bee Load argued that the BBC suffered from seller’s remorse after entering into a contract with Bee Load, which was set up by Fleetwood, Fleetwood Mac’s drummer, and Fleetwood’s accountant, Joe McNulty of Cape Elizabeth.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Haines delivered his ruling Thursday as lawyers for both sides sat in the courtroom, the Portland Press Herald reported on its Web site.

Haines said McNulty was “obsessed” with taking exclusive rights from the BBC that were not part of the business agreement. Haines said BBC executives tried to make the deal work and did nothing illegal when they severed the relationship with Bee Load.

Bee Load initially filed a lawsuit in 2003 in Cumberland County Superior Court because the company lists Portland as its primary place of business. The BBC contended the case properly belonged before London’s High Court.

A judge in England last year ruled in BBC’s favor on most issues, but left a few matters to be resolved at trial that took place in Portland last summer.

The case ended up in bankruptcy court when Bee Load filed for protection under U.S. bankruptcy law.

AP-ES-02-14-08 1458EST