Opinion
Case No.: 16cv980-BAS (DHB)
05-04-2016
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. DOE-68.101.189.175, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S EX PARTE MOTION TO EXPEDITE DISCOVERY
[ECF No. 5]
On April 22, 2016, Plaintiff Dallas Buyers Club, LLC filed an Ex Parte Motion for Expedited Discovery. (ECF No. 5.) Because Defendant has not been named or served, no opposition or reply briefs have been filed. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiff's Motion is GRANTED.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On April 22, 2016, Plaintiff filed a Complaint against Doe, a subscriber assigned IP address 68.101.189.175 ("Defendant"). (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff alleges a single cause of action for direct copyright infringement. Plaintiff asserts that it is the registered copyright holder of the motion picture Dallas Buyers Club. (See ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 4, 6.) Plaintiff contends Defendant used the BitTorrent file distribution network to copy and distribute Plaintiff's copyrighted work through the Internet without Plaintiff's permission. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 35.)
On April 22, 2016, Plaintiff filed the instant Motion in which Plaintiff seeks leave to take early discovery to learn the identity of Defendant from his or her Internet Service Provider ("ISP"), Cox Communications. Specifically, Plaintiff seeks an order permitting it to serve a Rule 45 subpoena on Cox Communications for the identity of the account holder assigned to Defendant's IP address, and for further reasonable discovery as may be needed.
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
Generally, discovery is not permitted without a court order before the parties have conferred pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f). Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(d)(1). "[H]owever, in rare cases, courts have made exceptions, permitting limited discovery to ensue after filing of the complaint to permit the plaintiff to learn the identifying facts necessary to permit service on the defendant." Columbia Ins. Co. v. Seescandy.com, 185 F.R.D. 573, 577 (N.D. Cal. 1999) (citing Gillespie v. Civiletti, 629 F.2d 637, 642 (9th Cir. 1980)). Requests for early or expedited discovery are granted upon a showing by the moving party of good cause. See Semitool, Inc. v. Tokyo Electron Am., Inc., 208 F.R.D. 273, 275-76 (N.D. Cal. 2002) (applying "the conventional standard of good cause in evaluating Plaintiff's request for expedited discovery").
"The Ninth Circuit has held that when the defendants' identities are unknown at the time the complaint is filed, courts may grant plaintiffs leave to take early discovery to determine the defendants' identities 'unless it is clear that discovery would not uncover the identities, or that the complaint would be dismissed on other grounds.'" 808 Holdings, LLC v. Collective of December 29, 2011 Sharing Hash, No. 12-cv-0186 MMA (RBB), 2012 WL 1648838, *3 (S.D. Cal. May 4, 2012) (quoting Gillespie, 629 F.2d at 642). "A district court's decision to grant discovery to determine jurisdictional facts is a matter of discretion." Columbia Ins., 185 F.R.D. at 578 (citing Wells Fargo & Co. v. Wells Fargo Express Co., 556 F.2d 406, 430 n.24 (9th Cir. 1977)). / / /
District courts apply a three-factor test when considering motions for early discovery to identify Doe defendants. Id. at 578-80. First, "the plaintiff should identify the missing party with sufficient specificity such that the Court can determine that defendant is a real person or entity who could be sued in federal court." Id. at 578. Second, the plaintiff "should identify all previous steps taken to locate the elusive defendant" to ensure that the plaintiff has made a good faith effort to identify and serve process on the defendant. Id. at 579. Third, the "plaintiff should establish to the Court's satisfaction that plaintiff's suit against defendant could withstand a motion to dismiss." Id. (citing Gillespie, 629 F.2d at 642). Further "the plaintiff should file a request for discovery with the Court, along with a statement of reasons justifying the specific discovery requested as well as identification of a limited number of persons or entities on whom discovery process might be served and for which there is a reasonable likelihood that the discovery process will lead to identifying information about defendant that would make service of process possible." Id. at 580.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Identification of Missing Party with Sufficient Specificity
First, Plaintiff must identify Defendant with enough specificity to enable the Court to determine that Defendant is a real person or entity who would be subject to the jurisdiction of this Court. Columbia Ins., 185 F.R.D. at 578. This Court has previously determined that "a plaintiff identifies Doe defendants with sufficient specificity by providing the unique IP addresses assigned to an individual defendant on the day of the allegedly infringing conduct, and by using 'geolocation technology' to trace the IP addresses to a physical point of origin." 808 Holdings, 2012 WL 1648838, at *4 (quoting OpenMind Solutions, Inc. v. Does 1-39, No. C-11-3311 MEJ, 2011 WL 4715200 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 7, 2011); Pink Lotus Entm't, LLC v. Does 1-46, No. C-11-02263 HRL, 2011 WL 2470986 (N.D. Cal. June 21, 2011)).
Here, Plaintiff has filed a chart that lists the unique IP address corresponding to Defendant, and the dates and times of the purportedly infringing activity, as well as the city in which the IP address is located. (ECF No. 1-2.) Consequently, Plaintiff has identified Defendant with sufficient specificity. See OpenMind Solutions, 2011 WL 4715200, at *2 (concluding that plaintiff satisfied the first factor by identifying the defendants' IP addresses and by tracing the IP addresses to a point of origin within the State of California); Pink Lotus Entm't, 2011 WL 2470986, at *3 (same). In addition, Plaintiff has presented evidence that the identified IP address is physically located in this district. (See ECF Nos. 1-2; and 5-3 at ¶8, 9.) B. Previous Attempts to Locate Defendant
Next, Plaintiff must describe all prior steps it has taken to identify the defendant in a good faith effort to locate and serve him or her. See Columbia Ins., 185 F.R.D. at 579. Plaintiff states it has been able to identify much about Defendant, including which ISP provider he or she uses, where he or she is generally located, and what software he or she used to commit the alleged acts of infringement. (ECF No. 5-2 at 5.) However, Plaintiff generally maintains that there are no other practical measures available to determine the actual identity of Defendant. Thus, Plaintiff appears to have obtained and investigated the available data pertaining to the alleged infringement in a good faith effort to locate Defendant. See OpenMind Solutions, 2011 WL 4715200, at *3; MCGIP, LLC v. Does 1-149, 2011 WL 3607666, *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2011); Pink Lotus Entm't, 2011 WL 2470986, at *3. C. Ability to Withstand a Motion to Dismiss
"Finally, to be entitled to early discovery, [Plaintiff] must demonstrate that its Complaint can withstand a motion to dismiss." 808 Holdings, 2012 WL 1648838 at *5 (citing Columbia Ins., 185 F.R.D. at 579).
1. Ability to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can Be Granted
In order to establish copyright infringement, a plaintiff must show: (1) ownership of a valid copyright, and (2) that the defendant violated the copyright owner's exclusive rights under the Copyright Act. Ellison v. Robertson, 357 F.3d 1072, 1076 (9th Cir. 2004); 17 U.S.C. § 501(a). Here, Plaintiff alleges it owns the registered copyright of the work that Defendant allegedly copied and distributed using the BitTorrent file distribution network. (ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 4, 6.) Plaintiff also alleges it did not permit or consent to Defendant's copying or distribution of its work. (Id. at ¶ 35.) It appears Plaintiff has stated a prima facie claim for copyright infringement that can withstand a motion to dismiss.
2. Personal Jurisdiction
Plaintiff bears the burden of establishing jurisdictional facts. See Columbia Ins. Co., 185 F.R.D. at 578. Plaintiff's Complaint indicates that Defendant is located in this judicial district. (See ECF No. 1-2 (showing the IP address associated with Defendant is located in San Diego, California). The Complaint also alleges that Defendant's acts of copyright infringement occurred using an IP address traced to a physical location in this district, and that Defendant is believed to reside in California. (ECF No. 1. at ¶ 3, 14.)
Therefore, at this early juncture, it appears Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts to show it can likely withstand a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction because Defendant's IP address was traced to a location in this district. See 808 Holdings, 2012 WL 1648838 at *6-7.
2. Venue
"The venue of suits for infringement of copyright is not determined by the general provision governing suits in the federal district courts, rather by the venue provision of the Copyright Act." Goldberg v. Cameron, 482 F. Supp. 2d 1136, 1143 (N.D. Cal. 2007) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a); Lumiere v. Mae Edna Wilder, Inc., 261 U.S. 174, 176 (1923)). "In copyright infringement actions, venue is proper 'in the district in which the defendant or his agent resides or may be found.'" Brayton Purcell LLP v. Recordon & Recordon, 606 F.3d 1124, 1128 (9th Cir. 2010) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a)). "The Ninth Circuit interprets this statutory provision to allow venue 'in any judicial district in which the defendant would be amendable to personal jurisdiction if the district were a separate state.'" Id.
Plaintiff alleges venue is proper because although Defendant's true identity is unknown, Defendant is believed to reside (and therefore can be found in this district), and a substantial part of the infringing acts complained of occurred in this district. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 3, 13.) Defendant appears to have an IP address in this district. (See ECF No. 1-2.) Plaintiff's counsel has submitted a declaration explaining that counsel used geolocation trackers to trace the IP address to San Diego County. (ECF No. 5-3 at ¶8, 9.) Accordingly, Plaintiff's Complaint can likely survive a motion to dismiss. D. Specific Discovery Request
Here, Plaintiff requests leave to serve a Rule 45 subpoena on Cox Communications. Plaintiff indicates the subpoena will be limited to requesting the name and address of the subscriber associated with Defendant's IP address. The Court finds this limitation is appropriate. The Court further finds that the subpoena should be limited to requesting information about the subscriber during the relevant time period, which is that identified in Exhibit 1 to the Complaint. Therefore, the Court determines Plaintiff has shown good cause to subpoena records from Cox Communications for the identity of the subscriber assigned to Defendant's IP address at the identified times. However, once Plaintiff is able to identify and serve Defendant, the need for early discovery ceases. Therefore, Plaintiff's request for leave to conduct any further discovery is denied. E. Cable Privacy Act
Finally, the Court must consider the requirements of the Cable Privacy Act, 47 U.S.C. § 551. The Act generally prohibits cable operators from disclosing personally identifiable information regarding subscribers without the prior written or electronic consent of the subscriber. 47 U.S.C. § 551(c)(1). A cable operator, however, may disclose such information if the disclosure is made pursuant to a court order and the cable operator provides the subscriber with notice of the order. 47 U.S.C. § 551(c)(2)(B). The ISP that Plaintiff intends to subpoena in this case is a cable operator within the meaning of the Act.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiff's Ex Parte Motion for Expedited Discovery is GRANTED, as follows:
1. Plaintiff may serve a subpoena on Defendant's ISP, Cox Communications, seeking the name and address only of the subscriber assigned to Defendant's IP address during the time period of the alleged infringing activity that is described in Exhibit 1 to the Complaint.
2. The subpoena must provide a minimum of forty-five (45) days notice before any production and shall be limited to one category of documents identifying the particular subscriber listed on Exhibit 1 to Plaintiff's Complaint. (ECF No. 1-2.) The requested information should be limited to the name and address of the subscriber during the time period of the alleged infringing activity. Cox Communications may seek a protective order if it determines there is a legitimate basis for doing so.
3. Cox Communications shall have fourteen (14) calendar days after service of the subpoena to notify the subscriber that his or her identity has been subpoenaed by Plaintiff. The subscriber whose identity has been subpoenaed shall then have thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the notice to seek a protective order or file any other responsive pleading.
4. Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this Order with any subpoena obtained and served pursuant to this Order to Cox Communications. Cox Communications, in turn, must provide a copy of this Order along with the required notice to the subscriber whose identity is sought pursuant to this Order.
5. No other discovery is authorized at this time.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: May 4, 2016
/s/_________
Hon. David H. Bartick
United States Magistrate Judge