Opinion
CIVIL BAH-23-2938
12-04-2023
STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, v. JOHN DOE, subscriber assigned IP address 71.244.200.10, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
BRENDAN A. HURSON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
The Court has pending before it this lawsuit brought by Plaintiff Strike 3 Holdings, LLC (“Strike 3” or “Plaintiff”) alleging copyright infringement and other claims against a single “John Doe” defendant (“Doe Defendant”), who is alleged to have utilized the BitTorrent file distribution network to download adult pornographic films subject to copyrights held by Strike 3. The Doe Defendant has been identified in the lawsuit only by an Internet Protocol address (“IP Address”) assigned to a customer on a specific date by an Internet Service Provider (“ISP” or “Provider”) and through which the copyrighted work was allegedly downloaded. Strike 3 has filed a motion for leave to serve a third-party subpoena prior to a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) discovery conference (ECF 4), requesting permission to initiate discovery to identify the account subscriber (“Doe Subscriber”) associated with the IP Address used to download its copyrighted films, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 26(d)(1), which preclude a party from seeking discovery from any source before the parties have conferred as required by Rule 26(f). Strike 3 contends that it must be permitted to issue a Rule 45 subpoena to Providers to identify the customer assigned the IP Address on the date or dates in question in order to learn the identity of the person responsible for downloading the copyrighted works, and that there is no other way for it to obtain this information.
An IP address is not really an “address” or physical “place” in the usual sense of the words, and therefore the term can be quite misleading. In fact, it is only an electronic “route” to the Internet assigned by a Provider to a customer on a given date and hour to provide access to the Internet. The route can be assigned to different customers on given dates or given hours. If a customer accesses the Internet briefly and signs off, the IP address is assigned to another customer.
The Court is aware that in similar cases filed by plaintiffs in other jurisdictions against Doe Defendants, concerns have been raised as to the sufficiency of the allegations of complaints because association of an IP address with a customer may be insufficient to state a claim. There also have been reports of plaintiffs undertaking abusive settlement negotiations with Doe Defendants due to the pornographic content in the copyrighted works, the potential for embarrassment, and the possibility of defendants paying settlements even though they did not download the plaintiff's copyrighted material.
See, e.g., Patrick Collins, Inc. v. Doe 1, 288 F.R.D. 233, 237-39 (E.D.N.Y. 2012) (noting many courts' “skepticism of the use of IP addresses to identify file sharing defendants in cases involving pornographic films,” adopting a magistrate judge's finding that “an IP address alone is insufficient to establish ‘a reasonable likelihood [that] it will lead to the identity of defendants who could be sued,'” and observing that “[d]ue to the prevalence of wireless routers, the actual device that performed the allegedly infringing activity could have been owned by a relative or guest of the account owner, or even an interloper without the knowledge of the owner.”).
See, e.g., Digital Sin, Inc. v. Does 1-176, 279 F.R.D. 239, 242 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (“The Court is concerned about the possibility that many of the names and addresses produced in response to Plaintiff's discovery request will not in fact be those of the individuals who downloaded [the copyrighted material]. The risk is not purely speculative; Plaintiff's counsel estimated that 30% of the names turned over by ISPs are not those of individuals who actually downloaded or shared copyrighted material. Counsel stated that the true offender is often the ‘teenaged son . . . or the boyfriend if it's a lady.'”); K-Beech, Inc. v. Does 1-85, No. 3:11cv469-JAG, at 4 (E.D. Va. Oct. 5, 2011), ECF No. 9 (“Some defendants have indicated that the plaintiff has contacted them directly with harassing telephone calls, demanding $2,900 in compensation to end the litigation.... This course of conduct indicates that the plaintiffs have used the offices of the Court as an inexpensive means to gain the Doe defendants' personal information and coerce payment from them. The plaintiffs seemingly have no interest in actually litigating the cases, but rather simply have used the Court and its subpoena powers to obtain sufficient information to shake down the John Does.”).
Having considered the concerns raised by other courts that have addressed similar cases, including this Court in Strike 3 Holdings, LLC, v. John Doe subscriber assigned IP address 76.100.68.129, Case No. 1:22-cv-01659-JKB (D. Md. July 15, 2022), ECF 5, and Strike 3's motion requesting permission to initiate discovery to identify the John Doe Subscriber, the Court GRANTS the motion, subject to the following conditions and limitations:
1. Strike 3 may obtain from the Clerk a Subpoena to be served on the ISP through which the Doe Subscriber allegedly downloaded the copyrighted work, and it may serve the ISP in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45. The Subpoena may command production of documents and/or electronically stored information (collectively, “Information”) identifying the Doe Subscriber. The Subpoena shall have as an attachment a copy of the complaint filed in this lawsuit, and a copy of this Order.
2. After having been served with the Subpoena, the ISP will delay producing to Strike 3 the subpoenaed Information until after it has provided the Doe Subscriber with:
a. Notice that this suit has been filed naming the Doe Subscriber as the one that allegedly downloaded copyright protected work;
b. A copy of the Subpoena, the complaint filed in this lawsuit, and this Order;
c. Notice that the ISP will comply with the Subpoena and produce to Strike 3 the Information sought in the Subpoena unless, within 30 days of service of the Subpoena, the Doe Subscriber files a motion to quash the Subpoena or for other appropriate relief in this Court. If a timely motion
to quash is filed, the ISP shall not produce the subpoenaed Information until the Court acts on the motion.
3. The Doe Subscriber may move to quash the Subpoena anonymously, but MUST PROVIDE his or her name and current address to the Clerk of the Court so that the Court may provide notice of the filings to the Subscriber. This may be accomplished by completing and mailing to the Clerk of the Court the attached form. This contact information will not be disclosed to the Plaintiff and will be used solely for the purposes stated above. The Court will not decide any motions until the Doe Subscriber has provided all required information. If the Doe Subscriber fails to file a motion to quash the Subpoena or for other appropriate relief within 30 days, the ISP shall provide to Strike 3 the Information requested in the Subpoena within 14 days. Strike 3's use of this Information shall be restricted as further provided in this Order. Pursuant to Rule 45(c), Strike 3 shall reimburse the ISP for its reasonable costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, associated with complying with the Subpoena and this Order.
4. On receipt of the Information from the ISP, Strike 3 must mark it as “Highly Confidential,” and, in the absence of further order of the Court, may only use it to determine whether, pursuant to Rule 11(b), it has sufficient information to amend the complaint to name as an individual defendant the Subscriber. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, Strike 3, its agents, representatives, and attorneys may not disclose the Information received from the ISP to any person not directly involved as an attorney in representing Strike 3 in this copyright infringement action relating to the Information received, except as provided below. Any person to whom the Information or its contents is disclosed shall be required to sign an agreement to be
bound by the provisions of this Order, enforceable by an action for contempt, prior to being informed of the Information or its contents. Any amended complaint filed by Strike 3 naming an individual defendant shall be filed so that the name and any specifically identifying information is redacted from the publicly available court docket, to be replaced by first and last initials only, with an unredacted copy of the amended complaint filed under seal. If Strike 3 determines that the Information received pursuant to the Subpoena is insufficient to support the filing of an amended complaint, it may a. Serve a subpoena pursuant to Rule 45(a)(1)(B) commanding the Subscriber to appear and attend a deposition to answer questions regarding whether the Subscriber was responsible for downloading the copyrighted work alleged in the original complaint.
b. Pursuant to Rule 26(b)(2)(C), the deposition permitted pursuant to paragraph 4.a of this Order shall not last more than one hour in duration. Pursuant to Rule 37(a)(4), the Subscriber shall answer questions fully and unevasively, but may refuse to answer questions that would require the disclosure of privileged (including the 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination) or work product protected information, as described in Rule 26(b)(1), (3), and (5).
c. No further discovery will be permitted unless authorized by the Court.
5. Strike 3 is prohibited from initiating, directly or indirectly, any settlement communications with any unrepresented Doe Defendant whose identity has been revealed pursuant to the Subpoena or deposition described in paragraph 4 above. Any settlement communications with an unrepresented Doe Defendant shall be
initiated only as approved by the Court. On request submitted to the Court at any time by Strike 3 or the Doe Subscriber, whether represented or unrepresented, settlement shall be conducted under supervision of one or more Magistrate Judges designated by the Court for this purpose. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, any settlement negotiations shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Local Rule 607.4. This paragraph shall not prevent Strike 3 from initiating or responding to a request for settlement communications with a Doe Defendant who is represented by counsel.
6. Within five (5) business days of this Order-and in any event, before it may serve any subpoena on the Doe Defendant's ISP-both Strike 3 and its counsel shall file certifications substantially identical to the forms attached as Exhibits A and B, respectively. If any additional attorneys wish to appear on behalf of Strike 3 in this action, they shall execute an identical certification and attach it to their appearance or motion for admission pro hac vice, as appropriate.
To the extent that the provisions herein, and particularly those in paragraphs four and five, limit the ways that Strike 3 may use any Information that it receives, those limitations are the conditions upon which Strike 3 is permitted to seek and receive expedited discovery. Accordingly, those limitations remain in effect until and unless modified by an order of this Court and do not expire at the conclusion of this litigation, irrespective of whether by entry of judgment, stipulation of dismissal, voluntary dismissal by Plaintiff, or other resolution.
Exhibit A
CERTIFICATION OF STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC
Pursuant to the Order entered on December 4, 2023 (the “Expedited Discovery Order”), ECF 5, Strike 3 Holdings, LLC (“Strike 3”), hereby certifies as follows under penalty of perjury, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746:
1) Strike 3 understands that the Expedited Discovery Order sets forth conditions under which expedited discovery may be sought from the internet service provider (“ISP”) serving the Doe Defendant in this case (the “Conditions”);
2) Strike 3 further understands that the Conditions in the Expedited Discovery Order include, but are not limited to:
a. A requirement that any identifying Information obtained be maintained as “Highly Confidential” and not be disclosed except as expressly permitted in the Expedited Discovery Order; and b. A prohibition on contacting an unrepresented Doe Defendant for the purposes of settlement;
3) Strike 3 understands that the Conditions are intrinsic to the grant of Strike 3's motion for expedited discovery and do not depend upon the continued existence of a pending case; to the contrary, the Conditions remain in effect until and unless they expressly are removed or altered by this Court;
4) Strike 3 will continue to abide by the Conditions even if this case is terminated or dismissed, and will not disclose the Doe Defendant's information or attempt to contact an unrepresented Doe Defendant unless expressly authorized to do so by this Court; and
5) In the event that Strike 3 should bring any future actions against this Doe Defendant, or any party reasonably believed to be this Doe Defendant, in this or any other jurisdiction, it will ensure that a copy of the Expedited Discovery Order and this Certification are attached to the complaint or the first document filed after it becomes apparent that the defendant may be this Doe Defendant.
I certify the foregoing to be true under penalty of perjury.
Exhibit B
CERTIFICATION OF COUNSEL
Pursuant to the Order entered on December 4, 2023 (the “Expedited Discovery Order”), ECF 5, ________ hereby certifies as follows under penalty of perjury, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746:
1) I understand that the Expedited Discovery Order sets forth conditions under which expedited discovery may be sought from the internet service provider (“ISP”) serving the Doe Defendant in this case (the “Conditions”);
2) I understand that the Conditions in the Expedited Discovery Order include, but are not limited to:
a. A requirement that any identifying Information obtained be maintained as “Highly Confidential” and not be disclosed except as expressly permitted in the Expedited Discovery Order; and b. A prohibition on contacting an unrepresented Doe Defendant for the purposes of settlement;
3) I understand that the Conditions are intrinsic to the grant of Strike 3's motion for expedited discovery, and do not depend upon the continued existence of a pending case; to the contrary, the Conditions remain in effect until and unless they expressly are removed or altered by this Court;
4) I will continue to abide by the Conditions even if this case is terminated or dismissed, and I will not disclose the Doe Defendant's information or attempt to contact an unrepresented Doe Defendant unless expressly authorized to do so by this Court; and
5) In the event that I represent Strike 3 in any future actions against this Doe Defendant, or any party reasonably believed to be this Doe Defendant, in this or any other jurisdiction, I will ensure that a copy of the Expedited Discovery Order and this Certification is attached to the complaint, the first document filed after it becomes apparent that the defendant may be this Doe Defendant, or the first document filed after I appear in that action, as appropriate.
I certify the foregoing to be true under penalty of perjury.