Opinion
21-CV-08231 (AT) (OTW)
09-27-2022
STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, v. JOHN DOE, subscriber assigned IP address 71.105.203.38, Defendant.
OPINION & ORDER
ONA T. WANG, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Strike 3 Holdings, LLC (“Plaintiff”) moves for leave pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d)(1) to serve a subpoena on non-party Internet Service Provider Verizon Fios to ascertain the identity of Defendant John Doe. (ECF 9). In its Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant John Doe infringed upon Plaintiff's copyrights by downloading Plaintiff's films and distributing them without Plaintiff's authorization. For the reasons below, Plaintiff's motion is GRANTED.
I. Background
Plaintiff runs subscription-based websites streaming adult films and also licenses those films to third-party distributors. (ECF 1 (“Compl.”), ¶ 16). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant used BitTorrent, a file distribution network, to download and distribute Plaintiff's work without authorization. (Compl. ¶¶ 31, 46). To combat this suspected theft, Plaintiff developed, owns, and operates an infringement detection system, which established direct TCP/IP connections with Defendant's Internet Protocol (“IP”) address while Defendant was using the BitTorrent network, and downloaded one or more pieces of Plaintiff's works from Defendant. (Compl. ¶ 30-34). Defendant John Doe is associated with the IP address 71.105.203.38. (Compl. ¶ 5). Plaintiff alleges that Defendant downloaded and made available on BitTorrent at least one of Plaintiff's films. (Compl. ¶ 31).
Plaintiff explains that “BitTorrent is a system designed to quickly distribute large files over the Internet. Instead of downloading a file, such as a movie, from a single source, BitTorrent users are able to connect to the computers of other BitTorrent users in order to simultaneously download and upload pieces of the file from and to other users.” (Compl. ¶ 20).
Because Plaintiff only has Defendant's IP address, Plaintiff now moves for leave to subpoena Defendant's Internet Service Provider, Verizon Fios, for the name and address of Defendant John Doe.
II. Discussion
a. Legal Standard
Generally, a party may not seek discovery prior to the parties' Rule 26(f) conference unless it obtains leave of the Court. Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(d)(1). The Court will permit such early discovery upon a showing of “reasonableness” and “good cause.” Stern v. Cosby, 246 F.R.D. 453, 457 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). In cases involving subpoenas seeking identifying information from Internet Service Providers, courts apply this standard by looking at five factors: (1) whether plaintiff has a prima facie case for infringement, (2) the specificity of the request, (3) the absence of alternative means to obtain the information, (4) the need for the subpoenaed information, and (5) the defendant's expectations of privacy. See Strike 3 Holdings, LLC v. Doe, No. 18-CV-12167 (AJN), 2019 WL 340712, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2019) (citing Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3, 604 F.3d 110, 119 (2d Cir. 2010)).
b. Analysis
Plaintiff has made a prima facie showing of copyright infringement. “To prove a claim of copyright infringement, a plaintiff must show (1) ownership of a valid copyright and (2) copying of constituent elements of the work that are original.” Urbont v. Sony Music Entertainment, 831 F.3d 80, 88 (2d Cir. 2016). In its Complaint, Plaintiff attaches a sheet listing the United States Copyright Office registration information for its works that it claims Defendant distributed without authorization. (ECF 1-1). Plaintiff then alleges that Defendant “copied and distributed the constituent elements of Plaintiff's Works.” (Compl. ¶¶ 4, 52).
Plaintiff's request is also sufficiently specific, requesting only the “true identity” of the subscriber associated with IP address 71.105.203.38. (ECF 9 ¶ 3). Courts in this District have repeatedly found that information necessary to identify and serve the defendant satisfies the specificity factor. See, e.g., Strike 3 Holdings, LLC v. Doe, No. 18-CV-5590 (AJN), 2018 WL 3756453, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 19, 2018); Malibu Media, LLC v. Doe No. 4, No. 12-CV-2950 (JPO), 2012 WL 5987854, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 30, 2012); John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Doe Nos. 1-30, 284 F.R.D. 185, 190 (S.D.N.Y. 2012).
Plaintiff asserts that absent Verizon Fios's cooperation, it would otherwise be unable to identify Defendant. See ECF 9 ¶ 6; see also Wiley, 284 F.R.D. at 190 (noting BitTorrent only shows the user's IP address); Digital Sin, Inc. v. Does 1-27, No. 12-CV-3873 (JMF), 2012 WL 2036035, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. June 6, 2012) (pointing out that Internet providers' protection of customers' privacy means they are the only source of subscribers' identifying information).
It follows that because obtaining information from Verizon Fios is necessary to identify Defendant, obtaining information from Verizon Fios regarding the subscriber's IP address is necessary for the continued prosecution of this action. See Strike 3 Holdings, 2018 WL 3756453, at *3 (noting inability to serve the defendant would effectively terminate the litigation); Sony Music Entertainment Inc. v. Does 1-40, 326 F.Supp.2d 556, 566 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (finding Doe defendants' identities “critical”).
Lastly, “ISP subscribers have a minimal expectation of privacy in the transmission or distribution of copyrighted material.” Wiley, 284 F.R.D. at 191; see also Malibu Media, LLC v. John Does 1-11, No. 12-CV-3810 (ER), 2013 WL 3732839, at *6 (S.D.N.Y. July 6, 2013) (finding courts in this District agree on “minimal” privacy expectation for copyright infringers). Any concern about identifying the wrong individual and subsequent undue embarrassment can be alleviated with the Court's procedural safeguards described below. See Digital Sin, 2012 WL 2036035, at *4.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Serve a Third-Party Subpoena is hereby GRANTED. To protect the rights of Verizon Fios and Defendant John Doe, it is ORDERED that:
Plaintiff may immediately serve a Rule 45 subpoena on Verizon Fios to obtain the name and address of the subscriber associated with IP address 98.7.201.151. Plaintiff shall include a copy of this Order with the subpoena.
Verizon Fios shall have thirty (30) days from the date it is served the subpoena to serve the subscriber with a copy of the subpoena and a copy of this Order. Verizon Fios may use any reasonable means to provide such notice, including, but not limited to, written notice to the subscriber's last known address.
The subscriber shall have forty-five (45) days from the date he/she is served the subpoena to file any motion with the Court to contest the subpoena, including any request to litigate the subpoena anonymously. Verizon Fios shall not turn over the subscriber's identifying information to Plaintiff before the expiration of this 45-day period. Verizon Fios may also move to contest the subpoena consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45. If the subscriber or Verizon Fios files a motion to contest the subpoena, Verizon Fios may not turn over any information to Plaintiff pursuant to the subpoena until the Court has resolved all such motions and ordered Verizon Fios to disclose the information.
If the 45-day period lapses without the subscriber or Verizon Fios contesting the subpoena, Verizon Fios shall have ten (10) days to produce to Plaintiff all the information necessary to comply with the subpoena.
Verizon Fios shall preserve any subpoenaed information pending the resolution of any motion to contest the subpoena.
SO ORDERED.