Opinion
Case No. 21-cv-02466-JCS
05-06-2021
STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, v. JOHN DOE SUBSCRIBER ASSIGNED IP ADDRESS 162.206.72.115, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING EX PARTE APPLICATION TO SERVE SUBPOENA
Re: Dkt. No. 8
Plaintiff Strike 3 Holdings, LLC moves ex parte for leave to serve a third party subpoena prior to a Rule 26(f) conference. The Court being duly advised does hereby FIND, ORDER AND ADJUDGE:
1. Plaintiff has established that "good cause" exists for it to serve a third party subpoena on AT&T U-verse ("AT&T"). See UMG Recording, Inc. v. Doe, 2008 WL 4104214, *4 (N.D. Cal. 2008); and Arista Records LLC v. Does 1-19, 551 F. Supp. 2d 1, 6-7 (D.D.C. 2008).
2. Plaintiff may serve AT&T with a Rule 45 subpoena commanding AT&T to provide Plaintiff with the true name and address of the Defendant to whom AT&T assigned the IP address 162.206.72.115. Plaintiff shall attach to any such subpoena a copy of this Order.
3. Plaintiff may also serve a Rule 45 subpoena in the same manner as above on any service provider that is identified in response to a subpoena as a provider of Internet services to Defendant (together with AT&T, the "ISPs").
4. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that subpoenas authorized by this order and issued pursuant thereto shall be deemed appropriate court orders under 47 U.S.C. § 551. In particular, 47 U.S.C. § 551(c)(2)(B) provides as follows:
(c) Disclosure of personally identifiable information
[. . .]
(2) A cable operator may disclose such information if the disclosure is—
[. . .]
This order is an order authorizing such disclosure.
(B) subject to subsection (h) [relating to disclosures to governmental agencies] of this action, made pursuant to a court order authorizing such disclosure, if the subscriber is notified of such order by the person to whom the order is directed . . . .
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each ISP will have 30 days from the date of service upon it to serve each of its subscriber(s) whose identity information is sought with a copy of the subpoena and a copy of this order. The ISPs may serve the subscribers using any reasonable means, including written notice sent to the subscriber's last known address, transmitted either by first-class mail or via overnight service.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that each subscriber and each ISP shall have 30 days from the date of service upon him, her or it to file any motions in this court contesting the subpoena (including a motion to quash or modify the subpoena). If the 30-day period after service on the subscriber lapses without the subscriber or the ISP contesting the subpoena, the ISP shall have 10 days to produce to Plaintiff the information responsive to the subpoena with respect to that subscriber.
7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any ISP that receives a subpoena shall preserve all subpoenaed information pending the ISP's delivering such information to Plaintiff or the final resolution of a timely filed motion to quash the subpoena with respect to such information.
8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any information disclosed to Plaintiff in response to a subpoena may be used by Plaintiff solely for the purpose of protecting its rights under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.
9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any name or other personal identifying information of any current or proposed defendant shall be filed UNDER SEAL in all filings and not otherwise disclosed.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: May 6, 2021
/s/_________
JOSEPH C. SPERO
Chief Magistrate Judge