MPAA v. Record TV Complaint
|
ROBERT M. SCHWARTZ (Cal. Bar
No. 117166)
JAMES P. JENAL (Cal. Bar
No. 180190)
THOMAS P. JIRGAL (Cal. Bar
No. 202637)
O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 700
Los Angeles, California 90067
Telephone: (310) 553-6700
Facsimile: (310) 246-6779
Attorneys for Plaintiffs |
|
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
|
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC., a Delaware
corporation; DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., a Delaware corporation; TWENTIETH
CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation; COLUMBIA PICTURES
INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation; CPT HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware
corporation; COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION, INC., a Delaware
corporation; TRISTAR TELEVISION, INC., a Delaware corporation; TRISTAR
PICTURES, INC., a Delaware corporation; ELP COMMUNICATIONS, a California
partnership; PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation; UNIVERSAL
CITY STUDIOS, INC., a Delaware corporation; TIME WARNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
Plaintiffs,
v.
RECORDTV.COM, a California corporation; DAVID SIMON, an individual; and DOES
1 through 10,
Defendants.
|
Case No.
COMPLAINT FOR:
(1) COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT,
(2) TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT IN VIOLATION OF LANHAM ACT § 32 (15 U.S.C. §
1114)
(3) UNFAIR COMPETITION IN VIOLATION OF LANHAM ACT § 43(a) (15 U.S.C. §
1125(a)),
(4) VIOLATION OF THE CABLE COMMUNICATIONS POLICY ACT (47 U.S.C. § 533),
(5) UNFAIR COMPETITION IN VIOLATION OF CAL. BUS. & PROF. CODE § 17200,
and
(6) COMMON LAW UNFAIR COMPETITION
|
Plaintiffs Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Disney Enterprises, Inc.,
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., CPT
Holdings, Inc., Columbia Pictures Television, Inc., TriStar Television, Inc.,
TriStar Pictures, Inc., ELP Communications, Paramount Pictures Corporation,
Universal City Studios, Inc., and Time Warner Entertainment Co., L.P.,
(collectively, "Plaintiffs"), for their complaint against Defendants
RecordTV.com, David Simon, and Does 1 to 10 (collectively,
"Defendants"), allege and aver as follows:
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
- Through this action, Plaintiffs assert claims against Defendants
arising under the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et
seq., the Trademark Act of 1946, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et
seq., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200, California common law, and the
Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, 47 U.S.C. § 553(a)(1). This Court has
original subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' federal claims pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1337(a), and 1338(a), and supplemental subject matter
jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1367(a).
- This Court has specific personal jurisdiction over all of the defendants as
each has purposefully committed, within the state, the acts from which these
claims arise and/or has committed tortious acts outside California, knowing and
intending that such acts would cause injury within the state. The Court also
has general personal jurisdiction over Defendant RecordTV.com and Defendant
David Simon as each conducts continuous, systematic, and routine business
within the State of California and the County of Los Angeles.
- Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the Central
District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b), 1391(c) and
1400(a).
NATURE OF THE CASE
- Plaintiffs - copyright holders and/or motion pictures studios -
bring this action to put a stop to Defendants' willful piracy on the
Internet. Defendant RecordTV.com and its founder, Defendant David Simon,
operate a World Wide Web site through which they make unauthorized copies of
Plaintiffs' copyrighted television programs and motion pictures through the
unlawful use of a Los Angeles area cable television signal. After making these
infringing copies, Defendants publicly perform them to anyone in the world who
has an Internet connection. RecordTV.com claims to receive more than
one million visitor "hits" at its site each
day and to have more than 50,000 active users of its service.
- Defendants say that RecordTV.com represents an "innovation" in
the delivery of television programming. In reality, Defendants are doing
nothing more innovative than using modern computer technology to make
bootlegged copies and offer unauthorized public performances and public
displays of Plaintiffs' works on an advertiser-supported web
site. RecordTV.com and Mr. Simon have taken what is not theirs, duplicated it,
and distributed it for their own commercial gain to millions of Internet users
around the world. RecordTV.com and Mr. Simon are fully aware that their
actions violate the law. Defendants have admitted that their lawyers advised
them that their actions were - as Defendants put it - "completely
illegal." Defendants tell anyone who reads their publicly available
business plan that, "The beauty of this business is that we have ZERO cost
of content for the web site . . . ." While Defendants may want to pay
nothing for their content, Plaintiffs and their affiliates have no such
luxury. Plaintiffs and/or their affiliates spend billions of dollars every
year to develop, produce, distribute, and promote the television shows, motion
pictures, and other content that Defendants have paid "ZERO" to copy,
display, and perform publicly on their commercial site for their own
profit. Defendants are aware of Plaintiffs' rights arising under copyright law
but refuse to respect them. Accordingly, Plaintiffs respectfully seek this
Court's assistance to stop Defendants' theft of their intellectual property and
to recover for the damage that Defendants have already inflicted.
THE PARTIES
- Plaintiff Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. ("MGM") is a
Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 2500 Broadway
Street, Santa Monica, California 90404. MGM owns (directly or through
subsidiaries) the United States copyright in episodes of many television series
telecast by United States television stations, such as Stargate SG-1,
Cagney and Lacey, and In the Heat of the Night. MGM also owns
(directly or through subsidiaries) the United States copyright in many
theatrical motion pictures telecast by United States television stations, such
as Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky III, and the "James
Bond" movies, such as Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes
Only, and The Living Daylights.
- Plaintiff Disney Enterprises, Inc. ("Disney") is a Delaware
corporation with its principal place of business at 500 South Buena Vista
Street, Burbank, California 91521. Disney owns the United States copyright in
many episodes of television programs telecast by United States television
stations, such as Home Improvement and The Wonderful World of
Disney. Disney also owns the exclusive distribution rights and United
States copyright in many theatrical motion pictures telecast by United States
television stations, such as George of the Jungle, Honey, I Shrunk
the Kids, and A Simple Twist of Fate.
- Plaintiff Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation ("Fox") is a
Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 10201 West Pico
Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90035. Fox owns the United States copyright
in many episodes of television series telecast by United States television
stations, such as The Simpsons, Ally McBeal, The X-Files,
Dharma and Greg, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, King of the
Hill, The Practice, and Chicago Hope. Fox also owns
the United States copyright in many theatrical motion pictures telecast by
United States television stations, such as Toys, Nine Months, and
Mrs. Doubtfire.
- Plaintiffs Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., CPT Holdings, Inc., Columbia
Pictures Television, Inc., TriStar Television, Inc., and TriStar Pictures,
Inc., are Delaware corporations with a principal place of business at 10202
West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232. Plaintiff ELP
Communications is a California partnership with a principal place of business
at 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232. Together,
these six plaintiffs - collectively referred to hereinafter as
"Columbia" - own the United States copyright in many episodes of
television series telecast by United States television stations, such as
Who's the Boss, Mad About You, Married with Children, Designing
Women, Party of Five, and The Young and the
Restless. Columbia also owns the United States copyright in many
theatrical motion pictures telecast by United States television stations, such
as It Could Happen to You, Look Who's Talking Too, and Places
in the Heart.
- Plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation ("Paramount") is a
Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 5555 Melrose Avenue,
Los Angeles, California 90028. Paramount owns the United States copyright in
many episodes of television series telecast by United States television
stations, such as Cheers, Frasier, Entertainment Tonight,
Star Trek: Voyager, Wings, and JAG. Paramount also owns
the United States copyright in many theatrical motion pictures telecast by
United States television stations, such as Top Gun, Trading
Places, Tommy Boy, and The Saint.
- Plaintiff Universal City Studios, Inc. ("Universal") is a
Delaware corporation with a principal place of business at 100 Universal City
Plaza, Universal City, California 91608. Universal owns the United States
copyright in many episodes of television series telecast by United States
television stations, such as Murder, She Wrote. Universal also owns the
United States copyright in many theatrical motion pictures telecast by United
States television stations, such as The Breakfast Club, Jurassic
Park, and Babe.
- Plaintiff Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. ("Warner
Bros.") is a Delaware limited partnership with a principal place of
business at 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California 91522, whose divisions
include Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. Television. Warner Bros. owns the United
States copyright in many episodes of television series telecast by United
States television stations, such as E.R., Friends, The Drew
Carey Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, Night Court, and The
Rosie O'Donnell Show. Warner Bros. also owns the exclusive distribution
rights under United States copyright in many theatrical motion pictures
telecast by United States television stations, such as The
Bodyguard, Batman, Presumed Innocent, and
Selena.
- Upon information and belief, Defendant RecordTV.com is a California
corporation with its principal place of business in Agoura Hills,
California. It is doing business within the jurisdiction of this Court.
- Upon information and belief, Defendant David Simon ("Simon") is a
citizen and resident of the State of California. Simon is doing business
within the jurisdiction of this Court.
- The true names and capacities, whether individual, corporate or otherwise,
of the defendants named herein as Does 1 through 10 are presently unknown to
Plaintiffs, who therefore sue said defendants by such fictitious
names. Plaintiffs will seek to amend this complaint to allege the true names
and capacities of said defendants when they have ascertained such
information. Plaintiffs are informed and believe that each defendant named
herein as Does 1 through 10 has participated in some or all of the acts or
conduct alleged in this Complaint and is liable to Plaintiffs by reason
thereof.
AVERMENTS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS
- Plaintiffs own the United States copyrights or own exclusive rights
under copyright in a substantial amount of television programming telecast in
the United States and offered on Defendants' website, including (without
limitation) a substantial amount of the prime-time programming, such as
E.R., Ally McBeal, Frasier, Everybody Loves
Raymond, Star Trek: Voyager, The Drew Carey Show,
Friends, King Of The Hill, The Simpsons, Mad About
You, Married With Children, and The
X-Files. Plaintiffs also own the United States copyrights or own exclusive
rights under copyright in thousands of theatrical motion pictures which are
licensed for telecast and retransmission by United States television stations
and cable television system operators, including the cable system that
Defendants are using.
- In addition to copyrights in these television programs and movies,
Plaintiffs own registered and unregistered trademarks associated with these
creative works, or are licensees with the legal right to use these
trademarks.
- In total, Plaintiffs and/or their affiliates spend several billion dollars
each year to create, develop, produce, and distribute such
programming. Plaintiffs either sell or license such programming to various
media outlets. For each movie or television program produced by Plaintiffs,
their ability to recover their respective investments depends on their ability
to offer licensees the exclusive right to exhibit or distribute such television
program or movie, either temporally or geographically.
Defendants are the operators of an Internet site called
RecordTV.com. It is found at <http://www.RecordTV.com>. Defendants
describe the service provided by the RecordTV.com web site as an
advertiser-supported, commercial "Internet VCR" through which users
of the site may "record" television programming and movies for
subsequent viewing. The following is a true and correct image of
Defendants' home page, as it appeared on June 14, 2000, which Plaintiffs
incorporate herein by this reference:
To Internet users who visit the RecordTV.com site, Defendants offer a
weekly cable television schedule from which visitors may choose television
programs and movies to have copied for viewing once the authorized broadcast
has been completed. The following is a true and correct image of
Defendants' page of show listings, as Defendants made it available to the
public on June 14, 2000, which Plaintiffs incorporate herein by this
reference:
RecordTV.com will copy not only those of Plaintiffs' copyrighted works that
are broadcast on free, over-the-air stations, but also those of
Plaintiffs' copyrighted works that are publicly displayed on major cable
television channels and that are available for viewing only by persons who pay
a fee to a cable television service for permission to view such
programming.
Plaintiffs allege on information and belief that one or more of the
defendants is a subscriber of a cable television service located in the County
of Los Angeles and is using the cable television signal received from that
service as the source of the "services" available on
RecordTV.com. Each television program or movie in the weekly television
schedule presented to RecordTV.com users is "hot-linked." Thus, to
select a program for recording, the visitor need only "click" on the
listing with his or her mouse pointer.
After a user has requested a television program or movie, RecordTV.com uses
the signal from its cable television service provider and its computer
facilities and storage devices to create an unauthorized digital copy of the
television program or movie. RecordTV.com then stores this unauthorized,
digital copy at its facilities for 10 days to permit viewing by the user who
requested RecordTV.com to make the unauthorized, digital copy. Within 10 ten
days, the user may view a "streamed" public performance and public
display of the unauthorized, digital copy anywhere he or she has Internet
access, as many times as he or she wants.
To view a copied television program or movie, the user must return to the
RecordTV.com web site. Once there, the individual may view a list of
television programs or movies that RecordTV.com has copied for the user. Each
listing for a copied television program or movie is "hot-linked." To
watch any one of them, the user need only click on the listing for the
television program or movie.
Once a copied television program or movie is selected for viewing,
RecordTV.com transmits the digitized television program or movie through the
Internet to the end-user, who is then able to watch a "streaming" or
"streamed" performance of one of Plaintiffs' copyrighted works.
According to Defendants, thousands of individuals a day use the
RecordTV.com site to request that Plaintiffs' television programs and movies be
copied and retransmitted.
On information and belief, if it were not for Defendants' illegal
activities, many users of RecordTV.com, particularly those outside the Los
Angeles area and/or those without cable television service, would not have
lawful access to the copyrighted programs they view through RecordTV.com.
Defendants sell advertising space on its site to various individuals and
companies. The following is a true and correct image from Defendants' site, as
Defendants made it available to the public on June 14, 2000, which shows some
of the "banner ads" running on Defendants' site, and which Plaintiffs
incorporate herein by this reference:
According to Defendants, the revenue generated from this advertising is
directly related to the number of visitors to the RecordTV.com site. Thus, the
more individuals that visit RecordTV.com, the more money RecordTV.com's
advertisers pay it. Defendants estimate that the site will generate in excess
of $900,000 this year from such advertisements.
Various news media outlets, including many outside of the United States,
have profiled Defendants' illegal practices, thereby boosting
Defendants' notoriety, web traffic, and revenue.
To generate additional revenues, Defendants plan to add video commercials
to Plaintiffs' copyrighted works and to offer premium services (e.g., HBO,
pay-per-view movies, etc.) for a subscription fee.
Defendants have not been granted a license to copy, publicly perform, or
publicly display Plaintiffs' copyrighted programs or use
Plaintiffs' trademarks.
Defendants have not sought to license the right to copy, publicly perform,
or publicly display Plaintiffs' copyrighted programs and have no intention to
do so. Rather, according to a business plan that Defendants distribute to any
person making an e-mail request, "The beauty of this business is that we
have ZERO cost of content for the web site . . . ."
The RecordTV.com web site offers no other services or products besides the
unauthorized copying, public performance, and public display of
Plaintiffs' copyrighted programs.
Plaintiffs allege on information and belief that Defendants have received
legal advice informing them of the illegality of their actions, yet have
decided to continue offering their copy, public performance, and public display
service.
Plaintiffs allege on information and belief that Defendants have no
intention of ceasing their illegal activities until ordered to do so by a court
of law. In fact, Defendants state in their business plan that despite their
knowing and flagrant violation of Plaintiffs' copyrights and trademarks, their
conduct is "not likely to be subject to a simple summary judgment or cease
and desist letter."
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Copyright Infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 101 et
seq., against all Defendants)
Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
Plaintiffs are the legal or beneficial owners of certain United States
copyrights in and to a substantial amount of television programs and movies
currently available through United States broadcast and cable television
channels. Plaintiffs have registered these copyrights with the Copyright
Office and possess valid registrations for each copyrighted television program
and movie. By way of illustration, the following plaintiffs are the legal or
beneficial owner of the following copyrighted works which have been made
available for copying, public performance, and public display on
RecordTV.com:
- MGM
: Stargate SG-1 (e.g., Reg. No. PA
920-870); Cagney and Lacey (e.g., Reg. No. PA 201-317); In the
Heat of the Night (e.g., Reg. No. PA 380-479); Diamonds Are
Forever (e.g., Reg. No. RE 808-180); For Your Eyes Only
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 108-671); The Living Daylights (e.g.,
Reg. No. PA 345-071); The Spy Who Loved Me (e.g., Reg. No. LP
48613); War Games (e.g., Reg. No. PA 176-384); and You Only
Live Twice (e.g., Reg. No. RE 712-225). True and correct copies of
the copyright registration certificates for the foregoing works are attached
hereto as Exhibit A in the order identified above and incorporated herein by
this reference.
- Disney
: Hello Again (e.g., Reg. No. PA
342-401); Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (e.g., Reg. No. PA
416-847); My Boyfriend's Back (e.g., Reg. No. PA
641-567); George of the Jungle (e.g., Reg. No. PA 671-091); and
A Simple Twist of Fate (e.g., Reg. No. PA 716-937). True and
correct copies of the copyright registration certificates for the foregoing
works are attached hereto as Exhibit B in the order identified above and
incorporated herein by this reference.
- Fox
: Ally McBeal (e.g., Reg. No. PA
958-102); Buffy the Vampire Slayer (e.g., Reg. No. PA
963-758); The X-Files (e.g., Reg. No. PA 957-982); The
Simpsons; (e.g., Reg. No. PA 963-743); King of the Hill
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 660-457); The Practice (e.g.,
Reg. No. PA 958-332); Mischief (e.g., Reg. No. PA 241-496); and
Alien 3 (e.g., Reg. No. PA 565-581). True and correct copies of
the copyright registration certificates for the foregoing works are attached
hereto as Exhibit C in the order identified above and incorporated herein by
this reference.
- Columbia
: Designing Women (e.g., Reg. No. PA
336-225); Mad About You (e.g., Reg. No. PA 619-316); Married
. . . With Children (e.g., Reg. No. PA 388-775); The Nanny
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 736-451); Party of Five (e.g.,
Reg. No. PA 751-180); The Young and the Restless (e.g.,
Reg. No. PA 937-351); It Could Happen to You (e.g., Reg. No. PA
719-415); Lady in Question (e.g., Reg. No. R 440723); and
Places in the Heart (e.g., Reg. No. PA 228-302). True and
correct copies of the copyright registration certificates for the foregoing
works are attached hereto as Exhibit D in the order identified above and
incorporated herein by this reference.
- Paramount
: Cheers (e.g., Reg. No. PA
678-574); Frasier (e.g., Reg. No. PA 775-812); The Maury
Povich Show (e.g., Reg. No. PA 671-008); The Montel Williams
Show (e.g., Reg. No. PA 671-015); Stark Trek: Voyager
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 775-677); Wings (e.g., Reg. No. PA
678-470); Tommy Boy (e.g., Reg. No. PA 701-975); and Trading
Places (e.g., Reg. No. PA 180-572). True and correct copies of the
copyright registration certificates for the foregoing works are attached hereto
as Exhibit E in the order identified above and incorporated herein by this
reference.
- Universal
: Murder She Wrote (e.g., Reg. No. PA
751-134); The Breakfast Club (e.g., Reg. No. PA
265-464); Jaws: The Revenge (e.g., Reg. No. PA
412-519); Magnum, P.I. (e.g., Reg. No. PA 130-196); Northern
Exposure (e.g., Reg. No. PA 515-830); and Simon and Simon
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 135-178). True and correct copies of the
copyright registration certificates for the foregoing works are attached hereto
as Exhibit F in the order identified above and incorporated herein by this
reference.
- Warner Bros.
: The Drew Carey Show (e.g., Reg. No. PA
827-198); The Dukes of Hazzard (e.g., Reg. No. PA
46-830); E.R. (e.g., Reg. No. PA 775-450); Friends
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 789-111); Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of
Superman (e.g., Reg. No. PA 758-057); Night Court
(e.g., Reg. No. PA 208-027); Cheyenne Autumn (e.g.,
Reg. Nos. LP 32384 & RE 586-377); Hot To Trot (e.g.,
Reg. No. PA 383-404); House of Wax (e.g., Reg. No. RE
82-028); Presumed Innocent (e.g., Reg. No. PA 477-416); and
Selena (e.g., Reg. No. PA 873-082). True and correct copies of
the copyright registration certificates for the foregoing works are attached
hereto as Exhibit G in the order identified above and incorporated herein by
this reference.
- Because, in the absence of discovery, Plaintiffs do not presently know
which of their copyrighted works Defendants have copied, publicly performed,
and publicly displayed, Plaintiffs cannot presently identify which of their
copyrighted works have been infringed and in which respects. Upon obtaining
that information, Plaintiffs will seek leave of this Court to amend this
complaint to allege which of their specific copyrighted works Defendants have
unlawfully copied, publicly performed, and publicly displayed.
- Through the Internet site RecordTV.com, Defendants have copied, publicly
performed, and publicly displayed Plaintiffs' copyrighted works without
Plaintiffs' authorization. Each such act is an infringement of the exclusive
rights granted to Plaintiffs by 17 U.S.C. § 106.
- Through the Internet site RecordTV.com, Defendants intend to continue
copying, publicly performing, and publicly displaying Plaintiffs' copyrighted
works without Plaintiffs' authorization. Each such act will be an infringement
of the exclusive rights granted to Plaintiffs by 17 U.S.C. § 106.
- Defendants' infringement has allowed them to collect profits in the
thousands of dollars and is adversely affecting the potential market for and
value of Plaintiffs' copyrighted works that Defendants have infringed and are
continuing to infringe.
- Defendants committed each act of infringement with the knowledge that the
television programs and movies they were copying, publicly performing, and
publicly displaying were subject to valid United States copyright registrations
and with the knowledge that Defendants were not authorized to copy, publicly
perform, or publicly display such copyrighted works. Defendants' infringement
was thus "willful" within the meaning of 17
U.S.C. § 504(c)(2).
- For Defendants' completed acts of infringement, Plaintiffs are entitled to
recover Plaintiffs' actual damages and any profits of Defendants not taken into
account in computing the actual damages or, at their election, statutory
damages for willful infringement in the amount of $150,000 per copyrighted work
infringed.
- Monetary relief alone is not adequate to address fully the irreparable
injury that Defendants' illegal actions have caused and will continue to cause
Plaintiffs if not enjoined. Plaintiffs therefore are also entitled to
preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop Defendants' ongoing
infringement of Plaintiffs' copyrights.
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Trademark Infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114,
against all Defendants)
- Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
- Plaintiffs are the owners of registered trademarks associated with the
ownership of television programs and movies whose copyrights Defendants have
infringed and are infringing including, by way of illustration,
"MGM" (e.g., Reg. Nos. 1,380,800 and 2,246,312), "20th
Century Fox" (e.g., Reg. Nos. 1,465,225 and 1,884,026),
"Disney" (e.g., Reg. No. 826,419),
"Paramount" (e.g., Reg. No. 1,695847),
"Universal" (e.g., Reg. No. 2,285,891), and "Warner
Bros." (e.g., Reg. No. 1,026,466), as well as the trademarks used
to identify numerous individual television programs, such as The
Simpsons (e.g., Reg. No. 1,916,921), The X-Files
(e.g., Reg. No. 1,899,298) and ER (e.g.,
Reg. No. 2,094,532).
- Through the Internet site RecordTV.com, Defendants are using
Plaintiffs' registered trademarks in commerce without the authorization of
Plaintiffs in a way that has caused consumer confusion as to
Plaintiffs' association with, affiliation with, or sponsorship of
Defendants' web site and the services provided thereby.
- Such actions were intended to cause confusion, have caused confusion, and
will continue to cause confusion unless enjoined.
- For each completed act of infringement, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover
their actual damages as well as Defendants' profits from such
infringement.
- Monetary relief alone is not adequate to address fully the irreparable
injury that Defendants' illegal actions have caused and will continue to cause
Plaintiffs if not enjoined. Plaintiffs therefore are also entitled to
preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop Defendants' ongoing
infringement of Plaintiffs' registered trademarks.
THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Unfair Competition under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a),
against all Defendants)
- Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
- Plaintiffs are the owners of unregistered trademarks associated with the
television programs and movies whose copyrights Defendants have infringed and
are infringing including, by way of illustration, Who's the Boss, Mad
About You, Married With Children, and The Young and the
Restless. Each of these trademarks is inherently distinctive. Plaintiffs,
moreover, have developed and maintain substantial secondary meaning in each of
these trademarks.
- Through the Internet site RecordTV.com, Defendants are using
Plaintiffs' unregistered trademarks in commerce without the authorization of
Plaintiffs in a way that has caused consumer confusion as to
Plaintiffs' association with, affiliation with, or sponsorship of
Defendants' web site and the services provided thereby. These actions
constitute unfair competition in violation of § 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15
U.S.C. § 1125(a).
- Such actions were intended to cause confusion, have caused confusion, and
will continue to cause confusion unless enjoined.
- For each completed act of unfair competition, Plaintiffs are entitled to
recover their actual damages as well as Defendants' profits from such
infringement.
- Monetary relief alone is not adequate to address fully the irreparable
injury that Defendants' illegal actions have caused and will continue to cause
Plaintiffs if not enjoined. Plaintiffs therefore are also entitled to
preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop Defendants' ongoing unfair
competition.
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of the Cable Communications Policy Act of
1984,
47 U.S.C. § 553(a)(1), against all Defendants)
- Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
- Defendants' actions in splitting their cable signal and/or re-transmitting
portions thereof to others violate the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984,
47 U.S.C. § 553(a)(1).
- Defendants' violations were willful and for the purposes of commercial
advantage or private financial gain.
- Plaintiffs have been aggrieved by Defendants' conduct and will continue to
be aggrieved by this conduct unless Defendants are enjoined.
- For Defendants' completed violations, Plaintiffs are entitled to their
actual damages and any profits of Defendants not taken into account in
computing the actual damages or, at their election, statutory damages of up to
$50,000.
- Monetary relief alone is not adequate to address fully the irreparable
injury that Defendants' illegal actions have caused and will continue to cause
Plaintiffs if not enjoined. Plaintiffs therefore are also entitled to
preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop Defendants' ongoing
violations of the Cable Communications Policy Act.
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Unfair Competition in violation of
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200,
against all Defendants)
- Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
- Defendants actions discussed herein constitute unfair competition within
the meaning of California Business and Professional Code § 17200.
- Pursuant to California Business and Professional Code § 17203, Plaintiffs
are entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief ordering Defendants
to cease this unfair competition, as well as disgorgement of all of
Defendants' profits associated with this unfair competition.
SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Common Law Unfair Competition, against all
Defendants)
- Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of
this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
- Defendants' actions discussed herein constitute unfair competition under
the common law of the state of California.
- Defendants' actions have harmed Plaintiffs and will continue to harm
Plaintiffs unless Defendants are enjoined.
- As a consequence of Defendants' unfair competition, Plaintiffs are entitled
to damages and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief ordering Defendants
to cease this unfair competition.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for relief against Defendants, and each of them
as follows:
- That Defendants, their agents, servants and employees and all persons
acting in concert with them be restrained and enjoined preliminarily and
permanently from copying, altering, publicly performing, duplicating, and
publicly displaying Plaintiffs' copyrighted works and trademarks, or any
colorable representation thereof.
- That all copies of Plaintiffs' works in Defendants' possession, custody, or
control be destroyed, or otherwise appropriately disposed of, and that all
storage devices, copying, streaming, and other distribution equipment,
including all computers, computer servers, all hardware and software pertaining
or connected thereto, and all other devices by which Defendants have copied,
publicly performed, of publicly displayed Plaintiffs' works, be seized from
Defendant and destroyed, or otherwise appropriately disposed of, pursuant to 17
U.S.C. § 503.
- That Defendants be required to account for all gains, profits and
advantages derived from their acts of infringement and for their other
violations of law.
- That Defendants be required to pay over to Plaintiffs the actual damages
suffered by them as a result of the infringement and any profits of Defendants
attributable to the infringement of Plaintiffs' exclusive rights under
copyright and to pay such damages to Plaintiffs as this Court shall deem to be
just and proper within the provisions of the Copyright Act, or, in the
alternative, at Plaintiffs' election, statutory damages as set forth in 17
U.S.C. § 504.
- That Defendants be required to pay over to Plaintiffs the actual damages
they have suffered by Defendants' infringement of their registered and
unregistered trademarks as well as any profits derived by Defendants from this
infringement.
- That Defendants, their agents, servants and employees and all persons
acting in concert with them be restrained and enjoined preliminarily and
permanently from intercepting or receiving or assisting in intercepting or
receiving any communications service offered over a cable system without
authorization from a cable operator, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 553(c)(2)(A).
- That Defendants be required to pay over to Plaintiffs the actual damages
suffered by them as a result of Defendants' violation of the Cable
Communications Policy Act of 1984 and any profits of Defendants not taken into
account in computing the actual damages or, at their election, statutory
damages of up to $50,000, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 553(c)(2)(B).
- That Plaintiffs recover their costs of suit incurred herein.
- That Plaintiffs recover their attorneys' fees reasonably incurred in this
action.
- That Plaintiffs have such other and further relief as the Court deems just
and proper.
Dated: June 15, 2000.
ROBERT M. SCHWARTZ
JAMES P. JENAL
THOMAS P. JIRGAL
O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
By
Robert M. Schwartz
Attorneys for Plaintiffs