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

    1. 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).
    2. 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.
    3. 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).
    4.  

       

      NATURE OF THE CASE

    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. THE PARTIES

    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. 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.
    17. 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.
    18. AVERMENTS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS

    19. 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.
    20. 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.
    21. 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.
    22. 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:
    23. 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:
    24. 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.
    25. 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.
    26. 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.
    27. 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.
    28. 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.
    29. 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.
    30. 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.
    31. 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:
    32. 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.
    33. Various news media outlets, including many outside of the United States, have profiled Defendants' illegal practices, thereby boosting Defendants' notoriety, web traffic, and revenue.
    34. 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.
    35. Defendants have not been granted a license to copy, publicly perform, or publicly display Plaintiffs' copyrighted programs or use Plaintiffs' trademarks.
    36. 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 . . . ."
    37. The RecordTV.com web site offers no other services or products besides the unauthorized copying, public performance, and public display of Plaintiffs' copyrighted programs.
    38. 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.
    39. 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."
    40. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Copyright Infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., against all Defendants)

    41. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    42. 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:
          1. 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.
          2. 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.
          3. 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.
          4. 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.
          5. 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.
          6. 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.
          7. 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.
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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).
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Trademark Infringement under 15 U.S.C. § 1114, against all Defendants)

    9. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    10. 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).
    11. 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.
    12. Such actions were intended to cause confusion, have caused confusion, and will continue to cause confusion unless enjoined.
    13. For each completed act of infringement, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover their actual damages as well as Defendants' profits from such infringement.
    14. 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.
    15. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Unfair Competition under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), against all Defendants)

    16. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    17. 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.
    18. 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).
    19. Such actions were intended to cause confusion, have caused confusion, and will continue to cause confusion unless enjoined.
    20. For each completed act of unfair competition, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover their actual damages as well as Defendants' profits from such infringement.
    21. 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.
    22. FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Violation of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984,

      47 U.S.C. § 553(a)(1), against all Defendants)

    23. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    24. 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).
    25. Defendants' violations were willful and for the purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
    26. Plaintiffs have been aggrieved by Defendants' conduct and will continue to be aggrieved by this conduct unless Defendants are enjoined.
    27. 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.
    28. 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.
    29. FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Unfair Competition in violation of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200,

      against all Defendants)

    30. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    31. Defendants actions discussed herein constitute unfair competition within the meaning of California Business and Professional Code § 17200.
    32. 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.
    33. SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF

      (Common Law Unfair Competition, against all Defendants)

    34. Plaintiffs reallege the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 36 of this Complaint as though fully and completely set forth herein.
    35. Defendants' actions discussed herein constitute unfair competition under the common law of the state of California.
    36. Defendants' actions have harmed Plaintiffs and will continue to harm Plaintiffs unless Defendants are enjoined.
    37. 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:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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).
    7. 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).
    8. That Plaintiffs recover their costs of suit incurred herein.
    9. That Plaintiffs recover their attorneys' fees reasonably incurred in this action.
    10. 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