Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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CASE NO.
COMPLAINT FOR COPYRIGHT
INFRINGEMENT, VIOLATION OF
CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE 980(2),
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
CODE 17200 AND COMMON LAW
UNFAIR COMPETITION
REQUEST FOR JURY TRIAL
PRODUCTIONS
TION LTD., an entity of
unknown form; and DOES 1 20,
inclusive,
Defendants.
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Tunes, Inc.; Universal MusicMGB NA LLC; Universal MusicZ Tunes LLC; and
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Inflight Entertainment Alliance, and IFP; Inflight Productions USA Inc./AAEC Inc.
d/b/a Inflight Productions, Inflight Entertainment Alliance, and IFP; and Inflight
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Productions LDT, all working in concert with various airlines and others whose
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compositions, which are either copyrighted or protected under state law, for the
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advertised and promoted their use of Plaintiffs' copyrighted and otherwise protected
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passengers. Defendants have also failed and refused to disclose to Plaintiffs the
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identities of the many hundreds (if not thousands) of sound recordings and musical
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compositions they have infringed; the sound recordings and musical compositions set
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forth on Schedules B and C hereto are just a small sampling of the infringed works
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2.
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theft, and to advertise and promote Plaintiffs' recordings and musical compositions to
Plaintiffs' rights even after being notified by Plaintiffs That such conduct is unlawful
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rights under state law, either because they have directly engaged in infringing
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manifest, and irreparable harm to Plaintiffs, who invest millions of dollars and
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enormous amounts of time and creative energy to produce and exploit the
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the Copyright Act of the United States, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and under state law.
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18 I and 1367.
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6.
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solicit continuous and systematic business in California; which engage in the conduct
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alleged herein in California, which conduct has injured Plaintiffs in California; which
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transact business with one another in California, including with respect to the matters
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giving rise to this suit; which derive substantial revenue from goods used or services
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7.
Defendants conduct business in this District and, upon information and belief, a
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substantial part of the events giving rise to Plaintiffs' claims occurred in this District.
Plaintiffs have a principal place of business in this District and have been
THE PARTIES
existing under the laws of Delaware, with its principal place of business in Los
Angeles County, California, and is doing business in the State of California and in
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organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal
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place of business in Los Angeles County, California, and is doing business in the
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manufacturing, distributing, selling and/or licensing the distribution and sale of their
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States, as well as the importation of such sound recordings into the United States.
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The Record Company Plaintiffs are among the world's leading record companies and
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own the rights to thousands of sound recordings, including many of the most well-
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known and valuable sound recordings in the world. The Record Company Plaintiffs
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invest substantial sums of money, as well as time, effort, and creative talent, to
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exclusive recording artists, many of whom live and/or work in this District.
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The Record Company Plaintiffs are the copyright owners of, or the
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owners of exclusive rights in, certain sound recordings, including but not limited to
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the sound recordings listed in Schedule B, for which the Record Company Plaintiffs
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own copyrights protected by the Copyright Act. The Record Company Plaintiffs also
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5 existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal place of business in
6 Los Angeles County, California, and is duly qualified to transact business in the State
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9 corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of California with
10 its principal place of business in Los Angeles County, California, and is duly
11 qualified to transact business in the State of California and in this judicial District.
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13 corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with
14 its principal place of business in Los Angeles County, California, and is duly
15 qualified to transact business in the State of California and in this judicial District.
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22 duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal
23 place of business in Los Angeles County, California, and is duly qualified to transact
24 business in the State of California and in this judicial District.
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Benson Tunes, and Bridge Building Music) is a Limited Liability Company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York with its principal
place of business in Los Angeles County, California, and is duly qualified to transact
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qualified to transact business in the State of California and in this judicial District.
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Corp., Irving Music, Inc., and 360 Music) is a corporation duly organized and
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existing under the laws of the State of California with its principal place of business
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in Los Angeles County, California, and is duly qualified to transact business in the
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exploitation of musical compositions. The Music Publisher Plaintiffs are among the
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world's leading music publishing companies and own the rights to thousands of
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musical compositions, including many of the most well-known and valuable musical
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compositions in the world. The Music Publisher Plaintiffs invest substantial sums of
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money, as well as time, effort, and creative talent to acquire, administer, license and
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The Music Publisher Plaintiffs are the copyright owners and/or the
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Schedule C.
Defendants
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Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that
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Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that
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Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that
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Defendants"), are unknown to Plaintiffs, who therefore sue such defendants by such
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fictitious names. If necessary, Plaintiffs will seek leave of Court to amend this
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Complaint to state their true names and capacities when .the same have been
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ascertained. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that the Doe
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Defendants direct, control, ratify, participate in, materially contribute to, profit
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from, induce, encourage, facilitate, and/or are the moving force behind the violations
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of Plaintiffs' copyrights and rights under state law complained of herein or are
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otherwise liable to Plaintiffs as a result of their participation in all or some of the acts
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hereinafter set forth. Plaintiffs further are informed and believe and on that basis aver
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that each of the Doe Defendants was the agent of at least one of the named
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defendants, and in doing the things alleged in this complaint was acting within the
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course and scope of such agency; and/or acted in concert with at least one of the
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named defendants, and is jointly and severally liable to Plaintiffs with said named
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defendants. The named defendants and the Doe Defendants are hereinafter
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27, Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that some or
16 all of Defendants have also reproduced, distributed, publicly performed, and imported
17 the Record Company Plaintiffs' copyrighted music videos for the entertainment of
18 airline passengers.
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28. Defendants have further unlawfully advertised and promoted their use of
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1 ... Defendants' revenues and profits. The extent to which Defendants' unauthorized
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uses of Plaintiffs' property impact Defendants' rates, routes, and services, and
Plaintiffs are informed and believe that the theft of Plaintiffs' works is not necessary
Defendants have abused their purported authority, if they claim any such authority, to
provide music for the entertainment of airline passengers by stealing the music, i.e.,
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Plaintiffs in many separate and independent ways. By way of example only, and
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the value of such property for other uses, including first-use premiums and exclusive
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uses; and by using, and advertising and promoting their use of, Plaintiffs' property
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without any indication that such uses are licensed or authorized by Plaintiffs,
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Defendants denigrate and disparage Plaintiffs and their sound recordings and musical
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COUNT I
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many other sound recordings that the Record Company Plaintiffs own and which they
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are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that Defendants have infringed, to
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be identified in discovery.
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their predecessors in interest, or their licensors have registered the copyrights to the
sound recordings listed in Schedule B with the Copyright Office of the United States,
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Additionally, the Record Company Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that
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music videos, owned by the Record Company Plaintiffs, including sound recordings
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by such prominent recording artists as Katy Perry, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift,
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No Doubt, Colbie Caillat, Weezer, Andrea Bocelli, and Kanye West, to name just a
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few. For several months, Defendants promised to provide to the Record Company
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Plaintiffs a list of such unauthorized uses, but ultimately have failed and refused to do
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so. Accordingly, the Record Company Plaintiffs will obtain such information in
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discovery, and, if necessary, the will amend this Complaint to add additional claims
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under the Copyright Act once the specific identities of the sound recordings infringed
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rights to the sound recordings and music videos pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 106 and
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602.
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infringing conduct of others; and/or have failed to exercise their respective rights and
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abilities to control the conduct of those responsible for infringement, while deriving a
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Plaintiffs are entitled to statutory damages under the Copyright Act or, alternatively,
to the infringement. The Record Company Plaintiffs also are entitled to their
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this Court, will continue to cause the Record Company Plaintiffs great and irreparable
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the Record Company Plaintiffs are entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctions
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COUNT II
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among many other sound recordings that the Music Publisher Plaintiffs own and
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which they are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that Defendants have
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their predecessors in interest, or their licensors have registered the copyrights to the
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musical compositions listed in Schedule C with the Copyright Office of the United
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Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that Defendants have,
Justin Bieber, Eminem, the members of U2, the members of Imagine Dragons, and
Carrie Underwood., to name just a few. For several months, Defendants promised to
provide to the Music Publisher Plaintiffs a list of such unauthorized uses, but
ultimately have failed and refused to do so. Accordingly, the Music Publisher
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Plaintiffs will obtain such information in discovery, and, if necessary, the will amend
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this Complaint to add additional claims under the Copyright Act once the specific
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43.
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infringing conduct of others; and/or have failed to exercise their respective rights and
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abilities to control the conduct of those responsible for infringement, while deriving a
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conscious disregard of Plaintiffs' rights. The Music Publisher Plaintiffs are entitled
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infringement. The Music Publisher Plaintiffs also are entitled to their attorneys' fees
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46.
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this Court, will continue to cause the Music Publisher Plaintiffs great and irreparable
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injury that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money. The Music Publisher
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and under the common law. The Record Company Plaintiffs are informed and
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believe, and on that basis aver, that Defendants have, without permission, reproduced,
13, distributed, and publicly performed by means of digital audio transmissions hundreds,
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if not thousands, of additional sound recordings owned pursuant to state law by the
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artists as The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, the Supremes, the
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Beach Boys, and Muddy Waters, to name just a few. For several months, Defendants
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uses, but ultimately have failed and refused to do so. Accordingly, the Record
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Company Plaintiffs will obtain such information in discovery, and, if necessary, the
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will amend this Complaint once the specific identities of the sound recordings
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the Record Company Plaintiffs' exclusive ownership interests in and to the Record
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Company Plaintiffs' sound recordings owned pursuant to state law, Defendants have
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received proceeds and the Record Company Plaintiffs have been damaged in an
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l.. this Court, will continue to cause the Record Company Plaintiffs great and irreparable
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Company Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law. The Record Company Plaintiffs
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Defendants are guilty of oppression, fraud and/or malice and the Record
COUNT IV
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each of the allegations in paragraphs 1 through 32 and 50 through 53 set forth above.
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appropriation and invasion of the property rights of the Record Company Plaintiffs in
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and to the sound recordings that the Record Company Plaintiffs own pursuant to state
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law and which they are informed and believe, and on that basis aver, that Defendants
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Code 17200 and under the common law. If necessary, the Record Company
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Plaintiffs will amend this Complaint once the specific identities of the sound
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Company Plaintiffs are entitled to recover all proceeds and other compensation
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Record Company Plaintiffs' sound recordings owned pursuant to state law. The
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Record Company Plaintiffs have been damaged and Defendants have been unjustly
enriched, in an amount that shall be proved at trial for which damages, restitution,
should include a declaration by this Court that Defendants are constructive trustees
for the benefit of the Record Company Plaintiffs and an order that Defendants convey
to the Record Company Plaintiffs all the gross receipts received or to be received that
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this Court, will continue to cause the Record Company Plaintiffs great and irreparable
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Company Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law. The Record Company Plaintiffs
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57. Defendants are guilty of oppression, fraud and/or malice and the Record
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$150,000 with respect to each copyrighted work infringed, or for such other amount
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On Counts III and IV, for punitive and exemplary damages in such
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ownership interests;
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For Plaintiffs' costs, including, on Counts I and 1I, their attorneys' fees
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For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
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JEFFREY D. GOLDMAN
ELIZABETH A. CULLEY
JEFFER MANGELS BUTLER & MITCHELL LLP
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JEFFREY D. GOLDMAN
ELIZABETH A. CULLEY
JEFFER MANGELS BUTLER & MITCHELL LLP
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