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1:10-cv-03442-ELH Masterfile Corporation v. Eglobaltalk Telecom LLC et al

Ellen L. Hollander, presiding Date filed: 12/08/2010 Date terminated: 06/07/2011 Date of last filing: 06/07/2011

Doc. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Dates Filed & Entered: 12/08/2010 Filed & Entered: 12/08/2010 Filed & Entered: 12/09/2010 Filed & Entered: 12/09/2010 Filed & Entered: 01/17/2011 Filed & Entered: 04/06/2011 Filed & Entered: 04/06/2011 Filed & Entered: 04/06/2011 Filed & Entered: 04/07/2011 Filed & Entered: 05/05/2011 06/06/2011 06/07/2011 06/07/2011 06/08/2011 Complaint

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Local Rule 103.3 Disclosure Statement Summons Issued Correspondence Case Assigned/Reassigned Notice (Other) Summons Returned Executed Summons Returned Executed Order Status Report Memorandum to Parties Status Report Settlement Order

10 Filed: Entered: 12 Filed: Entered:

11 Filed & Entered: 06/07/2011

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Case 1:10-cv-03442-ELH Document 1 Filed 12/08/10 Page 1 of 6

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE DIVISION MASTERFILE CORPORATION, a Canadian Corporation, 3 Concorde Gate, Fourth Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3C 3N7, Plaintiff, v. EGLOBALTALK TELECOM LLC, a Maryland Limited Liability Company, 5337 Ambrosia Drive Ellicott City, Maryland 21043, AND ANTHONY AJEBON, a Maryland resident, Howard County, 5337 Ambrosia Drive Ellicott City, Maryland 21043, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Civil Action No. ___________________

COMPLAINT Plaintiff Masterfile Corporation (Masterfile) states the following for its Complaint against Defendants EGlobalTalk Telecom LLC (EGlobalTalk) and Anthony Ajebon (Ajebon). SUBSTANCE OF THE ACTION 1. This is an action at law and in equity for copyright infringement arising under the

Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq. 2. This case arises out of Defendants unauthorized reproduction, public display, and

unauthorized creation of derivative works of six (6) images, the copyrights in which were all owned by Masterfile at the time of the infringement. Masterfile seeks injunctive relief, an accounting of each

Case 1:10-cv-03442-ELH Document 1 Filed 12/08/10 Page 2 of 6

Defendants profits, Masterfiles actual damages (or if it so elects, statutory damages), and Masterfiles reasonable costs and attorneys fees. The Parties 3. Masterfile is a Canadian corporation with its principal place of business located at 3

Concorde Gate, Fourth Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3C 3N7. Masterfile is a stock photography agency in the business of licensing reproduction and display rights in photographs and other images to users for a fee. 4. Upon information and belief, Defendant EGlobalTalk Telecom LLC is a limited liability

company existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with its principal place of business located at 5337 Ambrosia Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043. EGlobalTalk is engaged in the business of providing prepaid calling services, Internet services, and hosting solutions nationwide. EGlobalTalk controls, owns, and operates a website at www.miraclephonecard.com (the Website), through which it advertises its services and solicits customers. 5. Upon information and belief, Anthony Ajebon is an individual residing in the State of

Maryland, with a business address at 5337 Ambrosia Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043. Upon information and belief, Defendant Ajebon holds a significant ownership interest in Defendant EGlobalTalk and is the principal and alter ego of Defendant EGlobalTalk. Upon information and belief, Defendant Ajebon is a dominant influence in, and personally and intentionally directs and controls the activities of, Defendant EGlobalTalk. Jurisdiction and Venue 6. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this dispute under 28 U.S.C. 1331 and

1338 because this suit arises under the federal Copyright Act.

Case 1:10-cv-03442-ELH Document 1 Filed 12/08/10 Page 3 of 6

7.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because Defendants are citizens of

this State, transact business within this State, and/or a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims occurred in this State. 8. Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and 1400(a) because

Defendants reside in this district, do business in this district, a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims occurred in this district, and Defendants or their agents may be found in this district. Facts 9. Masterfile obtained assignments of the copyrights in six (6) images, identified by

Masterfile as 700-00043454, 700-00529645, 700-00561103, 700-00847226, 700-00847454, and 70001084291 (the Images) and obtained the following certificates of copyright registration from the United States Copyright Office covering each of the Images, with the effective date indicated: VA 1056-362 (July 18, 2000), VA 1-316-378 (July 12, 2005), VA 1-326-965 (September 19, 2005), VA 1367-783 (July 19, 2006), and VA 1-394-757 (January 30, 2007). Copies of the registration certificates are attached as Exhibit A. 10. Early this year, Masterfile became aware that the Images, or derivative works based on

the Images, were included on the Website, and provided notice to Defendants that the Images appeared on the Website without authorization. 11. Defendants have not, and have never been, licensed or authorized to reproduce or display

the Images on the Website or to create derivative works based on the Images. 12. Each of the Images is an original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of

expression from which it can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, and as such is protected by copyright.

Case 1:10-cv-03442-ELH Document 1 Filed 12/08/10 Page 4 of 6

13.

At all times relevant to this action, Masterfile was the sole and exclusive owner of all

right, title, and interest in and to the copyright in each of the Images. 14. 15. 16. Defendants had access to the Images. The Website included images identical to or substantially similar to the Images. Upon information and belief, without Masterfiles authorization, Defendant EGlobalTalk

and/or its agents, through the personal and intentional direction, supervision, and control of Defendant Ajebon, reproduced and publicly displayed Masterfiles copyrightable works and/or created and publicly displayed derivative works based on Masterfiles copyrightable works in violation of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 501. 17. infringement. 18. The infringement of Masterfiles copyrights has caused irreparable injury to Masterfile, Defendants are jointly and severally liable for direct and/or indirect copyright

and unless enjoined by this Court, such infringement could resume and cause further irreparable injury to Masterfile. 19. Upon information and belief, the acts of infringement alleged herein were committed

willfully and in knowing disregard of Masterfiles rights. Defendants did not immediately remove the Images from the Website after receiving Masterfiles notification that the Images were infringing, and have been entirely unresponsive to Masterfiles attempts at amicable resolution of this dispute. 20. As a result of Defendants acts of infringement alleged herein and in accordance with

Section 504(b) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 504(b), Masterfile is entitled to recover from Defendants the damages it has sustained and will sustain, and any profits obtained by Defendants as a

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result of or attributable to the infringement. At present, the amount of such damages and profits cannot be fully ascertained by Masterfile. 21. Because Masterfile timely registered the copyrights in the Images with the United States

Copyright Office in accordance with Section 412 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 412, Masterfile is entitled to recover statutory damages in an amount between $750 and $30,000 for each of the six (6) works infringed (or up to $150,000 for willful infringement of each work), if it so elects, in accordance with Section 504(c) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 504(c), and Masterfile is also entitled to recover its attorneys fees and costs, in accordance with Section 505 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 505. 22. Further, in accordance with Section 502 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 502,

Masterfile is entitled to injunctive relief to prevent Defendants from further copyright infringements of the Images. WHEREFORE, Masterfile prays for judgment as follows: 1. Permanently enjoining Defendants, their employees, agents, officers, directors, attorneys,

successors, affiliates, subsidiaries, and assigns, and all those in active concert and participation with Defendants from: (a) reproducing, displaying, distributing, creating derivative works of, or authorizing

any third party to reproduce, display, distribute, or create derivative works of the Images, or any image substantially similar thereto, or otherwise infringing Masterfiles copyrights in any manner, medium, or form; and (b) assisting, aiding, or abetting any other person or business entity in engaging or

performing any of the activities referred to in subparagraph (a).

Case 1:10-cv-03442-ELH Document 1 Filed 12/08/10 Page 6 of 6

2.

In accordance with Section 504(b) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 504(b), Masterfile

be awarded such damages as it has sustained and will sustain as a result of or attributable to Defendants copyright infringement, together with any profits obtained by Defendants as a result of or attributable to Defendants copyright infringement. 3. Masterfile, if it so elects, be awarded statutory damages in an amount between $750 and

$30,000 for each work infringed, and that such award be increased up to $150,000 per work infringed based on Defendants willful infringement, in accordance with Section 504(c) of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 504(c). 4. In accordance with Section 505 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 505, Masterfile be

awarded its expenses of litigation incurred in connection with this action, including its costs and attorneys fees. 5. 6. proper. This 8th day of December 2010. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Wilson L. White Wilson L. White (Bar No. 28400) KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP 1100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2800 Atlanta, GA 30309 Telephone: (404) 815-6500 Facsimile: (404) 815-6555 Email: wwhite@kilpatrickstockton.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Masterfile Corporation Masterfile be awarded interest, including prejudgment interest, on the foregoing sums. Masterfile be awarded such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and

Of Counsel: Alex S. Fonoroff (pro hac vice to be filed) Sabina A. Vayner (pro hac vice to be filed) KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP 1100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2800 Atlanta, Georgia 30309-4530 Telephone: (404) 815-6500 Facsimile: (404) 815-6555