Grumpy Cat Limited v. The Individuals, Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A Hereto

DECLARATION of Michael A. Hierl regarding motion for default judgment 41 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Hierl Exhibit 1)(Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 09/03/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Grumpy Cat Limited in support of motion for default judgment 41 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2)(Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 09/03/2024)

MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited for default judgment as to Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default and Default Judgment Against Defendants Identified in Amended Schedule A (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 09/03/2024)

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ORDER signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 7/9/2024. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 07/09/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction 33 is granted. Enter separate preliminary injunction order. Plaintiff's filings establish that Plaintiff has acted expeditiously to protect its interests and that there remains a significant risk Defendants will transfer relevant assets beyond the Court's reach. For these reasons, as well as the reasons provided in the whole of Plaintiff's filings and as stated by the Court in connection with entry of the TRO, the Court is persuaded that Plaintiff has satisfied the requirements for a preliminary injunction. In addition, the Court finds that the balance of harms favors Plaintiff and that a preliminary injunction serves the public interest by, among other things, protecting consumers from the marketing of counterfeit or infringing goods. Plaintiff has also certified and established 36 38 that it provided electronic notice to Defendants of the pendency of this case and provided a link to a website containing relevant case documents, but, despite the Court having provided 37 the opportunity to do so, no Defendant has objected to the motion for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiff's counsel is directed to ensure that all Defendants listed on Schedule A are added to the docket within five business days. The Clerk is directed to unseal any and all previously-sealed documents. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 07/09/2024)

DECLARATION of Michael A. Hierl regarding motion for preliminary injunction 33 (Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 06/27/2024)

MEMORANDUM by Grumpy Cat Limited in support of motion for preliminary injunction 33 (Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 06/27/2024)

MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited for preliminary injunction Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of a Preliminary Injunction (Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 06/27/2024)

ORDER TO EXTEND THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 6/14/2024. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 06/14/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Plaintiff's Motion to extend TRO 30 is granted. Enter separate order. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 06/14/2024)

MOTION by Plaintiff Grumpy Cat Limited for extension of time Plaintiff's Ex Parte Motion to Extend the Temporary Restraining Order (Hierl, Michael) (Entered: 06/14/2024)

SEALED TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 6/5/2024. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 06/05/2024)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Plaintiff's motion for leave to file under seal 7, motion to exceed page limitation 10, and ex parte motion for a temporary restraining order, which includes a motion for electronic service of process 11, are granted in part. Plaintiff's submissions (e.g., Dkt. 12-1 1015) establish that, were Defendants to learn of these proceedings before the execution of Plaintiff's requested preliminary injunctive relief, there is a significant risk that Defendants could destroy relevant documentary evidence and hide or transfer assets beyond the reach of the Court. Accordingly, subject to unsealing at an appropriate time, Plaintiff may for now file under seal the documents identified in the motion to seal and appearing at docket entries 8, and 13 24 . The Temporary Restraining Order being entered along with this minute order shall also be placed under seal. In addition, for the purpose of the motions cited above, Plaintiff's filings support proceeding (for the time being) on an ex parte basis under FRCP 65(b)(1). Specifically, and as noted above, were Defendants to be informed of this proceeding before a TRO could issue, it is likely assets and websites would be redirected, thus defeating Plaintiff's interests in identifying Defendants, stopping Defendants' infringing conduct, and obtaining the equitable accounting that, at this point, Plaintiff states that it may pursue. These facts justify, among other relief, the imposition of a prejudgment asset restraint against Defendants in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per separate account. In addition, the Court finds, at least for now on this limited and one-sided record and without prejudice to revisiting the issue, that it has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because they directly target their business activities toward consumers in the United States, including Illinois. Specifically, Defendants have targeted sales to Illinois residents by setting up and operating e-commerce stores that target United States consumers using one or more Seller Aliases, offer shipping to the United States, including Illinois, accept payment in U.S. dollars, and have sold products using infringing and counterfeit versions of Plaintiff's trademarks and copyrighted work(s) to residents of Illinois. The evidence presented to the Court also shows that Plaintiff has demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits (including evidence of active infringement and sales into Illinois), that the harm to Plaintiff is irreparable, and that an injunction is in the public interest. An injunction serves the public interest because of the consumer confusion caused by counterfeit and infringing goods, and there is no countervailing harm to Defendants from an order directing them to stop infringement. Electronic service of process does not violate any treaty and is consistent with due process because it effectively communicates the pendency of this action to Defendants. As several judges have previously noted, there may be reason to question both the propriety of joining all Defendants in this one action and whether Plaintiff will pursue an accounting (which Plaintiff asserts as justification for an asset freeze), but at this preliminary stage, the Court is persuaded that Plaintiff has provided sufficient evidence of coordinated activity and the prospect of an accounting to justify the requested relief as to all Defendants. The disabling of domain names is appropriate to prevent infringing conduct. Expedited discovery is warranted to identify Defendants and to implement the asset freeze. If any Defendant appears and objects, the Court will reconsider the asset freeze and joinder. Enter sealed Temporary Restraining Order. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 06/05/2024)