John Doe v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ORDER Signed by the Honorable Edmond E. Chang on 06/10/2025. Emailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Edmond E. Chang: In light of the continued applicability of the circumstances that warranted entry of the TRO, the motion for preliminary injunction 32 is granted. Given the answer deadline of 06/26/2025, R. 35, the tracking status hearing of 06/13/2025 is reset to 07/18/2025 at 8:30 a.m., but to track the case only (no appearance is required, the case will not be called). Instead, the parties shall file the joint initial status report by 07/08/2025. If the Defendant does not answer on time, then it is deemed to be in default as of 06/27/2025, and the Plaintiff shall file a motion for default judgment, if appropriate, by 07/08/2025. Emailed notice

(PUBLIC VERSION) SEALED TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER Signed by the Honorable Edmond E. Chang on 05/28/2025. Emailed notice

SEALED TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER Signed by the Honorable Edmond E. Chang on 05/28/2025. Emailed notice (mw,)

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Edmond E. Chang: In this copyright-infringement case, the Plaintiff's motion 20 for temporary restraining order and other relief is granted. An order will be entered under seal separately. Although the Court again expresses its concern about restraining assets before judgment, Grupo Mexicano de Desarrollo v. Alliance Bond Fund, 527 U.S. 308, 331 (1999), the Plaintiff does invoke a statutory remedy, namely, an accounting of profits (that is, disgorgement of profits) under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b), which is not a mere common-law equitable claim and thus could allow for pre-judgment restraint. Indeed, copyright owners need only prove "the infringer's gross revenue"; the defendant must prove expenses. 17 U.S.C. §504(b). To the extent that the restraint might be too broad, the Defendant may appear and file challenges to the scope of the TRO. The balance of factors tips in favor of Plaintiff being able to freeze the assets without advance warning to the Defendant, who likely would seek to transfer the money elsewhere. The Plaintiff's motion 24 for leave to file under seal is granted in light of the asset-restraint goal. By 06/04/2025, the Plaintiff shall email a redacted version of the TRO that can be entered publicly (redacting the names of Defendants and omitting Amended Schedule A). The Plaintiff's motion 22 for electronic service of process is granted. The prior motions 7, 11, 13 are terminated as superseded. To track the case only (no appearance is required, the case will not be called), a tracking status hearing is set for 06/13/2025 at 8:30 a.m. The Plaintiff shall file, if appropriate, the TRO extension motion (or a preliminary injunction motion) no later than 06/06/2025. Emailed notice