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Strike 3 Holdings Files 18 Cases in California in Only 3 Days

If You’ve Received a Notice from Strike 3 Holdings – Read This

Eighteen more households will be receiving a notice from their Internet Service Provider (e.g., AT&T, Charter/Spectrum, XFinity/Comcast, Verizon, etc.) telling them that Strike 3 Holdings has subpoenaed the subscriber’s identity. Who is Strike 3 Holdings? Why do they want your identity?

Strike 3 Holdings owns the rights to the adult film brands Vixen, Tushy, and Blacked. They are notorious for mass-filing lawsuits across the company that allege investigators observed an IP address downloading and sharing the company’s films on BitTorrent networks. Strike 3 Holdings then sues the IP address for copyright infringement.

However, an IP address is merely a unique identifier for an internet connection. In order to find the proper defendant (that is the person that downloaded the files), the Plaintiff subpoenas the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for the subscriber’s identity. Some judges have noted that it’s dubious to assume the internet subscriber (the person that pays the bill) is the same person who downloaded the material. After all, many homes have multiple people who use the same internet connection – and unauthorized use can occur. Yet, courts across the country have rubber stamped the subpoena process for Strike 3 Holdings to allow them to get the identities of internet subscribers to try to find a person willing to pay a settlement. The settlement amounts are carefully calculated to be just below the cost of an effective defense.

Most subscribers find out about the lawsuit when they receive a notice from their ISP. The ISP is obligated to comply with the subpoena unless a Motion to Quash is filed. This is a court motion to void or “quash” the subpoena. However, Motions to Quash are complex in these cases as the subpoena is between the Plaintiff and the ISP, meaning the subscriber is a third party. I’m happy to discuss with you whether filing a Motion to Quash or alternative motions is advisable in your case.

For more information on what these lawsuits mean for internet subscribers, please check out our FAQ section.

If you’ve received one of these notices or have been served with the lawsuit, it’s vital to retain counsel without delay. There are timelines imposed by the court that must be adhered to in order to defend yourself. This Plaintiff is notoriously aggressive and an effective defense can help secure the best possible outcome for you. Failing to respond in court once you have been served can result in a default judgement against you. Default judgments typically involve ruling in the Plaintiff’s favor and awarding thousands of dollars in damages per infringement in addition to the Plaintiff’s legal fees and costs.

[Read more…] about Strike 3 Holdings Files 18 Cases in California in Only 3 Days

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Malibu Media and Strike 3 Holdings File 35 Cases in New York

If You’ve Received a Notice from Strike 3 Holdings or Malibu Media – Read This

Thirty-five more BitTorrent-based copyright infringement lawsuits have been filed in New York by Malibu Media (7 cases) and Strike 3 Holdings (28 cases). Malibu Media owns the rights to X-Art brand films and Strike 3 Holdings operates Vixen, Tushy, and Blacked. For any other type of Plaintiff, mass-filing these lawsuits would be extraordinarily difficult. These Plaintiffs, however, file nearly identical lawsuits, only changing the IP address accused of infringement and the list of alleged infringements. They allege their investigators observed an IP address repeatedly downloading the Plaintiff’s copyrighted works through BitTorrent networks and then sues each IP address for copyright infringement.

However, an IP address is merely a unique identifier for an internet connection. In order to find the proper defendant (that is the person that downloaded the files), the Plaintiff subpoenas the Internet Service Provider (e.g., Charter/Spectrum, XFinity/Comcast, Optimum/Altice, RCN, Verizon, etc.) for the subscriber’s identity. Some judges have noted that it’s dubious to assume the internet subscriber (the person that pays the bill) is the same person who downloaded the material. After all, many homes have multiple people who use the same internet connection – and unauthorized use can occur. The subscriber may not even live at the residence the internet is being provided for.

Yet, courts across the country have granted tremendous leeway to Malibu Media and Strike 3 Holdings to allow them to get the identities of internet subscribers to try to find a person willing to pay a settlement. The settlement amounts are carefully calculated to be just below the cost of an effective defense.

Most subscribers find out about the lawsuit when they receive a notice from their Internet Service Provider (ISP) notifying them that the Plaintiff has subpoenaed the subscriber’s identity. The ISP is obligated to comply with the subpoena unless a Motion to Quash is filed. This is a court motion to void or “quash” the subpoena. However, Motions to Quash are complex in these cases as the subpoena is between the Plaintiff and the ISP, meaning the subscriber is a third party. I’m happy to discuss with you whether filing a Motion to Quash or alternative motions is advisable in your case.

If you’ve received one of these notices or have been served with the lawsuit, it’s vital to retain counsel without delay. There are timelines imposed by the court that must be adhered to in order to defend yourself. This Plaintiff is notoriously aggressive and an effective defense can help secure the best possible outcome for you. Failing to respond in court once you have been served can result in a default judgement against you. Default judgments typically involve ruling in the Plaintiff’s favor and awarding thousands of dollars in damages per infringement in addition to the Plaintiff’s legal fees and costs.

For more information on what these lawsuits mean for internet subscribers, please check out our FAQ section.

[Read more…] about Malibu Media and Strike 3 Holdings File 35 Cases in New York

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Strike 3 Holdings Files 25 Cases in Pennsylvania in 1 Day

If You’ve Received a Notice from Strike 3 Holdings – Read This

Strike 3 Holdings has filed 25 BitTorrrent-based copyright infringement lawsuits in Pennsylvania – in just one day! For any other type of Plaintiff, this would be extraordinarily difficult, however, Strike 3 Holdings manages to do so because each lawsuit is nearly identical. They allege their investigators observed an IP address repeatedly downloading the Plaintiff’s copyrighted works through BitTorrent networks and then sues each IP address for copyright infringement.

But, an IP address is just a unique identifier for an internet connection. In order to find the proper defendant, that is the person that actually downloaded the files, the Plaintiff subpoenas the Internet Service Provider (e.g., CenturyLink, Charter/Spectrum, XFinity/Comcast, Cox, Optimum/Altice, RCN, Verizon, etc.) for the subscriber’s identity. Some judges have noted that it’s dubious to assume the internet subscriber (the person that pays the bill) is the same person who downloaded the material. After all, many homes have multiple people who use the same internet connection – and unauthorized use can occur. Some subscribers may not even live at the residence the internet is being provided for, such as with landlords.

Yet, courts across the country have granted tremendous leeway to Strike 3 Holdings to allow them to get the identities of internet subscribers to try to find a person willing to pay a settlement. The settlement amounts are carefully calculated to be just below the cost of an effective defense.

Most subscribers find out about the lawsuit when they receive a notice from their Internet Service Provider (ISP) notifying them that Strike 3 Holdings has subpoenaed the subscriber’s identity. The ISP is obligated to comply with the subpoena unless a Motion to Quash is filed. This is a court motion to void or “quash” the subpoena. However, Motions to Quash are complex in these cases as the subpoena is between the Plaintiff and the ISP, meaning the subscriber is a third party. I’m happy to discuss with you whether filing a Motion to Quash or alternative motions is advisable in your case.

If you’ve received one of these notices or have been served with the lawsuit, it’s vital to retain counsel without delay. There are timelines imposed by the court that must be adhered to in order to defend yourself. This Plaintiff is notoriously aggressive and an effective defense can help secure the best possible outcome for you. Failing to respond in court once you have been served can result in a default judgement against you. Default judgments typically involve ruling in the Plaintiff’s favor and awarding thousands of dollars in damages per infringement in addition to the Plaintiff’s legal fees and costs.

For more information on what these lawsuits mean for internet subscribers, please check out our FAQ section.

[Read more…] about Strike 3 Holdings Files 25 Cases in Pennsylvania in 1 Day