Xcentric Ventures LLC v. Goddeau et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT. Filing fee received: $350.00, receipt number PHX 0970-5293142, filed by Xcentric Ventures LLC (submitted by David Gingras).(REK)

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David S. Gingras, #021097
Gingras Law Office, PLLC
3941 E. Chandler Blvd., #106-243
Phoenix, AZ 85048
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

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Attorney for Plaintiff Xcentric Ventures, LLC

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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XCENTRIC VENTURES, LLC, an
Arizona limited liability company,
Plaintiff,

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
3941 E. CHANDLER BLVD., #106-243
PHOENIX, AZ 85048

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COMPLAINT

v.
RICHARD J. GODDEAU;
GSCSC, INC., a Nevada corporation;
DOES 1-10, inclusive,
Defendants.

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Case No: ___________________

For its Complaint Plaintiff Xcentric Ventures, LLC alleges as follows:
1.

This is a civil action seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief for

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various acts of copyright infringement under the copyright laws of the United States (17

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U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) and for various acts of trademark infringement in violation of the

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Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, et seq., and related state law claims.

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2.

This Court has jurisdiction under 15 U.S.C. § 1121 (trademark); 17 U.S.C.

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§ 101 et seq. (copyright); 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question); and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a)

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(copyright). This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over state and common law claims

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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a).

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3.

Venue in this District is proper under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b) and (c), and/or

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28 U.S.C. § 1400(a). A substantial part of the acts of infringement complained of

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occurred in this District, and certain corporate defendants are subject to personal

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jurisdiction in this District.
COMPLAINT

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4.

Personal jurisdiction in this District is proper because each defendant

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engaged in acts of copyright infringement within the District of Arizona, and/or

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intentionally directed tortious conduct at Plaintiff knowing such conduct would cause

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harm within this District.

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5.

Plaintiff XCENTRIC VENTURES, LLC (“Plaintiff”) is and at all relevant

times was an Arizona limited liability company located in Phoenix, Arizona.
6.

Plaintiff operates a consumer complaint and free speech forum known as

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the Rip-off Report located at www.RipoffReport.com (the “Rip-off Report site”). The

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Rip-off Report is widely used by consumers, and works closely with government

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agencies, attorneys general, federal, state, and local law enforcement, and the news media

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to help report, identify and prevent consumer fraud and similar conduct.

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7.

Defendant RICHARD GODDEAU (“GODDEAU”) is, and at all relevant

GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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times has been, a resident of the State of New York who caused the events herein

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described to occur with knowledge that they would cause harm within the State of

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Arizona. Upon information and belief, GODDEAU also has engaged in continuous,

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systematic and substantial contacts with the State of Arizona sufficient to confer general

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and specific personal jurisdiction over him in this District.

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8.

Defendant GSCSC, INC. (“GSCSC”) is a dissolved Nevada corporation

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previously owned by GODDEAU which caused the events herein described to occur with

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knowledge that they would cause harm within the State of Arizona.

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dissolution, GODDEAU was the owner, President, Secretary, Treasurer, and sole

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Director of GSCSC.

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continuous, systematic and substantial contacts with the State of Arizona sufficient to

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confer general and specific personal jurisdiction over him in this District.

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9.

Prior to its

Upon information and belief, GSCSC also has engaged in

Upon information and belief, GODDEAU and/or GSCSC have from time

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to time used various fictitious names including the names of non-existent corporations

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including, but not limited to “REPORT A RIP OFF, INC.” which purports to be a

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Nevada-based corporation.
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COMPLAINT

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10.

“Report A Rip Off, Inc.” is not an valid Nevada corporation, nor is it a

valid corporation in any state.
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“Report A Rip Off, Inc.” is a pseudonym used by Defendant GODDEAU.

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GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
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Plaintiff is and at all relevant times has been the lawful owner of the mark

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“RIP-OFF REPORT” which has been registered with the United States Patent and

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Trademark Office and assigned registration #2958949.

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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13.

Since February 1998 through the filing of this action, Plaintiff has

continuously used the mark “RIP-OFF REPORT” in commerce to identify and
distinguish Plaintiff’s business from other businesses in the same field.
14.

Plaintiff’s ownership of the “RIP-OFF REPORT” mark is incontestable as a

matter of law pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1065.
15.

Plaintiff is and at all relevant times has been the lawful owner of the mark

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“DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” which has been registered with the United

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States Patent and Trademark Office and assigned registration #2824390.

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16.

Since February 1998 through the filing of this action, Plaintiff has

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continuously used the mark “DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” in commerce

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to identify and distinguish Plaintiff’s business from other businesses in the same field.

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17.

Plaintiff’s ownership of the “DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT”

mark is incontestable as a matter of law pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1065.
18.

Plaintiff is the owner of various copyrights relating to content appearing on

the Rip-off Report website.
19.

Plaintiff is the owner of the federal copyright issued by the United States

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Copyright Office Certificate of Registration No. TXu1-574-438 entitled “Rip-off Report

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Content” dated March 25, 2008 (the “‘438 Copyright”). The ‘438 Copyright applies to

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all non-user generated original content located at www.RipoffReport.com including all

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sub-pages and including, but not limited to, the following specific URLs:

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/
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COMPLAINT

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/ConsumersSayThankYou/WantToSueRipoffReport.aspx

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/PrivacyPolicy.aspx

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/ConsumersSayThankYou/TermsOfService.aspx

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/CorporateAdvocacy.aspx and

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• http://www.ripoffreport.com/ConsumersSayThankYou/FalseReport.aspx

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DEFENDANTS’ ACTIVITIES
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Since at least November 2010, Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have

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engaged in a campaign to willfully infringe Plaintiff’s ‘438 Copyright and to engage in

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deceptive and unlawful commercial use of Plaintiff’s registered marks including, but not

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limited to, the “RIP-OFF REPORT mark and the “DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY

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WITH IT” mark.

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21.

Specifically, on November 5, 2010, Defendant GODDEAU registered the

GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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domain name <REPORTARIPOFF.NET> which he used to create an imposter website

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known as “Report A Ripoff” which contained large amounts of original material copied

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from Plaintiff’s ‘438 Copyright.

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22.

Defendant GODDEAU use the site <REPORTARIPOFF.NET> to directly

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compete with Plaintiff’s Rip-off Report site using the “RIP-OFF REPORT mark and the

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“DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” mark.

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23.

Defendants GODDEAU’s use of copyrighted works from the Rip-off

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Report site combined with the use of Plaintiff’s registered marks was, and is, likely to

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cause confusion as to source or sponsorship.

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24.

On December 14, 2010, Plaintiff filed a Uniform Domain Name Dispute

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Resolution Policy (“UDRP”) Complaint with the National Arbitration Forum against

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“Report

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET> was confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s domain name and that

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it was registered in bad faith.

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A

Rip

Off,

Inc.”

which

alleged

that

the

domain

name

Immediately upon filing the UDRP action, Defendant GODDEAU began

corresponding with Plaintiff alleging that he was not, in fact, the owner of
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COMPLAINT

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET> and that the site was actually created by an “overseas client”

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of Defendant GSCSC. Defendant GODDEAU also purported to “represent” Report A

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Rip Off, Inc. during the UDRP proceeding.

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In fact, at all times <REPORTARIPOFF.NET> was registered, owned, and

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controlled by Defendant GODDEAU and not by an “overseas client” of Defendant

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GSCSC.

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On January 18, 2011, a panelist from the National Arbitration Forum issued

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a decision in favor of Plaintiff and against Report A Rip Off, Inc., finding that the domain

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name <REPORTARIPOFF.NET> was confusingly similar to Plaintiff’s trademarks and

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that the name was registered and used in bad faith.

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET> was subsequently ordered transferred to Plaintiff.

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As a result, the domain name

One week after the UDRP proceeding was commenced relating to

GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET>, on December 21, 2011 Defendant GODDEAU registered a

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new domain name <REPORTARIPOFF.CO>. Upon registering this name, Defendant

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GODDEAU subsequently transferred all or substantially all of the infringing contents of

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET> to his new page at <REPORTARIPOFF.CO>.

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As was true of <REPORTARIPOFF.NET>, Defendants GODDEAU and

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GSCSC used the website located at <REPORTARIPOFF.CO> to unlawfully and

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willfully infringe Plaintiff’s ‘438 Copyright and to unlawfully infringe Plaintiff’s

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registered trademarks including the “RIP-OFF REPORT” mark and the “DON’T LET

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THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” mark.

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30.

As of May 10, 2011, the site <REPORTARIPOFF.CO> continues to

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unlawfully infringe Plaintiff’s ‘438 Copyright and to unlawfully infringe Plaintiff’s

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registered trademarks including the “RIP-OFF REPORT” mark and the “DON’T LET

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THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” mark.

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31.

Without Plaintiff’s permission and without any lawful right to do so,

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Defendants

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<REPORTARIPOFF.CO> site which incorporate Plaintiff’s registered trademark in the

GSCSC

and

GODDEAU

have

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COMPLAINT

created

metatags

for

their

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mark “RIP-OFF REPORT” for the purposes of misleading consumers who are attempting

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to locate Plaintiff’s website by causing them to be directed to Defendant’s site.

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As

of

May

10,

2011,

the

keyword

metatags

used

by

the

<REPORTARIPOFF.CO>

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content="anonymous blogging, anon blogging, anonymous, anon blog, free, blogging,

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free blogging, free anonymous blogging, rip-off, ripoff, rip off, Rip-Off Report, report,

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reports, ripped off, rip-offs, rip offs, Ripoff Report, rip off report, scam, scams, scammed,

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scamming, Scammer, scammers, scam websites, Fearless Blogging, fraud, frauds, review,

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reviews, Richard Goddeau GSCSC, complaint, complaints, Complaints Board, consumer,

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consumers, consumer complaint, consumer complaints, consumer reports, customer

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report, customer reports, company, companies, attorney, attorneys, Auto Dealers,

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business, Retail Stores, news, websites, law, laws, law firm, law firms, lawsuit, lawsuits,

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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mail order, politicians, civil rights, publications, gripe, Healthcare, individual,

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individuals, insurance, forum, GSCSC, gscsc.net, Global Software, Home Builder, real

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estate, lemon, defect, defective, city government, victim, victims, state government,

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federal government"/>”. Defendants GSCSC and GODDEAU created these tags for the

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specific purpose of creating confusion among consumers searching for Plaintiff’s genuine

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website.

site

are

as

follows:

“<meta

name="keywords"

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COUNT 1
INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT — 17 U.S.C. §§ 106, 501(a)

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(Against Defendants RICHARD GODDEAU and GSCSC)

33.

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Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation set forth

34.

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Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have violated Plaintiff’s exclusive

above.

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rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(1) (direct copying) by copying Plaintiff’s works without

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permission.

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35.

Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have violated Plaintiff’s exclusive

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rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(3) (distribution) by distributing Plaintiff’s works without

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permission
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COMPLAINT

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36.

Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have violated Plaintiff’s rights under

17 U.S.C. § 106(5) (display) by publicly displaying Plaintiff’s works without permission.

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37.

Plaintiff is informed and believes that the foregoing acts of infringement

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have been willful, intentional, and in disregard of and with indifference to the rights of

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Plaintiff.

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38.

Defendants GODDEAU’s and GSCSC’s infringing activities were not

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authorized by Plaintiff and were performed without Plaintiff’s knowledge, consent, or

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permission.

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39.

done for Defendants’ financial gain.

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40.

Defendants GODDEAU’s and GSCSC’s infringing activities have caused

Plaintiff to incur actual damages of not less than $150,000.

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

Defendant GODDEAU’s and GSCSC’s infringing activities were and are

41.

As the result of Defendants GODDEAU’s and GSCSC’s willful

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infringement of Plaintiff’s exclusive rights, Plaintiff is entitled to recover from

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Defendants its actual damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) or statutory damages

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pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), whichever is greater.

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42.

As the result of Defendants GODDEAU’s and GSCSC’s infringement of

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Plaintiff’s registered works, Plaintiff further is entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs

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pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 505.

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COUNT 2
INDUCING INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT — 17 U.S.C. §§ 106, 501(a)
(Against Defendants RICHARD GODDEAU, GSCSC, INC. and DOES 1–10)
43.

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Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation set forth

44.

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Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have engaged in multiple acts of

above.

direct infringement of Plaintiff’s exclusive rights granted under the Copyright Act.
45.

In addition, Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have created a “PHP

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Clone Script” (the “PHP SCRIPT”) which Defendant GODDEAU has marketed and

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distributed for the express purpose of promoting and inducing third parties to infringe
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COMPLAINT

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Plaintiff’s copyrighted works. The PHP Script is a software tool designed to permit a

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user to copy the entire contents of a website such as Plaintiff’s Rip-off Report site.

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46.

Through their website <GSCSC.NET> and in various YouTube videos and

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other methods, Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC have actively promoted the use of

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the PHP SCRIPT as a tool for “emulating” (i.e., unlawfully infringing) Plaintiff’s

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copyrighted works.

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47.

Defendant GODDEAU claims to have sold 1,500 copies of the PHP

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SCRIPT for up to $40,000 per copy to third parties seeking to infringe Plaintiff’s

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copyrighted works.

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48.

Although Plaintiff is informed and believes that no third parties have

actually purchased or used the PHP SCRIPT and that Defendants GODDEAU and

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GSCSC are solely responsible for infringing Plaintiff’s rights via their websites

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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<REPORTARIPOFF.NET> and <REPORTARIPOFF.CO>, to the extent that any third

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party has used the PHP SCRIPT to infringe Plaintiff’s works, Defendants GODDEAU

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and GSCSC and DOES 1–10 are vicariously liable for the infringing acts of such third

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parties to the extent that they created, marketed and distributed the PHP Script with the

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object of promoting its user to infringe Plaintiff’s copyright.

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49.

As the result of Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC and DOES 1–10

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vicarious infringement of Plaintiff’s exclusive rights, Plaintiff is entitled to recover actual

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damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b) or statutory damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §

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504(c), whichever is greater, for each worked infringed. Plaintiff is further is entitled to

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attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 505.

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50.

Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 502, Plaintiff is further entitled to preliminary and

permanent injunctive relief against Defendants’ infringing activities.

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//

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//

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//
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COMPLAINT

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COUNT 3
TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT — 15 U.S.C. § 1114
(Against RICHARD GODDEAU and GSCSC, Inc.)

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51.

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contained herein.

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52.

“RIP-OFF REPORT” is a valid, protectable trademark.

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53.

“DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” is a valid, protectable

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trademark.

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54.

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Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation

Plaintiff owns “RIP-OFF REPORT” and “DON’T LET THEM GET

AWAY WITH IT” as its trademarks.
55.

Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC used Plaintiff’s marks, or marks

confusingly similar thereto, without the consent of Plaintiff in a manner that is likely to

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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cause confusion among ordinary consumers as to the source of the services offered by

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Plaintiff and by Defendants.

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COUNT 4
UNFAIR COMPETITION/INITIAL INTEREST CONFUSION
TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT — 15 U.S.C. § 1114
(Against RICHARD GODDEAU and GSCSC, Inc.)

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56.

Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation

contained herein.
57.

“RIP-OFF REPORT” is a valid, protectable trademark.

58.

“DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT” is a valid, protectable

trademark.
59.

Plaintiff owns “RIP-OFF REPORT” and “DON’T LET THEM GET

AWAY WITH IT” as its trademarks.
60.

By using the “RIP-OFF REPORT” mark in both its content and in metatags

associated with the <REPORTARIPOFF.CO> site, Defendants GODDEAU and GSCSC
have infringed Plaintiff’s trademark without the consent of Plaintiff in a manner
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COMPLAINT

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calculated to capture initial consumer attention and to direct such attention to the

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<REPORTARIPOFF.CO> site at the expense of viewers looking for the Rip-off Report

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site.

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61.

Defendants’ conduct constitutes unfair competition and initial interest

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confusion in violation of Plaintiff’s rights under the Lanham Act and under the common

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law.

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COUNT 5
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF — 17 U.S.C. § 502(a)
(Against All Defendants)

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62.

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference each and every allegation set forth

63.

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In addition to the past violations of Plaintiff’s rights identified above,

above.

Defendant GODDEAU has repeatedly threatened to engage in further unlawful attacks
against Plaintiff and in violation of Plaintiff’s rights. Among other things, on December
28, 2010, Defendant GODDEAU sent an email in which he threatened to use his PHP
Script to further violate Plaintiff’s rights as follows:
So, it doesn't matter how many sites get shut down, more can quickly be
cloned in a matter of minutes, and relaunched on new client side sites
within minutes as well. We have the ability to launch, clone, and duplicate
all within one central place, build sitemaps, perform search engine listings,
RSS feed submissions, social network listings, and getting the information
on the top listings of most search engines within hours of relaunch. In
addition, we have the ability to put any site at its previous state, and search
engine status, even if moved to other clone domains. We already have this
system in place on over 5000 domains, and all it takes from our central
location, is a single signal, and a few commands, and these can all be
launched in one pass, or individually as required. The cross-linking of all
modules, client side files, core engines, admin sections, and user interface
sections of this package, along with cross-linking of all domains, and
subdomains, makes it easy to keep everything updated, and sharing
backlinks, and backlink juice, and SEO, all in one step, and in one platform.
And, the licensing module allows us to turn on or off a site, and site license,
and keep the system from running on specific domains, servers, and ISPs
with one click of a mouse. As I indicated in my response, the system was
developed by me, and what I have created is a powerful tool.
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COMPLAINT

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64.

Upon information and belief, Defendant GODDEAU is financially

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insolvent and unable to pay money damages to Plaintiff in an amount sufficient to

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compensate Plaintiff for the harm caused by his unlawful conduct.

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65.

The conduct of each Defendant has caused, is causing and, unless enjoined

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and restrained by this Court, will continue to cause Plaintiff great and irreparable injury

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that cannot fully be compensated or measured in money.

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66.

Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.

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67.

Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §§ 502(a) and 503, Plaintiff is entitled to preliminary

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and permanent injunctive relief prohibiting each Defendant from further infringing

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Plaintiff’s copyrighted works.

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WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against each Defendant as follows:

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1.

For Plaintiff’s actual damages and Defendants’ profits, or statutory

GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC
4072 EAST MOUNTAIN VISTA DRIVE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85048

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damages, as Plaintiff may elect, for infringement of each copyrighted work pursuant to

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17 U.S.C. § 504;

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2.

For statutory and/or treble damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117;

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3.

For injunctive relief pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §§ 502(a) and 503;

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4.

For Plaintiff’s costs in this action pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504 and/or 15

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U.S.C. § 1117(a);
5.

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For Plaintiff’s reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §
504 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a);

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6.

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DATED May 10, 2011.

For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

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GINGRAS LAW OFFICE, PLLC

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/S/ David S. Gingras
David S. Gingras
Attorneys for Plaintiff
XCENTRIC VENTURES, LLC

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COMPLAINT