Netflix, Inc. v. Blockbuster, Inc.

Filing 78

Netflix, Inc. v. Blockbuster, Inc.

Doc. 78

Case 3:06-cv-02361-WHA

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KEKER & VAN NEST, LLP JEFFREY R. CHANIN - #103649 DARALYN J. DURIE - #169825 ASHOK RAMANI - #200020 710 Sansome Street San Francisco, CA 94111-1704 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] Attorneys for Plaintiff NETFLIX, INC. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NETFLIX, INC., a Delaware corporation, Plaintiff, v. BLOCKBUSTER, INC., a Delaware corporation, DOES 1-50, Defendant.

Case No. C 06 2361 WHA (JCS) PLAINTIFF NETFLIX, INC.'S NOTICE OF MOTION AND MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS FROM BLOCKBUSTER, INC. Date: December 8, 2006 Time: 9:30 a.m. Judge: Hon. Joseph C. Spero Complaint filed: April 4, 2006

PLAINTIFF NETFLIX, INC.'S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS FROM BLOCKBUSTER, INC. CASE NO. C 06 2361 WHA (JCS) Dockets.Justia.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page NOTICE OF MOTION....................................................................................................................1 I. II. III. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 FACTUAL BACKGROUND..............................................................................................1 ARGUMENT.......................................................................................................................4 1. Blockbuster Has Wrongly Refused To Produce Certain Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online ...............................................4 a. Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Identifying and Relating To the Consultants Who Designed and Implemented the Blockbuster Online Method and System..............................................................................................5 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents About Its Blockbuster Online Hardware and Software ...................................7 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online Technology Developed By Third Parties...............................................................................................9 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Related To Internal Discussions and Analysis of Whether To Promote Blockbuster Online In Its Brick-and-Mortar Stores..............................................................................................10 Blockbuster Should Produce Complete Explanations of its Accounting Methods for Blockbuster Online ...........................10 Blockbuster Should Not Unilaterally Limit Production of Documents to those "Sufficient To Reasonably Describe.".......................................................................................11

d.

Blockbuster Should Produce its Responsive Documents Forthwith....................................................................................................13

CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................14

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page(s) Cases Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. United States Dist. Court, 408 F.3d 1142, 1148-49 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)..................................... 4 Federal Cases Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 ................................................................................................ 1

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NOTICE OF MOTION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on December 8, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. before the Honorable Joseph C. Spero, in Courtroom A, 15th Floor of the United States Court House located at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, Plaintiff Netflix, Inc. will, and hereby does, move the Court for an order compelling further responses to its requests for production of documents from Defendant Blockbuster Inc. pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37. This Motion is based on this Notice of Motion and Motion; the Memorandum of Points of Authorities below; the declaration of Eugene M. Paige in support of this motion; all pleadings and papers filed herein; oral argument of counsel; and any other matter that may be submitted at the hearing. MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES I. INTRODUCTION

By this motion Netflix, Inc. ("Netflix") seeks, pursuant to Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to compel from Blockbuster Inc. ("Blockbuster") production of documents responsive to Netflix's First Set of Requests for the Production of Documents. Blockbuster has provided inadequate responses to many of Netflix's requests. The deficiencies in Blockbuster's responses, if left unremedied, will deprive Netflix of relevant and responsive information as described in detail below. Using a variety of techniques--from rephrasing Netflix's requests so as to produce different documents than those requested, to announcing that it will unilaterally filter the documents it produces to Netflix to provide only those that Blockbuster decides will "reasonably describe" the information requested--Blockbuster has attempted to limit its production of relevant documents that Netflix needs to prove its infringement claims, and to defend against Blockbuster's antitrust counterclaims. II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

In 1999 Netflix invented a new way to rent DVDs to customers on a subscription basis over the Internet. The novel method and systems invented by Netflix to implement on-line, subscription movie rentals transformed Netflix from a struggling on-line start-up into a popular 1
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and commercially successful company. Netflix's new on-line method permitted subscribers to create, prioritize and reprioritize their own personal list of desired DVDs on-line, which Netflix would then use as a dynamic "queue" to deliver a set number (depending on the subscription) of movies to the subscriber, which movies the subscriber could keep and watch at the subscriber's leisure without incurring a late fee, and then return to Netflix in exchange for the next available movie in the queue. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Netflix two patents on its method and system, U.S. Patent No. 7,024,381 ("the '381 Patent") and U.S. Patent No. 6,584,450 ("the '450 Patent"). Years after Netflix pioneered this business method and system, and just after Netflix's '450 patent issued, Blockbuster, the 800-pound gorilla in the movie rental industry, launched a business it called "Blockbuster Online." Blockbuster Online mimicked virtually every aspect of Netflix's patented business method, including the dynamic, prioritized queue and the use of subscription plans with no late fees. In so doing, Blockbuster infringed the '381 Patent and the '450 Patent. Netflix sued Blockbuster for patent infringement on April 4, 2006.1 Blockbuster counter attacked by filing antitrust counterclaims against Netflix based upon Netflix's filing of this infringement suit, claiming that Netflix was attempting to monopolize what Blockbuster has characterized as the market for online DVD rentals through sham litigation and the assertion of fraudulently procured patents. Netflix served its First Set of Requests for the Production of Documents on Blockbuster on August 31, 2006. Declaration of Eugene M. Paige in Support of Netflix's Motion to Compel ("Paige Decl."), Ex. A. In this first set of Requests, Netflix mainly sought to gain information about the development, promotion and operating characteristics of Blockbuster Online, the business that infringes Netflix's patents. Thus, Netflix seeks to discover, among other things, documents that would snow whether Blockbuster or its consultants studied or reverse engineered Netflix's website in attempt to copy Netflix, or whether they developed specifications for First Amended Complaint for Patent Infringement and Demand for Jury Trial ¶¶ 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, & 15. 2
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Blockbuster Online that duplicated all, or critical aspects of, Netflix's systems? Understanding the genesis of Blockbuster Online is critical to Netflix's case, as it will demonstrate how and why Blockbuster came to implement a business method and system that so closely resembles (indeed, appears to duplicate) Netflix's patented business method and system. The how and why questions relate directly to the issues of infringement, both actual and deliberate (as alleged), as well as non-obviousness. Copying is a secondary consideration that is taken into account in determining whether a patent is non-obvious. Copying is also an important factor in deciding whether infringement has been willful. Netflix's Requests for Production at issue in this motion seek documents about the creation and operation of Blockbuster Online, as well as Blockbuster's interactions with the consultants (Accenture, IBM and others) who Blockbuster retained to create, implement and operate Blockbuster Online. Netflix requested that Blockbuster produce documents that would identify each of the consultants who aided in the design, research and operation of Blockbuster Online, as well as the documents exchanged between Blockbuster and its consultants relating to these issues. In order to discover and prove, through Blockbuster's own documents, how Blockbuster's infringing service works, Netflix has also requested Blockbuster to produce documents that will fully describe the software and hardware Blockbuster uses to implement Blockbuster Online. Netflix also requested production of Blockbuster documents regarding financial matters, both to discover and prove the damages Netflix has suffered as a result of Blockbuster's infringement, and to defend against Blockbuster's own claim that it suffered damages, including lost profits, from alleged antitrust violations by Netflix. Blockbuster served its objections and responses to Netflix's requests for production on October 2, 2006. Paige Decl. Ex. B. Counsel for Netflix sent a detailed letter to counsel for Blockbuster on October 9, 2006, requesting that Blockbuster provide more fulsome responses. Paige Decl. Ex. C. The parties met and conferred in person on these issues on October 13, 2006. Paige Decl. ¶ 5. Thereafter, Blockbuster and Netflix have held follow-up telephonic meet-andconfer sessions during which most, but not all, of the issues raised at the outset were resolved. Letters memorializing those meet-and-confer sessions are attached to the Paige Declaration as 3
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Exhibits D and E. The issues that remain are outlined in a joint letter signed by both counsel for Netflix and counsel for Blockbuster, a copy of which is attached to the Paige Declaration as Exhibit F. This Motion describes why Netflix is entitled to the discovery documents that Blockbuster still refuses to produce. III. ARGUMENT

Discovery exists as a mechanism "for making relevant information available to the litigants . . . Thus the spirit of the rules is violated when advocates attempt to use discovery tools as tactical weapons rather than to expose the facts and illuminate the issues." Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. United States Dist. Court, 408 F.3d 1142, 1148-49 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) advisory committee's notes). Judge Alsup's Supplemental Order to Order Setting Initial Case Management Conference in Civil Cases ("Supplemental Order") further seeks to increase the efficiency of the discovery process by requiring that the parties state affirmatively, in a written response, "the full extent to which they will produce materials, and shall, promptly after the production, confirm in writing that they have produced all such materials so described that are locatable after a diligent search of all locations at which such materials might plausibly exist." Supplemental Order at ¶ 13. As set forth with greater specificity below, Blockbuster has not complied with the letter or the spirit of these discovery standards in many of its responses to Netflix's Requests for Production. In response to many of Netflix's requests, for example, Blockbuster has failed to commit to producing the materials which Netflix has requested, in some cases offering to produce different documents. Blockbuster has also failed to commit to producing all documents within a category, leaving Netflix to guess how Blockbuster has exercised its selection decisions and whether responsive documents are being withheld or not. 1. Blockbuster Has Wrongly Refused To Produce Certain Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online

As explained above, information about Blockbuster Online -- both how it works and how it was conceived and developed -- is critical to Netflix's patent infringement allegations. Blockbuster, however, has sought to limit the production of several categories of its documents 4
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relating to Blockbuster Online. a. Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Identifying and Relating To the Consultants Who Designed and Implemented the Blockbuster Online Method and System

Netflix has sought documents that would identify all the consultants who developed, designed and helped implement Blockbuster Online. Netflix has reason to believe that consultants retained by Blockbuster were primarily responsible for developing, architecting and implementing Blockbuster Online, though Blockbuster may have provided some specifications for the system. In Request 36, Netflix asked that Blockbuster provide documents sufficient to identify all such consultants. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 36. Blockbuster initially responded that it would only provide documents identifying employees of specific consulting firms (Accenture and IBM) and consultant David Perkovich. Id. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 36. Subsequently, Blockbuster indicated that it would be willing to provide documents relating to more than just these three named consultants. However, it has not yet committed to providing documents relating to all its consultants. Blockbuster now says it need not produce the requested information because it is unclear whether, for example, photocopying vendors would be considered "consultants." But, this is just a pretext. First off, Blockbuster did not object to Request 36 either on grounds that the term "consultants" was vague, or that the categories of consultants to be identified was vague (though it objected to other terms in the Request on vagueness grounds). Second, Netflix has stated that Blockbuster should utilize a reasonable definition of the term "consultant" limited, as identified in Netflix's request, to consultants who consulted regarding the "design, research, development, testing, marketing and operation of" Blockbuster Online (which would exclude photocopying vendors). See Paige Decl. Ex. E at 2. Blockbuster has also unilaterally limited its response to Request 36 to identifying only those consulting personnel who had "significant involvement" with Blockbuster Online. Yet this affords Blockbuster unbridled discretion to determine what information it will produce to Netflix in response to this Request, with the risk that a relevant individual may not be identified. For example, it is possible that an employee of one of Blockbuster's consultants had only an 5
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insubstantial role relative to others in the engagement, but that such employee suggested that Blockbuster should mimic some aspect of Netflix's business methods. Blockbuster's current limitation on its response would allow it to avoid producing documents identifying such a person. Blockbuster's response to Request 34 suffers from a similar infirmity. In Request 34, Netflix asks for Blockbuster's agreements with the consultants it hired to provide consulting services or products relating to the development or operation of Blockbuster Online. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 34. Blockbuster responded that it will only produce documents "sufficient to reasonably describe any agreements by Blockbuster, Inc. for consulting services" provided by the named consultants, rather than the agreements and related documents themselves for all such consultants. See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 34. Aside from the fact that Blockbuster should produce documents for all of its consultants rather than just the consultants listed by name in the Request whose identities Netflix already knows, producing only those documents that Blockbuster unilaterally decides are sufficient to "reasonably describe" its agreements is insufficient. It could very well be that the agreements themselves, or an addendum to an agreement, or email correspondence clarifying or commenting on the scope of the work agreed to be done, would disclose important information, or lead to the discovery of such information. Again, Blockbuster could withhold an agreement, addendum, clarification, or other responsive documents based on its unilateral decision that it has already produced enough documents "reasonably to describe" the terms and conditions of the consulting agreement between the parties. Likewise, Netflix asks in Request 35 for all documents exchanged between Blockbuster and its consultants in connection with their consulting engagement with Blockbuster to develop or operate Blockbuster Online. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 35. Blockbuster again did not commit to provide any documents from consultants not affiliated with the consulting companies specifically named by Netflix, and it refused to produce all of the documents that were exchanged between itself and any of its consultants. Again, Blockbuster agreed only to produce "documents sufficient to reasonably describe" the "services" that were rendered. See 6
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Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 35. That is not what Netflix asked for by a long stretch. Blockbuster does not explain why producing the actual documents exchanged between itself and the consultants would be "unduly" burdensome. Presumably such documents would be maintained by the specific group(s) within Blockbuster that worked with the consultants, and Netflix believes the period of development encompassed by this request is relatively short--less than two years. Most certainly, Netflix's Request 35 is no more burdensome than Blockbuster's Requests 33 and 35 to Netflix, wherein it asked Netflix to produce all materials that refer to TiVo or Amazon over an eight year period, or its Requests 9 and 18 to Netflix business partners like Yahoo! for all documents constituting communications with Netflix about eight topics, and all documents evidencing communications with Netflix, or information received from Netflix, about Blockbuster (with no further limitation) over an eight year period. See, e.g. Blockbuster's Subpoena to Yahoo!, Inc., August 26, 2006. Blockbuster has maintained that it does not want to provide routine, repetitive emails going back and forth between it and IBM, the consultants who assertedly maintain the website today. But, Netflix has offered to exclude such repetitive communications from the scope of the Request, if Blockbuster can describe them. Given that offer, and subject only to that exception, Blockbuster should be ordered to produce all of the actual documents that have been exchanged between itself and its consultants, not merely a hand-selected subset of those documents that Blockbuster deems "reasonably sufficient." b. Blockbuster Should Produce Documents About Its Blockbuster Online Hardware and Software

Blockbuster's refusal to produce potentially relevant documents relating to the operation and structure of Blockbuster Online can be seen in Blockbuster's responses to Requests 26 and 27. In Request 26, Netflix asked Blockbuster for documents sufficient to fully describe the software used by Blockbuster Online. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 26. Blockbuster responds that it will produce only documents "sufficient to reasonably describe the software used for Blockbuster Online's website." See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 26. Netflix's infringement claims, however, are not limited to Blockbuster's website or webserver 7
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software. Certain functions of Blockbuster Online which correspond with elements of Netflix's patent claims may well be, and likely are, carried out in software or hardware that Blockbuster may not consider to be a part of its "website." For example, certain patent claims call for "electronically updating" the movie rental queue. Netflix has no way of knowing whether documents describing Blockbuster's "website" software would show how Blockbuster Online electronically updates its queue. Blockbuster's attempt to limit its production to documents relating to its website, and to documents that it decides "reasonably describe" such software, deprive Netflix of the opportunity to demonstrate, through Blockbuster's own documents, how certain portions of Blockbuster's website software, or other Blockbuster software, operate to infringe Netflix's patents. Likewise, in response to Request 27, Netflix has requested documents sufficient fully to describe the hardware used to operate, support, and maintain Blockbuster Online. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 27. Blockbuster has committed to provide only documents that will be "sufficient to reasonably describe the general nature of the hardware used" to operate its website. See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 27. Once more, Netflix needs to discover documents detailing how Blockbuster Online's hardware works in order fully to prepare its patent infringement case, and this will most likely entail more than just documents describing the hardware used to run the website alone, such as the web server(s). As but one example, some of Netflix's patent claims describe the computer-implemented step of "causing [a] selected movie to be delivered to the customer." Netflix has no way of knowing whether Blockbuster's infringing system performs that function through its webserver or through other computer hardware means. Blockbuster has taken the position that Netflix must "clarify" these Requests. Netflix has already done what it can to set reasonable limitations, given its lack of intimate knowledge as to how Blockbuster constructs its infringing system and utilizes its hardware and software. Netflix's software and hardware requests already were limited to documents "sufficient to fully describe" these systems, rather than seeking all documents relating to such systems. Netflix also has already stated both that it does not expect Blockbuster to produce documentation of standard 8
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business software, like Microsoft Office, that might be used as a part of its operating systems. Blockbuster, therefore, should be compelled to produce documents responsive to Netflix's Requests 26 and 27 without further limitation. c. Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online Technology Developed By Third Parties

Blockbuster has also refused to produce documents related to Blockbuster Online technology that was developed by third parties. Netflix asked for such documents in Request 31, including "agreements, licenses, permissions, term sheets, memoranda of understanding, letters of intent, specifications, technical descriptions, and correspondence." See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 31. In subsequent conferences and correspondence, Netflix agreed to limit the documents sought by this Request to those "sufficient to fully describe" Blockbuster Online's third party-developed technology, including the listed subcategories of documents rather than insisting on production of all such documents. However, Blockbuster has insisted on limiting its production to those documents that Blockbuster decides are "sufficient to reasonably describe the development of Blockbuster Online." (emphasis added) See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 31. Blockbuster's proffered response does not address what Netflix's Request 31 seeks: documents relating to the technologies developed by third parties that Blockbuster Online has licensed or otherwise obtained. A decision by Blockbuster to pay for various patented or otherwise protected technologies used in its system, and the amount paid, would be evidence the jury could consider in deciding whether Blockbuster had a motive to willfully infringe Netflix's patents, which cover some of the most important features of Blockbuster Online. Moreover, to the extent that Blockbuster takes the position that damages in this case should be set at a reasonable royalty, rather than an award of lost profits, Netflix will need to discover the range of royalties or license fees paid, and the relative importance to its system of, any other third-party technology that Blockbuster has obtained. Documents sufficient to only reasonably describe the development of Blockbuster Online will not provide the necessary information.

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d.

Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Related To Internal Discussions and Analysis of Whether To Promote Blockbuster Online In Its Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Blockbuster has failed to commit to producing all of its documents constituting or relating to internal discussions that are responsive to Request 89. This Request seeks documents relating to Blockbuster's promotion of Blockbuster Online in its bricks-and-mortar stores -discussions that could demonstrate that Blockbuster personnel believe that Blockbuster Online competes in the same market as brick-and-mortar movie rental stores. Blockbuster has taken a different position in its antitrust counterclaims where it seeks to prove that Netflix has "market power." There, Blockbuster has claimed that the "relevant market" for purposes of its antitrust counterclaims is "the market for online DVD rentals and other subscription services," whereas Netflix believes the relevant market includes in-store movie rentals. See Answer to First Amended Complaint & Counterclaims ¶ 90 (D.I. 43) (filed 9/11/06). Blockbuster initially committed to produce documents sufficient to show only the promotions themselves, but not documents "relating to" those promotions as Netflix requested. See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 89. Blockbuster's response would omit key documents such as discussions between Blockbuster executives of whether in-store promotion of Blockbuster Online should be undertaken, and what effect such promotion might have on overall revenues, or specifically revenues from brick-and-mortar rentals. Although Blockbuster has indicated that it may be willing to produce some internal discussions of the issues relating to promotion of Blockbuster Online in its brick-and-mortar stores, it should be required to produce documents relating to such promotions so that Netflix can defend against Blockbuster's counterclaims. e. Blockbuster Should Produce Complete Explanations of its Accounting Methods for Blockbuster Online

In Request 19, Netflix has sought documents fully describing Blockbuster's recordkeeping and accounting methods, books and records as they relate to Blockbuster Online. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 19. Blockbuster at first offered only to produce its publicly filed Forms 10-Q and 10-K, see Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 19. Subsequently Blockbuster agreed to produce quarterly and annual financial statements for Blockbuster Online. 10
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But these are far short of what Netflix has requested. Simply producing a sampling of periodic reports themselves, without also producing Blockbuster's underlying books, records and documents that will fully explain how the reports and underlying books and records are constructed and kept, does not provide Netflix with what it is seeking (and would render this Request duplicative of several other Requests for financial documents as to which Blockbuster has agreed to produce). Request 19 seeks documents explaining Blockbuster's accounting methods for its online division, where Blockbuster has only agreed to produce [some of] the numbers that result from such methods. Netflix and its experts need to understand the details of Blockbuster's recordkeeping and accounting methods fully to evaluate the financial records that Blockbuster is producing. Publicly filed information and aggregations of figures will not give Netflix what it needs in that regard and will greatly impede Netflix's ability to calculate Netflix's lost profits and any unjust enrichment that Blockbuster has enjoyed through its infringement. Netflix also needs document of Blockbuster's accounting methodology to determine Blockbuster's profit margins for Blockbuster Online, which is key to both to constructing an appropriate reasonable royalty analysis and to defending against Blockbuster's claim that it has lost profits as a result of alleged antitrust violations by Netflix. f. Blockbuster Should Not Unilaterally Limit Production of Documents to those "Sufficient To Reasonably Describe."

Endeavoring to discover all relevant information on certain issues in this case, Netflix has requested either all documents falling within a specific category, or documents sufficient to describe fully certain information. While in response to some Requests, Blockbuster has committed to producing its responsive documents, Blockbuster has stated in response to many requests that it will limit production to documents that are (in its unilateral judgment) sufficient to reasonably describe the information, or a subset of the information, sought by Netflix. In Netflix's Request 8, for example, Netflix asked Blockbuster to produce its documents relating to research conducted by Blockbuster in connection with the design, development, implementation and operation of its infringing Blockbuster Online service, including trade research, market research, and consumer research. See Paige Decl. Ex. A, Request No. 8. In response, 11
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Blockbuster committed to produce only documents that it deemed "sufficient to reasonably describe" such research, as distinct from either the research itself or the documents relating thereto that Netflix requested. See Paige Decl. Ex. B, Response to Request No. 8. Netflix has no way of knowing what documents, and therefore what responsive information in other such documents, Blockbuster might withhold based upon its contention that documents "sufficient to reasonably describe" a matter have otherwise been produced. For example, Blockbuster could decide that the documents it has produced reasonably describe the research it commissioned, but not produce the research analysis or conclusions relating to such research, for example, that consumers in a research study thought Netflix's patented business method provided the best consumer experience, (and documents concluding therefore that Blockbuster should copy Netflix). As another example, Blockbuster could limit production to documents reasonably describing that it engaged in research to determine the impact an online rental service with no late fees would have on Blockbuster's in-store rental revenues, but not documents concluding that the on-line rental of movies would adversely impact such revenues or cause customers to stop renting (which would be relevant in determining whether there is but one DVD rental market, or distinct on-line and in-store markets). Limited responses of this sort violate Judge Alsup's Supplemental Order, as well as providing Blockbuster a tactical opportunity to withhold relevant documents that Netflix has rightfully requested. Judge Alsup requires that each party set out the extent to which they are producing materials and confirm in writing after production that they have produced all such materials. Vague promises that documents "sufficient to reasonably describe" will be produced (or have been produced) frustrate the purpose of this Supplemental Order, since "all" in this context is a matter of subjective judgment; Blockbuster could confirm that it has produced all such documents, but neither Netflix nor this Court would have any basis to verify such a confirmation. Blockbuster, therefore, should be ordered to produce all documents in its possession responsive to Netflix Requests 7-10, 21, 24-25, 28-36, 58-59, 67-74, 76-79, 81-82, 90 and 101102, not just those "sufficient to reasonably describe" the sub-categories of information that 12
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Blockbuster has agreed to provide. 2. Blockbuster Should Produce its Responsive Documents Forthwith.

As the Court is aware, the parties took some time to negotiate the terms of a protective order for the production of documents in this case, and eventually required the Court's assistance to finalize the protective order. Once that order was entered, counsel for Netflix requested that Blockbuster commit to a date certain upon which the parties would exchange the confidential and attorneys' eyes only documents that each had been withholding from production pending entry of a suitable protective order. Netflix served its document requests on August 31, over two months ago, and the cut-off for fact discovery in this case is on April 27, 2007, less than five months away. As of today, Blockbuster still has not been willing to commit to a date upon which to engage in a mutual exchange of documents. Although Blockbuster claims in the joint letter that it has already produced documents responsive to Netflix's requests, the only production it has made thus far in the case are documents connected with its initial disclosures -which were made long before Netflix even served its requests for production. Blockbuster has previously confirmed that it was withholding documents that it deemed confidential or attorneys' eyes only from its initial disclosure production, and it has yet to produce any of those documents, despite the entry of a protective order in this case. As this case is rapidly moving toward the completion of fact discovery, with many depositions remaining to be taken, Netflix respectfully requests that the Court order Blockbuster to produce all its documents responsive to Netflix's document requests forthwith. /// /// /// ///

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dated: November 3, 2006

IV.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Netflix respectfully requests that this Court compel Blockbuster to produce its responsive documents, as described above and in the accompanying proposed order.

KEKER & VAN NEST, LLP

By:

/s/ Jeffrey R. Chanin________ Jeffrey R. Chanin ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF NETFLIX, INC.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page NOTICE OF MOTION....................................................................................................................1 I. II. III. INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 FACTUAL BACKGROUND..............................................................................................1 ARGUMENT.......................................................................................................................4 1. Blockbuster Has Wrongly Refused To Produce Certain Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online ...............................................4 a. Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Identifying and Relating To the Consultants Who Designed and Implemented the Blockbuster Online Method and System..............................................................................................5 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents About Its Blockbuster Online Hardware and Software ...................................7 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Relating To Blockbuster Online Technology Developed By Third Parties...............................................................................................9 Blockbuster Should Produce Documents Related To Internal Discussions and Analysis of Whether To Promote Blockbuster Online In Its Brick-and-Mortar Stores..............................................................................................10 Blockbuster Should Produce Complete Explanations of its Accounting Methods for Blockbuster Online ...........................10 Blockbuster Should Not Unilaterally Limit Production of Documents to those "Sufficient To Reasonably Describe.".......................................................................................11

d.

Blockbuster Should Produce its Responsive Documents Forthwith....................................................................................................13

CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................14

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page(s) Cases Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. United States Dist. Court, 408 F.3d 1142, 1148-49 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)..................................... 4 Federal Cases Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 ................................................................................................ 1

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