Twitter, Inc. v. Skootle Corp. et al

Filing 14

ANSWER to 1 Complaint with Jury Trial Demanded by Skootle Corp. (Norris, Nicole) (Filed on 5/4/2012) Modified on 5/7/2012 (far, COURT STAFF).

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1 2 3 4 5 6 COLT / WALLERSTEIN LLP Doug Colt (Bar No. 210915) dcolt@coltwallerstein.com Thomas E. Wallerstein (Bar No. 232086) twallerstein@coltwallerstein.com Nicole M. Norris (Bar No. 222785) nnorris@coltwallerstein.com Shorebreeze II 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 540 Redwood Shores, California 94065 Telephone: (650) 453-1980 Facsimile: (650) 453-2411 7 8 Attorneys for Skootle, Inc. 9 10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 11 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 12 13 TWITTER, INC., a Delaware corporation, CASE NO. CV 12-1721 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT 14 Plaintiff, 15 v. 16 SKOOTLE CORP., a Tennessee corporation; JL4 WEB SOLUTIONS, a Philippines corporation; JUSTIN CLARK, an individual, d/b/a TWEETBUDDY.COM; JAMES KESTER, an individual; JAYSON YANUARIA, an individual; JAMES LUCERO, an individual; and GARLAND E. HARRIS, an individual, 17 18 19 Filing Date: Trial Date: April 5, 2012 None Set SIGNATURE BY FACSIMILE 20 Defendants. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 Defendant Skootle Corporation (“Skootle”) hereby submits this Answer to the complaint of 2 Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”) for Breach of Contract; Tortious Interference with Contract; Fraud; and 3 Unfair or Deceptive Business Practices: 4 PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 5 Skootle sells the product referred to in the complaint as “TweetAdder.” Twitter claims to 6 have filed this action to fight “spam.” While some individuals, companies or products may abuse 7 Twitter in order to send spam, TweetAdder does not. TweetAdder is a product far different from the 8 products referred to in the complaint as TweetAttacks and TweetBuddy. TweetAdder is a lawful, 9 legitimate program that helps businesses and individuals manage their Twitter accounts more 10 11 efficiently and more effectively. Traditionally, “spam” refers to the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited 12 bulk commercial messages indiscriminately. TweetAdder is not intended to send spam, and in fact, it 13 is impossible to send spam using TweetAdder. To the contrary, in order for any Twitter user to 14 receive a tweet or direct message that originated from TweetAdder, the Twitter user must have either 15 (a) made the decision to follow a TweetAdder user’s twitter profile and therefore elected to read 16 tweets from the user; or (b) posted a tweet @[TweetAdder user]. 17 TweetAdder is a standalone desktop application. By automating certain repetitive and 18 mundane tasks, TweetAdder users are able to find Twitter users with similar interests to follow and 19 interact with. TweetAdder also allows users to schedule Tweets to be posted throughout the day to 20 provide their followers with news, updates, and other information without the need to manually post 21 each individual update. This feature is readily available, for example, with TweetDeck (a similar 22 program owned by Twitter). For example, a news station or blogger can post an article on its 23 website, and TweetAdder can automatically post an excerpt of the article with a link referencing the 24 article on twitter.com. This is something the user could have done anyway, but TweetAdder saves 25 them the extra time and extra steps. As another example, most celebrities are not able to sit at their 26 computer all day and post tweets and manually follow back 1,000 or more Twitter users throughout 27 the day. They can hire someone to do it for them, or they can automate the task with TweetAdder. 28 -1SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 This helps them grow their fan base through Twitter and allows their fans to feel they are more 2 connected to them. 3 Customers of TweetAdder include popular television shows and newspapers, radio stations, 4 PR firms, charities, law firms, musicians, celebrities, politicians and political campaigns, city 5 chambers of commerce, banks, and numerous other businesses from small startups to Fortune 500 6 companies. These customers use TweetAdder to save the time and expense of manually locating and 7 following users so they can spend more time engaging with the Twitter users that want to hear what 8 they have to say and stay connected with them. Many tasks that TweetAdder performs can already 9 be performed manually by the end user. TweetAdder simply makes it easier with added search 10 11 capabilities. Skootle has created TweetAdder in a way that makes it a useful and legitimate tool. Skootle 12 specifically elected to exclude certain features from TweetAdder that would otherwise allow users to 13 abuse Twitter. Without these features, it would be exceedingly difficult to use TweetAdder for 14 illegitimate and malicious purposes. Those excluded features include: 15 16 17 18 19 a. Account creation. TweetAdder clients have no ability to create multiple profiles automatically. They must create their profiles manually with Twitter. b. Bulk profile editing. TweetAdder users must create and edit each profile they enter into the program manually. c. Mass importing accounts. TweetAdder users must input each twitter profile 20 manually. They cannot upload a list of multiple profiles into the program. 21 d. Duplication of account settings. TweetAdder users must open each profile in 22 TweetAdder one by one and manually set each profile setting for that particular 23 profile. They cannot simply copy over settings to their remaining profiles. 24 25 e. Following the same user on multiple accounts. TweetAdder does not permit a user to follower another user from multiple accounts. 26 f. @Replies based on user keywords. TweetAdder allows a user to send an “@reply” 27 only on the condition that another Twitter user mentioned them in an @reply, such 28 as a “thank you for mentioning me.” TweetAdder does not allow its users to -2SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 indiscriminately send @replies to Twitter users who have not already mentioned 2 them. g. Automatic conversion of keywords to hashtags. TweetAdder does not permit users 3 to automatically convert keywords to hashtags. 4 5 6 7 8 9 ANSWER TO TWITTER COMPLAINT II. INTRODUCTION 1. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 1 and therefore denies them. 2. Skootle admits that Twitter brought this action against Skootle. To the extent any 10 further allegations in ¶ 2 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies each and every allegation 11 and/or implication of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 2 relate to other defendants, 12 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 13 allegations and therefore denies them. 14 3. Skootle admits that by this action Twitter brings certain allegations against Skootle 15 and refers to Skootle as a “Spamware Defendant,” but denies this moniker is applicable. To the 16 extent any further allegations in ¶ 3 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies each and every 17 allegation and/or implication of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 3 relate to other 18 defendants, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of 19 the allegations and therefore denies them. 20 III. THE PARTIES 21 22 23 24 25 4. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 4 and therefore denies them. 5. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 5 and therefore denies them. 6. Skootle admits that it is a corporation incorporated in Tennessee, with its principal 26 place of business in the State of Virginia, doing business in the State of California. Skootle admits 27 that James Kester is a resident of the State of Virginia but denies he individually conducts business in 28 California. Skootle admits James Kester is the principal officer of Skootle. Skootle objects to the -3SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 collective reference to Skootle and James Kester as “TweetAdder” as the two are not one and the 2 same. 7. 3 4 of the allegations in ¶ 7 and therefore denies them. 8. 5 6 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 8 and therefore denies them. 9. 7 8 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 9 and therefore denies them. 10. 9 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 10 of the allegations in ¶ 10 and therefore denies them. 11 IV. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 12 11. Skootle does not contest this Court’s jurisdiction. 13 12. Skootle does not contest that venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 14 (a)(2). To the extent any further allegations in ¶ 12 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies 15 each and every allegation and/or implication of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 12 16 relate to other defendants, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as 17 to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 18 V. INTRADISTRICT ASSIGNMENT 13. 19 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 20 of the allegations in ¶ 13 and therefore denies them. 21 VI. GENERAL ALLEGATIONS 22 A. Twitter’s Service 23 14. Skootle admits Twitter is an online communications platform that lets users share and 24 receive information in real-time through short messages called “tweets,” which have a maximum 25 length of 140 characters. Skootle admits the Twitter service is free of charge. As to the remaining 26 allegations in ¶ 14, Skootle is without sufficient knowledge to form a belief and therefore denies 27 them. 28 15. Skootle admits this is an accurate reflection of how Twitter may be used. -4SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 2 16. Skootle admits this is an accurate reflection of how Twitter may be used, with the clarification that a direct message may only be received by a user who is a follower. 3 17. Skootle admits this is an accurate reflection of how Twitter may be used. 4 B. “Spam” on Twitter 5 18. Skootle admits that certain uses of Twitter are beneficial for businesses and that, as a 6 result, companies of every size now use Twitter to connect with customers, including driving new 7 businesses, offering discounts and deals, and providing customer service. Skootle is without 8 knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the special efforts taken by Twitter, and 9 therefore denies that allegation. 10 19. Skootle admits that many legitimate companies have grown their businesses through 11 Twitter. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 12 remaining allegations in ¶ 19 and therefore denies them. 13 14 15 16 17 20. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 20 and therefore denies them. 21. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 21 and therefore denies them. 22. Skootle admits that Twitter attempts to limit the number of Tweets and direct 18 messages an account can send per day and the number of users an account can follow. Otherwise, 19 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 20 remaining allegations in ¶ 22 and therefore denies them. 21 23. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 22 of the allegations in ¶ 23 and therefore denies them. To the extent any further allegations in ¶ 23 23 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies each and every allegation and/or implication of 24 wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 23 relate to other defendants, Skootle is without 25 knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations and therefore 26 denies them. 27 28 24. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 24 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies each and every allegation and/or implication of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 24 -5SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 relate to other defendants, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as 2 to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 3 25. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 25 relate to Skootle or James Kester, Skootle denies 4 each and every allegation and/or implication of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 25 5 relate to other defendants, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as 6 to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 7 C. Twitter’s User Agreement 8 26. 9 Skootle admits that in order to create a Twitter account, a would-be Twitter user must first agree to be bound by Twitter’s user agreement, which comprises the Twitter Terms of Service 10 (“Terms”), the Twitter Rules, and Twitter’s Privacy Policy (collectively the “TOS”). Skootle denies 11 that a Twitter account is necessary to access Twitter and use many of Twitter’s services. Skootle is 12 without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining 13 allegations in ¶ 26 and therefore denies them. 14 27. Skootle denies that by accessing or using Twitter’s websites and services a user agrees 15 to be bound by the TOS. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as 16 to the truth of the remaining allegations in ¶ 27 and therefore denies them. 17 28. Skootle admits the terms of Twitter’s TOS and Twitter Rules speak for themselves. 18 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 19 remaining allegations in ¶ 28 and therefore denies them. 20 29. Skootle admits the terms of Twitter’s TOS and Twitter Rules speak for themselves. 21 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 22 remaining allegations in ¶ 29 and therefore denies them. 23 30. Skootle admits the terms of Twitter’s TOS and Twitter Rules speak for themselves. 24 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 25 remaining allegations in ¶ 30 and therefore denies them. 26 31. Skootle admits to having opened a Twitter account in 2009 and to agreeing to the TOS 27 in place at that time. To the extent any further allegations in ¶ 31 relate to Skootle or James Kester, 28 all remaining allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing are denied by Skootle. To the extent the -6SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 allegations in ¶ 31 relate to other defendants, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient 2 to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 3 D. TweetAttacks 4 32. Skootle admits there exists a product known as TweetAttacks. Otherwise, Skootle is 5 without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining 6 allegations in ¶ 32 and therefore denies them. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 33. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 33 and therefore denies them. 34. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 34 and therefore denies them. 35. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 35 and therefore denies them. 36. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 36 and therefore denies them. 37. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 37 and therefore denies them. 38. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 38 and therefore denies them. 19 E. TweetAdder 20 39. Skootle admits that it is the owner and operator of a website available at 21 www.tweetadder.com. Skootle further admits that it sells and services a product called 22 “TweetAdder.” Skootle further admits that customers may purchase TweetAdder for more than one 23 account. Skootle denies the remaining allegations in ¶ 39. 24 40. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 40 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 25 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing . To the extent the allegations in ¶ 40 relate 26 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 27 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 28 -7SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 2 3 41. The allegations in this paragraph assert legal conclusions to which no response is required and on that basis Skootle denies them. 42. Skootle admits that the TweetAdder website states that licensees can “get more 4 followers, instantly;” “use our program on an unlimited number of Twitter profiles with TweetAdder 5 Platinum;” and “works your Twitter profile or profiles like a human being.” Skootle denies the 6 remaining allegations in ¶ 41. 7 43. Denied. 8 44. The allegations in this paragraph assert legal conclusions to which no response is 9 required and on that basis Skootle denies them. 10 F. TweetBuddy 11 45. Skootle admits there exists a product known as TweetBuddy. Otherwise, Skootle is 12 without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining 13 allegations in ¶ 45 and therefore denies them. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 46. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 46 and therefore denies them. 47. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 47 and therefore denies them. 48. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 48 and therefore denies them. 49. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 49 and therefore denies them. 50. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 50 and therefore denies them. 51. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 51 and therefore denies them. 26 G. James Lucero 27 52. 28 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 52 and therefore denies them. -8SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 2 3 4 53. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 53 and therefore denies them. 54. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 54 and therefore denies them. 5 H. Garland E. Harris 6 55. 7 8 9 10 11 Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 55 and therefore denies them. 56. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 56 and therefore denies them. 57. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 57 and therefore denies them. 12 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 13 Breach of Contract (Against All Defendants) 14 15 16 17 58. Skootle incorporates by reference each and every response contained in paragraphs 1 through 57. 59. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 59 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 18 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing . To the extent the allegations in ¶ 59 relate 19 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 20 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 21 22 23 60. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 60 and therefore denies them. 61. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 61 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 24 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing . To the extent the allegations in ¶ 61 relate 25 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 26 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 27 28 62. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 62 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing . To the extent the allegations in ¶ 62 relate -9SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 2 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 3 SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 4 Tortious Interference with Contract (Against the Spamware Defendants) 5 6 7 8 9 10 63. Skootle incorporates by reference each and every response contained in paragraphs 1 through 62. 64. Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in ¶ 64 and therefore denies them. 65. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 65 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 11 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 65 relate 12 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 13 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 14 66. Skootle admits it is aware Twitter has a TOS. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 66 15 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. 16 To the extent the allegations in ¶ 66 relate to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or 17 information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 18 67. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 67 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 19 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 67 relate 20 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 21 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 22 68. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 68 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 23 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 68 relate 24 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 25 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 26 27 69. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 69 relate Skootle and James Kester, Skootle denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 69 relate to other 28 - 10 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the 2 allegations and therefore denies them. 3 70. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 70 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 4 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 70 relate 5 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 6 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 7 THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF 8 Fraud (Against the Spamware Defendants) 9 10 11 12 71. Skootle incorporates by reference each and every response contained in paragraphs 1 through 70. 72. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 72 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 13 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 72 relate 14 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 15 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 16 73. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 73 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 17 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 73 relate 18 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 19 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 20 74. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 74 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 21 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 74 relate 22 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 23 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 24 75. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 75 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 25 denies all remaining allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 26 75 relate to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to 27 the truth of the allegations and therefore denies them. 28 - 11 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF 2 Unlawful, Unfair, and Fraudulent Business Practices Under California Business & Professions Code § 17200, et seq. (Against All Defendants) 3 4 5 6 76. Skootle incorporates by reference each and every response contained in paragraphs 1 through 76. 77. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 77 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 7 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 77 relate 8 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 9 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 10 78. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 78 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 11 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 78 relate 12 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 13 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 14 79. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 79 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 15 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 79 relate 16 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 17 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 18 80. To the extent any allegations in ¶ 80 relate to Skootle and James Kester, Skootle 19 denies all allegations and/or implications of wrongdoing. To the extent the allegations in ¶ 80 relate 20 to other parties, Skootle is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth 21 of the allegations and therefore denies them. 22 23 81. Skootle denies any and all allegations of the complaint that it has not expressly admitted or qualified. RESPONSE TO PRAYER FOR RELIEF 24 25 26 Skootle denies that Twitter is entitled to any of the relief requested in its Prayer for Relief, or any other relief. 27 28 - 12 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 1 AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 2 In addition to the defense described below, Skootle expressly reserves the right to allege 3 additional defenses as they become known during the course of discovery. In asserting any or all of 4 these defenses, Skootle does not concede that it bears the burden of establishing any fact or 5 proposition on any issue. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 1 6 7 8 82. FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM – Skootle asserts that the complaint fails to state a claim against Skootle upon which relief can be granted. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 2 9 10 11 83. NON-BREACHING USES – Skootle asserts that TweetAdder offers features that do not breach the TOS. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 3 12 13 84. NON-BREACH – Skootle asserts it does not breach and has not breached (directly, 14 indirectly, contributorily, or by inducement) any contracts alleged in the complaint. In fact, Skootle 15 asserts that the TOS alleged in the complaint contains terms in addition to and different from the 16 terms of the TOS in place in 2009. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 4 17 18 19 85. ACCORD AND SATISFACTION – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims, or parts thereof, are barred by the doctrine of accord and satisfaction. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 5 20 21 22 86. PERFORMANCE – Skootle asserts that it discharged each and every obligation, if any, which it may have owed to Twitter. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 6 23 24 25 87. SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims against Skootle are barred by the doctrine of substantial compliance. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 7 26 ECONOMIC LOSS RULE – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred by the 27 88. 28 economic loss rule. - 13 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 8 1 89. 2 3 JUST CAUSE – Defendant asserts that the actions taken of which Twitter complains were taken with just cause and were not in violation of any federal or state statute. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 9 4 90. 5 6 LACHES – Defendant asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred by the doctrine of laches. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 10 7 8 9 91. ESTOPPEL – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred by the doctrine of estoppel. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 11 10 11 12 92. FAILURE TO DO EQUITY – Skootle asserts that no relief may be obtained under the complaint by reason of Twitter’s failure to do equity in the matters alleged in the complaint. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 12 13 14 15 93. FAILURE TO MITIGATE – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred for failure to mitigate damages. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 13 16 17 94. MERITLESS CLAIM(S) – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s complaint and the cause(s) of 18 action alleged therein is frivolous and brought and maintained in bad faith and without reasonable 19 cause, is totally and completely without merit, and was brought for the sole purpose of harassing 20 Skootle and that Skootle is entitled to recover reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, from 21 Twitter and its counsel. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 14 22 23 24 95. conduct. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 15 25 26 RATIFICATION – Skootle asserts that it did not ratify or approve any wrongful 96. WAIVER – Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred by the doctrine of waiver. 27 28 - 14 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721 AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 16 1 UNCLEAN HANDS - Skootle asserts that Twitter’s claims are barred by the doctrine 2 97. 3 of unclean hands. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 17 4 5 6 98. FIRST AMENDMENT – Skootle asserts that the actions taken by it or its customers are protected by the First Amendment. JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 7 8 Skootle hereby demands a trial by jury as to all issues so triable in this action. 9 10 Date: May 4, 2012 COLT / WALLERSTEIN LLP 11 12 13 14 By:_______________________________ Doug Colt Thomas E. Wallerstein Nicole M. Norris Attorneys for Skootle, Inc. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 15 SKOOTLE CORPORATION’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT CASE NO. CV 12-1721

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