NORTON v. USA

Filing 10

UNREPORTED ORDER. granting 6 Motion to Dismiss. The Clerk is directed to dismiss the complaint with prejudice. Signed by Judge Marian Blank Horn. (lld) Copy to parties.

lln tre o.lnitr! Strted €0urt

of

frierdl Chiud

No.14{33C

MICHAELANTHONY NORTON
E!9 Sg Plaintifii h Eglla
Eglpglg Application; Motion to
Disml8s; Lack or Subj€ct Maner
Ju.i8dicfon i Failura to State
Claimi Intell.ctu.l Prcperty,

t

UNITED STATES,

Micha€lAnlhony Nonon. Resron VA p!9 S9
Craig A. Newoll, Jr-, TrialAtloney Commercral Lingation BEnch Civi Division,
Uniled States Oepanment ol Justrce Washinglon, DC for lhe delendanl. Wilh him
were John Fargo, Dtreclor Cvll Orvson, Oepariment of Justce. and Joyc6 R.
B6nda, Acling Ass stanl Atlorney Gene6 Civil DMsion, Department of Jusll@

OROER
HORN. J.
FINOINGS OF FACT

e!9 S9 pla nlfi,r

M chae Anlhory Norton, fled a @np aint in lhe United Slates
Coun of Federal Claihs 'selll ogl lorrh a demand lor tudgment against the Unted
States n lhe sum of $398 306.00 USO'ior violations of his aleged lrademarks,
registered copyrights and a patent application'?by varous p vate enrtes. Mr. Nonon

Plainlils comp a ol notes that lllhe Plaintifl has sought egal assista.ce in California,
Ohio Massachusetts New York Vngina and Unted Kingdoh to reso ve such lo no
'?Mr Norlon ailached a copy oi his patenl applcalion liled with the Uniled Slates Palenl
and Tradema Offr@ (USPTO) lo his complant According lo lhe applcalon, the
siatus or his palent app calon s Abandoned -. Falure to Respond toan Ofiice Action
The USPTO def nes an abandoned appication as an applicalion lthat] is no longer
-rhe

pending and. lhus, cannot malofe nlo res stralon'
United States
Patent and Trademark Otiice, Trademad Bascs: Abandoned Applications,
hnpt rw uspto gov^rademarks/baslcs/abandon lsp (lasr vls ted Mar 9, 2015) sec 37
C F. R 1 1 35 ( I 997) - Abandonmenl lor lailure to reply wilhrn lime period.

demands judgmenl against lhe Uniled Srates, be€lse a prvale enlrty. World Capital
Ma(el. nc {wCM) alegedly srole his business ldenliy and because the Stale oi
Caliloha lost hs idenfty and dened hm !.employmenl ins!€nce beneiils Athoogh
Mr Nodon s complainl identifLes rhe Unled Stares as lhe defenda.l, Mr Nonon does
nor speciicaly claim rhar rhe u.led states vioated a.y of his copyriqhrs, tradema.ks,
palenls. or any other ighls lo which he is egaly enlilled Nonelheless, il appea6 that
Mf Nodon blames lhe Uniled States a.d ls "lflragmenled jurisdicliona enlrtEs tor
"allown9 rhs ro happen. despite thal his arlegalons arelor acr ons allegedly raken by
Dnvate entiles and lhe Slale ofCalfo.nia

Mr

Norlon clams thal n o of his aleged
copynghled works Femhica a.d A L ne In ihe Sand '' we.e adapled wthoul hs
aulhorzarro.. lrom 2012-presenl in lhe iom ol a lereesion show htled veep' and
regislered wilh lhe U S Copyriqhl Ofii@ rn 2011 by Amando annucc and HBO, Inc
Plarnt i slales he egElered lhese wo s with the U.rte! Stales Copyighl Olli@ in 2003
and 2002 resoeci velv
Among his mullple alegahons

Pla ntitt also clams lhal ior an "App, he 'li ed an applicalron tor palenl proteciion
wfh lhe USPTO . January 2006, and rha|Iil.2013, the Plainlill discovered 3 claims
of lhe App had been rmplemeored . Oho by TeamNEO, Incl.l who hned Atlas
Adverlisi.g, Inc oi Colorado to do soch parlial rmplementalion IoI lhe Appl n 2010 after
lhe Plarntis App was repcled by USPTO Panrifi alleges rhat'TeamNEO Inc.
receves its iundrng lom two prio. enllies which lMr Nodo.l previously approached
whrb seekrng lo rmplemenl lhe App: Jlhpslad Inc and lhe Oho OevelopmentOffi@

Fudher Mr Nodon clarms that In 2008 a law lim, Posnelli Law, filed "for
proteclion oi a Trademark (wo.ds and rogo) iitled Odyssels , which the Plainrfi had
used as eary as 2007 to p.omote the implenenlation of lhe App Plainlili clains hls
drscovery ol Polsinellr Laws tradehalk filing s pedinent "as bolh lhe App and the
Posnelr aclion lall wnhh the same business sector of compuler soitware a.d
emer9ency franagemenr sery ces

in addton, plarnlil seeks

damages agahst Ihe Un[ed Stares lor alleged
wrongdoing by WCM and lhe Stare ol Ca orn€ Plainr fi c a ms thar in order ro promote
his business n 2013 he enlered nto a Jornl ventle sgreemenl with WCM. "who
p.omrsed an n a capta cont.buron ol $50000 accodrng ro Mr Nonon. in June
2013 afte.lhe agreement was sgned WCM registe.ledl a C,corp in Caliiornia litled
Odysseus. Inc but. lhe jornt venrure agreemeit was abrdged, and no subsequent
conributon occured As a resllr. Mr Norton claims that wcM slo e his business
dentily Mr Norton also clarms he .epoded a "business identiry theft' lo the Secrerary ol
slale or Calirornia in July 2013. anerwhich the State reported to the Plainlilf that hls

3 lhe United Siales Copyrghr Offces records rellecl thal

Mr

copyrght for'A Lne . rhe sand rn2001. but does not reflect lhat
a copynght for 'Feminica '
2

dent v was losl wnh them and de.red hrm Unemolovmenl nsofance benefts awarded
lhe p€viously Isiclnonth (emphasis n ongrnal)

Finaly plaintifi aso seeks redress because he claims that irom June 2013 14,
as a resut ot the above his "individla credn score p!frmeted 200 ponts fiom neaF
700 to 495. whie alother mentio.ed panies protited trom Plainlffs work, {he sufieredl
an unusual'tax alowance burden

'

Plantifl seks damages in lhe amount of $398306.00: (1) $40,270.00 lor
TeamNEO h ring Al as Advei(ising to partia ly mp emenr plainl ffs App (2) $300,000 00
for 'H BO, nc pa.l a ly imp ement[ingl Plainl ffs Copy.ighted work ' (3) $50,000.00 for
'WCl',4 stealtinsl Plainlilfs business dentily: (4) $8,036 00 rof the amount ot
undistrrbuled Unemployment Insurance because lhe Slate of Calfornia lost plainlffs
idenrty and (5) an undatemnad amaln\ d& to fqragmenred ju sdicuonalentities
alowing lhis lo happen. (emphasis

iorgna)

Accofdng lo lMr Norton lhe Unted Slales Courl of Federa Cams has
ju.sdiction over his cohplanl becaose {tlhe work ol lhe Plarntilf has protections
recoded n lhe U.S. Copyrighi Ofice and Palenl & Trademai< Ofir@. and the nalure of
lhe work has maoy crossove.s with regard to state and internalional jlrisdicllons.
Howeve.. the maio.itv oislch remains n Ihe United Stales'
Defendanl responded lo pantffs complahr by flng a motion ro dismiss ior lack
oitunsdicl on and for fa llre lo slate a claim po6lant ro Rule 12(bX1) (201a) and Rule
12(b)(6) of lhe Rlles of the US Coun or Federal Cams (RCFC). Specifi€lly,
derendanl argu€s ihal Nonons cam ot coprghl olringemenl should be dismissed for
lack of luisdction because ths Couds luisdrction s limted to claims oi dnecl
inirngement by or ror the Uniled Slales and not by pNate parlies.' Delendant also
argues thal'Noi@ns clarm of palenl intrngement should be dismised tor lack oI
lursdiclon because Nonon abandoned his applcaron belore rhe PTO and was lhus
nevef issued a patent'Furlher defendant states Nonons claim of t.ademark
inft ngement shouLd be dismissed tor ack otjur sdict on because the Lanham Acl p aces
jursdiclon for lradema.k clarms against lhe Unted Slales n the lederal distficl and
leirilorial couns' Deieodani also argues that ltlo rhe ertenr ihat Norton seks relief
from the Uniled States lor lhe aciions ot lhe State of Caifornia or any other State or
foreisn country, this Couri lacks jursdcircn unde. lhe Tucker Acl lo address such
clarms The.eiore, the governmeol €quests the lclompaini be d smissed for ack of

'Plainl f d@s notelaborate o. the'unusual
s

tax alowance ouroer

Plainldr ind @res he €lco ared rhe 53OO OOO OO based on rhe U S Copyight Ofii@ s
2013 repon'thal lhe aveage amount awa.ded fo. willuly infiinged copyrghl is
$r50.000 perwlllully infinqed work

tursdiclon or in the allenalve. for talure lo state a cam upon which reliel can be
Plaintifi did nol .espond to lhe argumenls rased in lhe defendanls mollon to
dism ss. instead he nled a one page documenr r lled 'Mol on ior Jldgme.t on the
Pleadings,' in which he u€es an ear y r.ial and tor judgmenl on lhe pleadings He also
'tepfesenls lhe tacl€l conteniions have evdentiary suppod and have been
specincaly, so idenlired and have evidenliary sLpporl aftera reasonab e opponunily
Per RCFC 9l [sic], Pla.lfi has descr beldl lhe palenl . . alreged to be
inirnged' The app catio. lor patenr pfesented n the Complani 6 tusl
thal a patenl exafrpe or economy ngenuity communicalions and
novev The Colrl has suficenr rnterconnecledness among the Rue oI
Law and ex sthg agencies to determ .e v a .ecord ol the Uniled Slales
Palenl & TEdemalk Offi@ Irom 2006 Plainlffs pre- examination and
examination phase anempis at commoncalion wilh Central Intellgence
Agency on the patentable ad (whrch in mariage or merger quaifies lhis
Court as good as any wilh regard ro toisdrction ovef lhe unpre@denied
ad) via record of the Unded Stales Copyiiqhl Otri@ from 1 998 wilh regard
to willfllly iniringed Copyrghted wo in lhe Complainl v a fe@d of ihe
Fedeal Boreau of Inveslgalon t.om 2013 and Secrerary oi Siate ot
Calilornia tom 2012 wiih regad to lhe business ol OdFseus, Odysseus
being lhe commercra activ y represenled by lhe Plainliil and applicalion

DtscusstoN
When delermining whether a comp ainl lied by a p@ S9 plainlfi is sulticienl to
nvoke review by a coun, p!9 !e plainllls afe enltled lo lbera construclon ol lhen
pleadings 99C Farnes v. Kemer, 404 U.S 519. 520-2r (requning that allegations
conlained n a p@ !9 complainl be hed
less slringenl standards lhan forma
pleadinss drafted by lawyeB ) !9!.S lclrgd 405US $8 (1972) !99 slsg E!dsg!_!
Es4U9, 551 U s 89. 94 (2007); Nuohes v Rowe, 449 U.s s, 9-10 (1980)i Eqtclle_!
gsllhE 429 U.s 97 106 (1976). lgL! deltcd 429 U 1066 (1977)i MatXessJ
Uniled States, 750 F 3d 1324 1322 lFed Cir 2014)t Damond v United Slates, 115
Fed Cl 516. 524 at!! 2015 WL 527500 {Fed Ctr Feb 10. 2015) However, 'ttlhere
s no dury on the parl of the tra courl lo creale a claim which lthe plainl]f4 has not
speled oll in his lor he.l pleading " Lenoen v Unted States, 100 Fed. Cl 317 328
(2011) (allefalions r oiginal) (qoolng Scoon v. Unted Staies,33 Fed. Cl.285,293
(1995) (quoting Cark v Nat Traveers Life lns Co. 518 F2d 1167. 1169 (6th Cir
1975)))iSeCAEe Bussie v Unted States 96Fed Cl 89,94 ?fr!.443 F App\ 542

lo

s

'

The @!rl notes lhal deiendant d@s nol exptarn the basis ior delendants belief lhal

plainlff has iaied to stale a claim, and whelher its fail!.e to siate a claim argument
app ies lo all of pLaioliffs allegations

(Fed Cn 20r1):Minehanv uniled Slares 75Fed Ct 249,253 (2407) "WhireaprqEc
painlif is held to a less st.qent slandard than thal of a plarntfi represented by an
altorney. theptqSeplanlft nevertheess bea.s lhe b!rden of eslablEhing lhe Courls
jurisdction by a preponderance or the evidence ' BGs_!-!l!!!9!LS&llc!. 93 Fed Cl
163, 165 (201 0) (cil ns Hlohes v. Rowe 449 U s al I and Ieylgrl-UaLte!19latq9. 303
F3d 1357, 1359 iFed Cn) ( Panlift beaB lhe burden of showng turisdiclion by a
preponderane or ihe evidence ) lel S ClC !cl!S e! &!9 dglcd (Fed. Cn 2002)); !99
qlsg shelkoiskv v Un ted states, No 13'1016C, 2014 wL 5648973, ai'4 (Fed Cl. Nov.
4, 2014) ( PUh le the coun may erclse amb go ties n a pro se plarnlitrs comp a nt. lhe
court does nol excuse Ia complainisl talures. (quoting Henke v Uniled States,60
F 3d 795 799 (Fed Cr. 1995))i Hairis v Uniled slates 113 Fed Cl 290 292 (2013)
(Although plantitrs pleadings a.e held lo a ess slringenl standard, such lenency wilh
respecl to mere fomailes does not relieve the burden to meel jlrisdiclonal
requnements (quolng Minehan v Unired States, 75 Fed Cl at253))

t involves a
power 1o hear a case can never be fodeiled or waived.'Arbauoh v. Y & H
couns
e9q. 546 U.S 500 514 (2006) (quoting United Staies v Cotlon, 535 U S. 625, 630
(2002)) lF]edea couns have an Independenr obigation ro ensure rhal lhey do not
ex@ed ihe scope ot ihetr junsdic0on and lheretore lhey musl 6se and decide
lu sdiclionalqueslonslhallhe pa.les e her ovenook of eecl notlo press.' Henderson
ex rel Hende6on v Shinseki. 131 S Cl 1r97, 1202 (2011)t !99 als9 Hertz Cop. v
fuCld 559 U S 77 94 (2010) ( Couds have an Independe.t obligation lo delemine
whether subjecl matler tursdrclron ersls. eve. when no pa.ly challenges il." (citing
tubauoh v Y & H Coro 546 U s al s14)) SlgqaLQgyEcs-E!._LqEA-bq, 269 F.3d
'1340 1342 (Fed Cir 2001) ("tAl co!.l has a dlty lo nqune nb ils junsdiclion to hear
and decide a €se (c ng Johannsen v Pav Less Druo Slo.es NW.Inc.918 F2d
160, 161 (Fed cn 1990))) Vjs4l-!sq-]$-!-89!9!!qv!!l9!:qts*|!9., 115 F.3d 962,
963 (Fed Cn 1 997) ("lClouds musl always look to then jlr sdict on, whelher the paias
ra6e the issue or nol 'Ihe obteciion lhat a lederal coun bcks subjecl matter
jursdiclon may be rased by a pany o. by a coud o. its own initative, al any slage
in the itigalion, even afler ira and the entry ortodsme.l Albslsbl-Yrllllgg@., 546
U S al 506; 9C9 elsg Cenl Pines Land Co L L.C. v Un(ed States 697 F.3d 1360,
1364 n 1 (Fed Cn 2012) ( An obtection to a coon s slbjecl malter junsd ction can be
ra6ed by any party or lhe co!.r at a.y slage of (igaton hcoding afier r al and rhe
enlry of judsment ' (c lins Adauoh v Y& H Colo. 546 US ai506));Rick's Mushrcom
Sery.Inc v Uniled stales,521 F3d 1338 13a6 (Fed
2008) ('tAlny pany may
chalenge, or lhe @url may rase sla sponle subjed maner jursdicion al any lime."
(cting Arbauoh v Y & H Co.o,546 US al 506i Folden v Unted Srates,379 F.3d
1344 1354 (Fed Cn ) rg[s and Iq&
batu delied (Fed. cir 2004), cei. lEdcd,
(2005); and Fann no. Phi lils & lMolnar v. Wesl 16A F 3d 717, 72A \Fed
545 U S 1 127
C..1998))) Pikurnv Unted States.97 Fed. Ct 71 76 ellgeldsmssed 425F.Appx
902 {Fed Cn 2011). li taci, Islubjecl maller jur sdicl on is an inq! ry lhal lhis court
must rase su6 sporao, even
ne her pa.ry has.aised rhs ssue Mg!abq[9
Labs. nc.v Lab. Coro olAm Froldinos,370 F.3d 1354 1369 (Fed C r ) (cllhg IgItljg
Prods. lnc. v lMead Coro . 134 F 3d 1481, 1485 (Fed Cn ) Iq[g deded and en bm
It is well eslablished lhal slbjecl-mailer lunsdrclio., because

)

cr

s

where

suooeslon declned (Fed Cn ) 99d. de!!d, 525 U.s. 826
b?!9 d9lred (Fed cr 2004) !9!L ofanled i! p?d 9!L !98

548US

546

us

124 (2006)

975 (20051

4

(1

998),

!9I! gld I9I!

C!

!3!.!9@.-etAE -8gld!!ss
dEEElgil 4 _Ep:99!s1t grgllc.s.

The Tlcker Acl grantstur sdicl on to th s coun as lollowsl
The Unled Slales Courl ofFedeGlClaims sha lhave jurisd ction lo render

judgmeil upon any claim aganst lhe United Slales founded either upon
the Consllul on or any Acl ol Cong.ess o. any regulalon olan execullve
depadmenl, o. lpon any exp.ess of mpied conlracl with lhe United
States. or

lor

iqu daled or unliquidaled damages ln cases not sounding in

28 U S C S 1a91(ax1) (2012) As interpreled by lhe Uniled States Supreme Courl the
Tucker Acl waives sovereign ihmundy to alow jlrsdiclon over clarms aganst the
Un ted States (1) founded on an express or impled contract wth the United States, (2)
seekng a rerund fiom a pr or payme.t made to the governme.t, o. (3) based oi iedeE
conslilulronal, slalulory or .egulalory aw mandalng compensalron by the ledeE
governmenl for damases slsrained s99 u4!9cs&tcs_!._N!ycjqN3@, 556 u s. 287,
289-90 (2009);Uniled Srares Mitchetr,463 U S.206,216 (1983)iSegqlsg GEente
Cntv . Anz. v. Unted Srares. 487 F 3d 871 . 875 (Fed. C r.), !e!.S alC lgLS 9!_!4!
1142 (2008)i Patmer v Uniied states.
de4!s! (Fed cir 2007) !9d Ce!€!. 5s2 U
168 F 3d 1310, i314 (Fed Cn 1999)

!

s

-Not every claim invoking ihe Constilulon. a iede6 slalule, or a €guralon is
cognizab e wder lhe Tucker Act The . a m hlst be one lor money damages againsl
' Unled Slares v M rchet 463 U S al 216; lee abA U.tted
lhe Uniied Siates .
Slales v White Mountain Apache Tibe 537 U S 465 472 (2003); Smith v United
S!a!9!. 709 F 3d r114 1116 (Fed Cr) 9CIL d9!t9d, 134 S. Cl. 259 (2013)
Radioshack colD ! uniled srares 566 F3d 1358 1360 (Fed. cr 2009); gEls
Mushroom Seto.Inc v Uniled Slaies 521 F 3d ai 1343 ( lPl anl fi must dedrya
slbslsntNe source or law lhal creaies lhe nght lo recovery ol money damages againsl
the Uniled Slates ) In Onlano Powe. Generatpn loc v United Slales, lhe United
Slales Coun oiAppeals forlhe FederarCircuil identilied lhree lvpes of monelarv ctaims
ior which tuisdiction ls lodged n the Uoled Stales Court of FedeE Ctaims. The coun

The unde.lyrng monetary clarms are ol thee types First. claims
aleging the exisience of a contract between the pantifi and lhe
governmenl talwilhin lhe Tucker Acts waiver . . Second the Tlcker
Act s waiver encompasses claims where lhe p a rtifi has paid money over
to lhe Govemmenl dnedy or n eifecl, and seeks relurn of ar or parl or
ihat sum. Easroorr S S lcoro v Unted Slates. 178 Cl Ct 599 605-{61
372 F 2d fa12.l 1007 {8 I{1967)l (describ ns ilesal exacl on claims as
cams in which the Gove.nment has the citizens monev in its Docket"

(quoling Claoo v Uniled Stales 127 Ct Cl 505. 117 F Supp 576,580
Thnd, ihe Coun ol Federa Clarms has jurisdiction over those
claims where'money has nol been pad bul lhe plainriftassens lhal he is
neverthe ess enl tled to a paymenr l.om the treasury ' Easloort S S. 372
F 2d ai 7 Claims in lhs thrd calegory where no payment has been made
lo lhe governmenl. ether direcl y or . effecl requne thal the "parlicu a.
provision of law reied opon granrs rhe claimant expressly or by
implcaton, a right to be pard a cenao sum. U: qee aba Teslan tv
Uniled Statesl 424 U S 1392.1401 02 [19761 (Whe€ lhe Uniled Slales
is lhe defendanl and lhe plainlrllis nol suing lor money nproperyexacled
or rebined the basis otthe iedea cam whelher il be lhe Constitltion a
statute or a regulallon does nor creale a cause oi action tor money
damages unless, as lhe Coodofc aims has stated that basis in tslf .
can lary be nlelp€led as mardating compensalion by lhe Federa
Governmentio. the damage sustained " (quoting Eastpon S S, 372 F 2d
at 1009)) This category is commonly retered lo as claims brcught under
a money-mandating" statute

(1954)

Ontario Power Generation Lnc v United Slales 369 F 3d 1298. 1301 (Fed Cn 2004);
s99 alsg Twp. ofsaddle Brookv unired stales 104 Fed cl 101.106(2012)

To prove that a slatlte o. regualbn s money-mandaring, a plaintiff must
demonstrate lhal an ndependenl source ol subslaniive law relied upon €n tanv be
Inlepreled as mandating compensalDn by rhe Fede.al Governmenl - U.ited States v
Navap Nation, 556 U S at 290 (quoling Un ed States v Testan, 424 U S. 392, 400
(1976) 999els9 Unned Slaies v. While MounlarnAoa.he Tibe,537 U S al472i![i!gd
Slales v Milchell. 463 U S al 217: Blueoorl Co. LLC v United States, 533 F 3d 1374
I 383 (Fed c r. 2008). a94. !E4i9d 55s U S 1 r 53 (2009). The source oi law granr ng
mo.elary relref must be dislnct from lhe Tucker Acl ilself. SCC Uniled Slates v Navaio
!3.!!! 556 U.S al 290 ( rhe Tucker Act d@s nol creale subslanlive nghls; lit is sihply
al jlrisd ctiona provisionl] lhal operale(sl to waive sovereign lnmunity ior claims
premrsed on other sources ol law (e
li rhe srarute is noi
statutes or conrracrs)
mooey mandaling, lhe Coun oi Fede.al Claims acks jursdiclon, and the dismissal
shoud be for lack of slbjecl fianer t! sdiclon Jans Helcooter Sefr. lnc. v. Fed
Aviation Admin , 525 F 3d 1299 1308 (Fed Cir 2008) (quoting Greenlee Cntv. Ariz v
Uniled States. 487 F 3d al 876)t F sher v Unied Stares 402 F.3d 1 167 1 173 (Fed. Cn
2005) (The abseice oI a money,mandating source is faralro the couns juisd ction
lnderthe Tucker Act '); Peooles v Unted Srares.87 Fed C 553 565-66 (2009)

g

).

When deciding a case based on a lack orsuqed maner ju.isdicl on orlorlaiure
lo slale a caim, thrs coun mlsl assume lhat all undrspuled facts aleged in the
comllainl are true and mLst dlaw a I reasonable infe.ences in the non movants iavof
Padus 551 US 89,94 (2007) (ln addilon. when ruing on a
See Erickson
defendanl s motion to dismiss, a jldge frlst accepi as ttue a l of rhe factua al egar ons
conlained in the complainl (clingAelAll Coo v Twomblv, 550 U S. 544, 555 56
(2007)(cting swe.kewcz v sorema N
534us 506 508 n 1 (2002))))i scheuer v

v

a

s. 232. 236 (1974) { Moreover, I s welestablished lhat. in passng on
a motion to dismiss whether on the g.olnd ot lack of juisdicl on over lhe subject matle.
o. fo. faiure to state a cause of act@n rhe alegalons ol the compLarnt should be
construed favorably ro the peader"). 4u993!9d 9! 91Ie! s4!!.ds !y !c49sJ
Fitoe.ald 457 U.s 800 (1982). E999!E9d !t Ds!E_!-&!e.rq, 468 US 183 190
(1984) United Pac Ins Co v Uniled States 464F 3d 1325.1327 28(Fed.Cn 2006)
Samish Indian Nalion v Uniled Stares, 419 F 3d 1355. 1364 (Fe! Cn. 2005)i g9E9
cascade Cop. v Uniled srares 296F3d 1339. 1343 (Fed Cn) lelS 4!d lebg e!

8l9!es,416

U

b?!! delrc! (Fed cn

2002),

!9(!9!4! 538us 906(2003)

Coovnoht Inlrinqemenl Claims
Seclion (b) oi28 U S

C

S 1498 provides n pan,

whenever the copyright n any wolk prolected under lhe copyrighl laws of
lhe Uniled Slales shall be infringed by the Uniled Slales. by a coporation
owned or contro ed by lhe Uniled Slales or by
contraclor
slbconhactor. or any peGon tum. or corporation acting fof lhe
Govern menl and w th the a uthoizatbn or consent of the Government rhe
ercusive aclLon whch may be blolghl lor such iniiingement shall be an
action by the copyrighl owner agarnst the Unted Slales in lhe Cou.l of

a

Federal Caims

for lhe recovery of hB .easonable and

entrre

@mpensanon as damages rorsuch Inifrngemenl
28 U.S

C

S 1498(b) (2012)

P a nlif alleges lhat lwo ol his copynghted wori(s Femini€' and A Line in the
' were adapied wilholt hs auihoizalion Lom 2012 present in the tom of a
lelevsioo show iiled Veep and regislered wth lhe U S Copy ght Ofii€ in 2011 by

Sand

Armando lannucci and H BO Inc ' Oelendant states that M r. Nonor's 'claim ot copyright
Infr ngement should be dismissed lor lack ol jur sdict on because th s Couns jur sd ction
6 imiled to caims of d rect nfrngement by or lor the United States, and not by privaie

The lJn ted States Coon of Federa C ams has specfic io sdlction in copyight
cases ony when the copyrgll owner bings an nfringement action aganstthe U.iled
slales 28 u s.c s 1498(b) ' secl on I 498(b) cod fies a I mited wsiver oi sovereiqn

'Al

claims fied in rhe Unired Stales Cood oi Fedefat Ctaims must be ned against lhe
U nrled States as rhe defendani S99 RCFC r 0(a) (20l4) Seg 3lsq 28 U.S.C S 1491 (a)
Uniled Slales v SheMood.312 US 584 588 (1941) (cilalion omitted) ("ltf lhe retiet
soughl s against olhe6 than lhe lJniied states ihe surt as to lhem must b€ ignored as
beyond the jurisdiction of rhe coud ' (citation omined)): Statted
Unre! Srates 635
F 3d 129A, 1321 n 1 (Fed Cn 2011) Mav
Unted States, A0 Fed Qt 442, 444
( Jlrisdrction, lhen, is lim ted ro slns aganst rhe United States'). qft|, 293 F Appx
775 (Fed c r ). rchs eld !9[s q! b49 dc!]ed (Fed ctr 2008) Esk.idoe Research

v

v

rhmunty for copyright nf.ingement clarms aqarnst the governmenl and estabishes lhis
coun as the exclus ve rorum to hear such clarms 9!cp9i.lQ9-Lle,_!-!bi!9!Lgle!99.
76 Fed Qt 702.711 (2007), A[!, 533 F 3d 1374 (Fed Cn 2008), lgIL dedgd. 555
U S 1153 (2009)i Seg 4E9 Gavlord v Un ed Stales 678 F 3d 1339, 1340 (Fed. Cn
2012):Avialon Soihxare. nc v United Staies. 10r Fed Cl 656, 662 (2011) E9y!9_L
U!]]C!_S!e!CS.44 Fed. C 60,62-63 (1999) (lrlhe excusive action which may be
broughl lor slch lnlrngemenl shal be an aclon by lhe @py ghl owner against lhe
Unied slales intheCounor Federalclarms (qoorins 28 U.s.c S 1498(b)), sjfg,200
F 3d 1369 (Fed Cn 2000).

Mr. Norton appears to alege lhal t\4r lannucc and HBO. Inc violaled his
copyrighls of Feminica and A Lne in the Sand and that lhe United Slates is
responsble ror these pa.les aclions In his complaint plaintitf states: Whle bolh lhe
Copyrghl Ofti@ and USPTO allege to offer protect on to individla s, a question ot the
Plaintitf s: on whal s@le as compared 10 corporal ons with other spsif ed lax staluses?
The Panlifl obseryes a preierence lo corporalons over ndivduals at both egencies
Plarntilf laults the Unied slales and ils {irasmeoted ju.isdictional enl ies lforl a lowins
lhis to happen ln ils nolon lo dismiss. defendanr notes thar'Nofton appeaG to
beieve thal ths lack oi proteclo. rs roored in the Governmenfs puponed prefefen@
lowa.ds co.porations over indvduals and that lhe Government s being lntlslly
enriched by taxing the proils lhal HBO has alLegedy made ofi of ts copyight
Inrnngement" Delendaol argues, however.'Seclon 1498 however, d@s nol waive
lthe Government sl sovereign mmunily ior secondary lrabi ity based on nlr ngemeni by
unaulhorized and independenl thnd panies (quoting eghc!_!-tl4i!9!L9t4e9, 98 Fed
Cl 156, 170 (2011) (brackets in o.glna) As funher explained by the Cohen courl,
'undef ils lim led wa ver of sovere g n rmmln ry the Unit€d States may be held lrable
on y ror infnngemenrs by rhe governmenl or by a rh rd pady acllng for lhe govenmenl
andwlhilsaulhorzallonorconsent'Cohenv Uniled Slales 98 Fed C a1170 (ciln9
28 U S C S 1498(b));E!e qba Bovle ! Unned Slales, 200 F 3d at 1373 ("Consresss
nlenl clearly s to wave rhe governmenls soverergn mmunity io suts for @py.ighl
.iiingemenl only when i nfringes a copy.ighl tsel or authorizes or consenls lo
niringemenl by a lhnd pany acling ior it )
Although plaintitr names the Uniled Slates as the defendant, he has not set forth
any lacls to eslablsh that unted states, ethef d rectly or indirecty infiinged or
althonzed or consented lo the inffingefienl ol any ol hrs copyrghls.5e Bovle v.
United States,200 F3d at 1373. Nof has he provided any evidence to lhal eftect

Colo v Uniled Slales.92 Fed Cl 88.95 (2010)(cilhg Howard v Un ted Srates,230 F
976 (Fed Cn) (The Unned States is lhe ony proper deiendanl belore the
Court ol Feleral C a ms ') lqhg !E!€d (Fed Cr 2007)) Shalhoub! United States 75
Fed Cl 584. 585 (2007) ( When a plarntirs complainl names private parties, or state
agences ratlrer than fede.al agenoes lhrs coun has no junsdiclion to hear those
allegalions')i Sleohenson v Un(ed Stales.58 Fed Cl 186, 190 (2003) ("fllhe gdy

Appx975

proper delendant for any matler beiore th,s courr is the lJnited srares, nor ils offcers,
norany olherindividua ') (emphasis n onEia)

is no eviden@ lhar rhe Unred Slales has waived its soveregn
immunity for secondary liabilly based on infrngemenl by unadhonzed and ndependent
lhnd parties $eCcohenv Unted States 98 Fed C a1170 Therelore Mr Norton has
faied lo eslablshthis court'sjurisdclro. over his copynght infringement claim
Moreover, lhere

Patenl Inf rinoemenl Claim

Seclon (a) or28 U S C S 1498 povdes

.

pan:

Whenever an inveniion descr bed h and covered bv a oatenl of lhe Unlled
Slales s used or manutaclured by of lor lhe Uniled States wlthout license
ol the owner thereoi or lawlur nghl lo use o. manufaclure lhe same, lhe
owners renedy sha be by action against the un ted srares n lhe unled
Slstes Courl oi Federal C ams tor rhe recovery oi his .easorabe and
enlrre comDensation lorsuch use and manufaclure.
S 1498(a) lee ahq Zollek Corp v Unted Srares 672 F.3d 1309, 1312 (Fed
2012). lMoreover as a threshold matie.. Itlhe Court of Fede.alClaims exclusve
lursdrcton po6uant to 28 U S C 51498 over patenl infringemenl caims againsl the
Fede.al Govemment is condilloned on the issoan@ of a
'S!g!ghlle!_!
lniled slales 89 Fed Cl 755 761 (2010) eplggl dismissed. 2010 wL 1687894 (Fed
cn Apr 26, 20 r 0). Section 1498 does nol srani lhe Court or Fede.al Cla ns judsdiclion
over a craih for allesed inrfingemenl ol an un ssued palenl SCe 28 U S C. S 1498(a)
(Wheneve. an nvenlion desdibed E eld Eglelg!
e pelgd ol the United
")i scg 3ls9 Msdjl!t4 u!!!9cl1319s 99Fed.c 627,632 (201r) ("secro.
1498 does not grant the Coun of Federal Claims JufsdElion over a claim lor alleged
ntingemenl of an hssued patenl )(cd.q Amoen. lnc v Genetielnsi. lnc.,98 F 3d
1328.1332 (Fed C r. 1996) (explaining that a su t tor iniiingement of a paleni €nnot be
brought wher€ a palenl has noi issued)) Mo.eover the nlringement must be by or lor
theUn ed Slates Seg28USC S 1498(a) As a waNer of sovere gn immunity, section
1498 is slricl y conslrued 'Manin v Unfed States 99 Fed C at 632 (citng !eCS9!3
Coro v Uniled Slales 220 Ct C 234 599 F 2d 958 968 lgIL !C!jgd, 444 U.S 991
t1979)t

28U.SC

C|

patent

!I

srares

Mr Norton stales lpllainlil d scovered 3 clams oJ the App had been
rmplefienled n Ohio by TeamNEO lncl I who htred Atlas Advert s ng, Inc. of Colorado
Io do slch panial implementation in 2010 ailer lhe Plainlift s App was €jecred by
USPTO Delendant argues that Mr Nonons claim of patent inf.ingement should be
d sm ssed for lack ollurisdrction because Norton abandoned his appi€tion beto.e the
PTO and was thus never issued a palenl Mr No.ton appears to allege lhat TeamN EO,
Inc and Atlas Adverlising, lnc violaled hE patenton lhe 9pp,"which plaintifi a leges
he nred w th the USPTO for patenl prolec0on in 2006 In his comptaint however. plaintifi
admts he was never ssued a patent roi thrs App The USPTOs websiie tists panritfs
applcalons status s "abandoned. which means his palent appti€tion is .o

l0

longer pending and,lhus, cannot halure nto regElration

!

The Unled Slales Patenl
and Trademark Ofiice Tradema Bascsr Abaodoned Applicalons
hltp //M usplo govlfademarks/basics/abaodo. jsp (last v s ted Ma r 9. 201 5) P alntill
aso admils thal TeamNEO. Inc and Atas Advenising nc's parliat impremental on ol
the App'o@liied alte. plaintffs parenl apprcalon was deemed abandoned Since
j!.isdiction rn this coud rs conditioned on the issuanc€ oi e patent, lhis @urt finds that
p a nlft has farled lo establsh thls courl s subjecl maner jlrisdiclbn over Mr Norlon's
palent inirngemenl carms Moeover. evei i,lr. Nonon had pedected a palenl or this
'App,' ths court stil woud lack jlrisdiciion lo hear his craims slnce he has nol ateged
any iacrs lo eslablish liabilv on lhe pan of rhe uniled stales onder 28 us.c s
1498(a) Plaintifi has oor set forth any lacts rhat atege or estabish that ihe United
States, either d rectly or ndnec y niiinged hrs palenl Plainlffs patent infringement
cams.ifany would be againstTeamNEO nc and/orAllas AdverlEing,Inc Therefore,
lhis coort iinds lhal plarntifl has faied to eslabtsh this @urt s subjecr matter junsd crion
over h s palent Inlinqehent claims.

Tradema( Inlinoemeni Cam
Allhough uncear lrom lhe complaini Mr Norton aso appears to atege lhatlhe
aw frm. Polsinell Law. and Word Capital lMarket lnc (WCM) violated h s righls in 'a
Irademark (words and ogo) litled Odysseus by fling for trade.nark proteclon tor the
same rn 2008 and by registerng Odysseus Inc' n Calilona in June 2013
respeclrvery Plainlrfs aleges that he had used thsword and togo as earty as 2007
to promote the rmplemenlalron ot lhe Aoo Detendant slales thal Mr Norton's 'ctaim of
Irademark nlringeme.t sholtd be dismssed for tack of urisdtction beeuse the Lanham
Acl olaces tLrsoclol lor nadeaarr cla'-s agarsr tlp u.ipd Slares rt-e tederal
d st.ict and tetrtora couns

r

ted States Cou.t ot Federal Ctaims has exctusive jursd ction to
copyrighl .fringemenl suls against lhe federat govenmenr and its agents
pursuant to 28 u s c s r 4s8(b) lhis @!n does not have jurisdrcrion ro hear cta ms ot
lrademark or liade name infrngemenr SCe 28 U.SC S 1498. Jurisdicrion ove.
l.ademark infringement claims ies in the United Stares Distfict Couds, not in this colrt

h*r

Athough lhe

LJn

S9915USCSl12l(a)(2012)("Thedisrricra.dteirnoracourtsoltheUnitedStates
shal h3ve orginaljurisd ction and lhe couns oi appeatoi the Uo te! Slates (oiher rhan
the United Stales Coorl ot Appeats tor lhe FedeEt Circurt) sha have appetate
tLlsd.rior, ol dlracno.q a'rsrrg rnoe. hir ct-aoledl . I Lockndqa v Llited Srales
218Cl Ci 687,689 (1978) (We therelore concude tharwe have.o ildsdiction over
cars for ladera'r nlrngerelr ) T Js oeeLse Jnsdi.tol ove' LdoeTad(
ngemenl claims les in the united stales Drsrricl couds o a nlifs ctaims are nol
'nh

wlhn l'es(opeortl'scou.l:tursocno.

Ptd'nnl aEo

do$ Tr

anege rha. tf e Jn red

'lrr

Nortons other ]unsd ctionat larures aside lhe court notes that pantiff cannot
mainlarn a Ftenl irfr ngement claim to.a pate.twhich ooes norexrsr
E

This chapler rete6 io

C

hapter

22

Trademarks in Tite l5 ofthe U.ted Stales Code

]l

slates voaied any of his tGdemarks, nor d@s he set forih any lacls lo eslablEh lhal
lhe Unted Slates, elher directly or ndirectly. infrnged his lrademad<s Based on Mr
No.ton s p eadings p a nl ffs lrademark ntr ngemenl claims, if any, appear lo be solelv
againsr prvalethnd padies nolthe unted slates.
Claims aoainstrhe State oi Cahlornia

lo h s compla ni p alntiff appeaB lo faull the Un led Slales ior a low ng lhe slale
oI Caliohia lo a low wcM to sleall] Plarntifi s blsiness idently and for lhe State of
Calilona denlyinqlhim unemployment Insurane beoenis " The un[ed stales Coln ol
Federal Cams does not possess r! sdlclon over claims asse&d agansl states
municipalties, and loca government entilles SggSoude6v SC Pub Seru Aulh 497
F 3d 1303 13OB (Fed Cn 2007) ( Cams founded on slale law are also outside the
flicksv united slales.
scooe oflhe lmited unsd ctior ollhe coun ol Federalcams
1rB Fed Cl.76,83 (2014)i woodson v UnLted Slaies,89 Fed C 640.649 (2009)
aI585) E€!91t94-v- U!j!9!-S14ts9. 76
(ctins Shahoub v. united States 7s Fed
Fed. Cl 438,440 (2007) i'The Unled Slates does nol have penary authority through
lhis courilo hold accolnlable lhs Slate ol lcaliornia] ) Therefore, "lo the exlenl that
lhe plarnlff s bringing a ciaim agarnst 3 defendanl other lhan the Unfted Stales oran
emDlovee ofrhe Uniled States lhe 6mpani must be dismissed pu6uanl io RCFC
' N4oorc v Pub Deiendei! gff ,cJ, 76 Fed
1 2(bxi ) lor ack or suqed matler j! risdiction
Cl 6 i7, 620 (2007). Because p a nlifs claims are against the State ol Calilonla and
nol agansr rhe unired states, plainlifi has iailed to eslablish thai this coun has
jurisdicl|on over his claims

)

c

ln Foma Pauperis Aoolicalion

panttf submined an applicalion io Proceed b
E9!@ e?!ae!!, assedLng lhat he is unabe lo pav lhe requ.ed fiing lees and
mirer
reqresrm-g of corrl costs and les His Appication indrcales lhat he s
Alo.g with his p!9

SC

complaint.

unempoyed, and lhatforlhe past lwe ve monlhs he has not rece ved any monev rom'
blsness, professon or other toms oi sell-emplovmenl: rent pavments rnleresl or
dividends. pensions. a.nuiles or lile insu6nce paymentsrgrf6 or inherilances orlrom
any other source Pantifs aso assens n his applcalon lhal he does nor have any
caitr. savnss or checking accounls, and does not own.ea estate stock bonds.
automob les or any olher valuable propeny

ln order to pfovLde access to lhs coln |o lhose who cannol pav the liling fees
mandated by R!e 771(c) (2014) of the Rues oi the United Slales courl oi Federa
claims (RCFC) lhe siaiuie ai 28 U.S C. S 191 5 (2006) permils a court to allow p aintiifs
to file a @mplainl without payment oi fees or securily, under sp*inc cncumslanes
The slandard in 28 U S C S 1915(aX1) for !! !b@ p3gpe4,! eligibililv is "unable io pav
such lees or g ve sec!rily lherefor " Determinalion ofwhal consliluFs onablelo pay'or
unable lo give securty lherefor, and therefore. whelherto alow a pantitf to proceed
the d€crelon oi the
l! !9IE3 p4pe!9 is ef( to plainl,fi planlifis. presiding ludge based on lhe
or
;romaro; submilted bv the
SeC. c..A Ag!]ed !- q].ugll
l2

Colonv. Unil llMensAdviso.v Council,506 U.S. 194.217-1a (1993)t f!cqE!_y-.U!il9d
Ulj@lteteq rhe Unded States
Slgtsg. 100 Fed Cl 85.92 (2011) In El9!91t94
Court of Federalclaims indicared:

!-

{Tlhe thGsho d for a mol on to proceed j! lglos p3!p9!E is nol highr The
srarute requires lhat the appllcant bs unable ro pay such tees 28 u s.c
S 1915(aX1) To be unable to pay such ies'meaG thal payins such
fees would mnslilule a $rious hardship on lhe plaintitl, nol that such
paymenr rould .ender plainrifi destilute

Ejebe]!9or__U!i!9Cs!a!9! 77 Fed Cr 59. 62 (2007): !99 c]99 !.eyesr-ql@Se!9s
71 Fed cl.366,369 (2006) Although lMr Nortons income l€vel, and absene of
savings appeaB oiheMise io qoality h m for l! l9!tr3 !3!pe!g slalus, as dEcussed
above, his complai.t is b€ing disnissed for lack orjuisdiction.
CONCLUSION

For the fo€going reasois. the coun GMNTS delendanls molion !o dismiss.
ot lhe Court shal enter
JUOGMENT consislenl wilh ih s Order

Pa.tiffs complainl s DlSiitlSSEo, with preiudice The cle.k
IT IS SO ORDEREO.

//.4nd.-

fiR'An

13

BLAitK HoRN