Openmind Solutions, Inc. v. Does 1-2925

Filing 27

OBJECTION to 26 Motion to Supplement, by Openmind Solutions, Inc.. (Steele, John)

SteeleHansmeier, PLLC
An anti-piracy law firm

April 3, 2011

Honorable Judge Stephen C. Williams
750 Missouri Avenue
East St. Louis, IL 62201
Re:

Case No. 3:11-cv-00092-GPM-SCW

Honorable Judge Williams:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (“EFF”) has petitioned the Court for a temporary restraining
order which would bar putative defendants from settling with Plaintiff prior to the April 11, 2011,
hearing in this matter. Because the EFF did not receive the Court’s leave prior to filing its
petition, and because an amicus lacks standing to move for a temporary restraining order, the
EFF’s “supplemental brief and petition” are not properly before the Court. Plaintiff is therefore
unable to file a formal response. Instead, Plaintiff submits the following summarizing its
response to the issues raised in the EFF’s improper filing. Plaintiff can supplement this letter
through briefing at the Court’s request.
1.

Plaintiff has fully complied with the Court’s stay of discovery.

On March 25, 2011, the Court issued an order staying discovery in this case pending
resolution of the April 11, 2011 hearing. Within hours of learning of the order, Plaintiff’s
counsel distributed a copy of the Court’s order along with compliance guidelines to each
of its staff members. The guidelines consisted of the following three rules: 1) do not
issue subpoenas or perform any acts in furtherance of subpoena requests; 2) do not
initiate communications with putative defendants; and 3) preserve, but do not review,
any discovery obtained to date. As directed by the Court, Plaintiff’s counsel has paused
all of its activities directly or tangentially related to discovery in this case.
Since the Court’s stay of discovery, Plaintiff’s counsel has received unsolicited contacts
from counsel for anonymous parties who wish to resolve outstanding liability with respect
to the allegations in Plaintiff’s complaint—not just in this action, but in any action. In
each instance, Plaintiff’s counsel disclosed the Court’s stay of discovery. Some parties
elected to await the outcome of the April 11 hearing while others elected to settle. In
absolute numbers, settlement activity in this case has been minimal, although a recent
ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seems to have
spurred higher levels of settlement interest. Call of the Wild Movie, LLC v. Does 11,062, No. 1:10-cv-00455, Memorandum Opinion, Doc. No. 40 (D.D.C. Mar. 22, 2011)
(Howell, J.). In deciding on the exact arguments raised by the EFF in this case, Judge
Howell rejected each and every one of the EFF’s views on First Amendment, personal
jurisdiction, and joinder. This 42-page opinion is perhaps the most comprehensive and
robust examination to date of the issues surrounding mass copyright infringement
actions. Counsel for some Putative Defendants took notice of this decision and
voluntary contacted Plaintiff’s counsel seeking resolution of all claims.
Fax : 3 12 . 8 9 3. 5 6 77

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www.wefightpiracy.com

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2.

The EFF’s request for a temporary restraining order usurps the litigation
prerogatives of the parties to this case.

It is highly unusual, to say the least, for a party with no interest in a case to request that
a court prohibit actual parties to the case from settling their claims. Here, the EFF
wishes to use the Court to dictate litigation strategy to the putative defendants. EFF
argues that Defendants may end up being dismissed from this case. Even if that
happens, the dismissal will be for procedural issues, without prejudice, and the Plaintiff
will still be able to pursue its claims against the anonymous infringers on an individual
basis. Not a single argument raised by EFF in its amicus brief or its “supplemental brief
and petition,” entirely bereft of citation to any legal authority, addresses resolution on the
merits. The litigation against these Defendants will continue in one form or another until
that resolution is reached. There is no reason to delay a putative defendant’s ability—
whether it be for a week, a month, or a year—to achieve resolution with respect to
Plaintiff’s copyright infringement claims.
3.

The EFF fails to meet the high burden required to obtain a temporary
restraining order against the parties.

A party seeking a temporary restraining order bears the burden of establishing not only
the propriety of such an order, but also their standing to seek it. The EFF has done
neither. With respect to the Constitutional requirement of standing, the EFF does not
explain on what basis it is allowed to bring its motion. Standing requires more than an
opinion about copyright laws. With respect to the legal requirements for obtaining a
temporary restraining order, the EFF does not state the legal standard for obtaining an
injunction, much less discuss and support each element. Even if EFF’s filing were to be
interpreted loosely, with the deference usually afforded to pro se litigants, EFF glosses
over the issues ultimate success on the merits, irreparable harm absent the order, and
the balancing of the hardships. In essence, EFF argues that reaching an amicable
resolution among parties represented by counsel is “irreparable harm.” to the EFF.
The EFF has no legal basis to bring or succeed on its petition and EFF abandons any pretense
for having a legal basis by omitting citation to any legal authority whatsoever in its filing. Plaintiff
suspects that the EFF’s true motivation is not to win its motion, but instead present facts—
however misleading—in an effort to bias the Court against Plaintiff for the upcoming April 11
hearing. Plaintiff has complied with the Court’s order, put its discovery activities in this case on
hold, and has been patiently awaiting the hearing to present its arguments to the Court.
Respectfully submitted,

John L. Steele, Esq.