President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Certplex Ltd., a UK Corporation et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 400, receipt number 0101-5535125 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 AO 121 Report of Filing Action Involving Copyright, # 4 AO 121 Report of Filing Action Involving Copyright)(Cotter, John)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF
HARVARD COLLEGE,

Civil Action No.:
Plaintiff,

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

v.
CERTPLEX LTD., a UK corporation,
GLOBAL SIMULATORS LIMITED, a UK
corporation, CERTIFICATION TRENDZ,
LIMITED, a UK corporation,
ITSOLEXPERT LIMITED, a UK
corporation, FREETECH SERVICES
LIMITED, a UK corporation, and JOHN
DOES 1-20,
Defendants.

COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, President and Fellows of Harvard College, a/k/a Harvard University
(“Harvard”), brings this action against Certplex Ltd., Global Simulators Limited, Certification
Trendz Limited, ITSolExpert Limited, Freetech Services Limited, and John Does 1-20 for
injunctive relief and damages as follows:
1.

This is an action based upon violations of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101, et

seq., and state law. All claims herein arise out of defendants’ unlawful copying and distribution
of Harvard’s Credential of Readiness Examinations. Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief; monetary
damages; an award of attorneys’ fees and costs; and such additional relief as this Court deems
appropriate.

PARTIES
2.

Harvard, with its principal undergraduate campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts,

is the nation’s oldest institution of higher learning. Harvard is a Massachusetts not-for-profit
corporation with various academic units, including the Harvard Business School, whose main
campus is in Boston, Massachusetts.
3.

Certplex Ltd. (“Certplex”) is a United Kingdom limited liability company with its

registered office at 27 Old Glouster Street, London, England.
4.

Global Simulators Limited (“Global Simulators”) is a United Kingdom limited

liability company with its registered office at First Floor, 41 Chalton Street, London, England.
5.

Certification Trendz Limited (“Certification Trendz”) is a United Kingdom

limited liability company with its registered office at Ordman House, 31 Arden Close, Bradley
Stoke, Bristol, England.
6.

ITSolExpert Limited (“ITSolExpert”) is a United Kingdom limited liability

company with its registered office at 102 Bressey Grove, South Woodford, London, England.
7.

Freetech Services Limited (“Freetech”) is a United Kingdom limited liability

company with its registered office at 132-134 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, England.
8.

Harvard is unaware of the true names and capacities of John Does 1-20, inclusive,

the owners, operators and managers of the named defendants and their operations at
“certkiller.com,” “testking.com,” “certgenie.com,” “pass4sure.com” and other related web sites
at the Internet domain names listed in Exhibit 2. Harvard therefore sues these defendants by
such fictitious names. Harvard will amend this complaint to allege their true names and
capacities when ascertained. Harvard is informed and believes and therefore alleges that each of
the fictitiously named defendants is responsible in some manner for the occurrences alleged, and

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that Harvard’s injuries as alleged were proximately caused by such defendants. These
fictitiously named defendants, along with Certplex, Global Simulators, Certification Trendz
ITSolExpert and Freetech, are referred to collectively as “defendants.”
9.

The actions alleged to have been undertaken by the defendants were undertaken

by each defendant individually, were actions that each defendant caused to occur, were actions
that each defendant authorized, controlled, directed, or had the ability to authorize, control or
direct, and/or were actions each defendant assisted, participated in, or otherwise encouraged, and
are actions for which each defendant is liable. Each defendant aided and abetted the actions of
one or more of the defendants set forth below, in that each defendant had knowledge of those
actions, provided assistance and benefited from those actions, in whole or in part. Each of the
defendants was the agent of one or more of the remaining defendants, and in doing the things
hereinafter alleged, was acting within the course and scope of such agency and with the
permission and consent of other defendants.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
10.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims in this action pursuant

to the provisions of 17 U.S.C. §501; 28 U.S.C. §1338(a); and 28 U.S.C. §1331. Subject matter
jurisdiction is also proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1332 and 28 U.S.C. §1367.
11.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over the defendants, who have purposefully

availed themselves of the benefits of this District. Defendants have expressly aimed their
activities at a resident of this District, knowing that the resulting injury would occur in this
District. Defendants have operated commercial websites through which they sold their
infringing materials to residents of this District.

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12.

Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b). A substantial part

of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in this District, and a substantial part
of property that is the subject of the action is situated in this District. The infringing materials
that are the subject of this litigation were created in this District and offered for distribution in
this District, and the claims alleged in this action arose in this District.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
13.

Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard. The school

offers a full time MBA program and other educational programs, including HBX, an interactive
online learning initiative. One of the offered programs is HBX Credential of Readiness
(“CORe”), an 8-12 week program that teaches the fundamentals of business and results in a
credential issued by HBX. The CORe curriculum, designed by Harvard Business School faculty
members and staff, is intended for individuals seeking to understand the fundamentals of
business, and how business theories apply in real business settings.
14.

In order to obtain the HBX credential, a candidate must meet certain course

requirements and then must pass a final examination comprised of a number of modules in
particular subject areas, known as the HBX CORe Final Examinations (the “CORe Exams”).
The CORe Exams, created at great expense by Harvard Business School, are original works of
authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression by Harvard.
15.

The copyright in each CORe Exam was registered, using the “secure” filing

procedure, with the United States Copyright Office in compliance with the Copyright Revision
Act of 1976 (17. U.S.C. §101, et seq.) and Copyright Office Regulations. True and correct
copies of the certificates of registration for the CORe Exams are attached to this Complaint as
Exhibit 1 and incorporated by reference.

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Defendants’ Unlawful Acts
16.

Defendants operate web sites at numerous Internet domain names, including

“Certkiller.com,” “Testking.com,” “Certgenie.com,” and “Pass4sure.com.” Through these and
their other related web sites at the Internet domain names listed in Exhibit 2 (collectively, the
“Test Sales Sites”), defendants offer for sale training materials allegedly designed to prepare
students to successfully pass HBX CORe Exams.
17.

Harvard is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that defendants

accessed and copied the CORe Exams, and that the training materials defendants sell through the
Test Sales Sites contain exam questions and answers that are either identical or substantially
similar to Harvard’s copyrighted exam questions and answers. Harvard has not licensed or
authorized defendants to copy or distribute its copyrighted exam content.
18.

In sum, defendants have provided and are providing, without permission or

license from Harvard, the original copyrighted exam content from the CORe Exams to HBX
CORe candidates via the Test Sales Sites.
19.

Defendants have utilized a number of techniques to conceal their activities with

respect to all of their websites, including Certkiller.com, Testking.com, Certgenie.com and
Pass4sure.com. The techniques defendants have used to conceal their activities include, but are
not necessarily limited to, private registration of their domain names, the use of false identities to
register their domain names, and offshore hosting and payment facilities.
20.

Based on the facts alleged herein, defendants have committed, and are

committing, thousands of acts of copyright infringement. These acts of infringement are willful,
deliberate and committed with knowledge of Harvard’s registered copyrighted material.

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FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
Copyright Infringement 17 U.S.C. §501, et seq.
(All Defendants)
21.

Plaintiff realleges and reincorporates herein by reference the allegations contained

in Paragraphs 1 through 20 of this Complaint as set forth above.
22.

Harvard is the author, creator and owner of the right, title and interest in each

copyrighted CORe Exam registered with the United States Copyright Office. (See Exhibit 1,
supra).
23.

Upon information and belief, defendants had access to the copyrighted works.

24.

Defendants willfully infringed Harvard’s copyrights by copying, reproducing,

displaying and distributing without any authorization from Harvard, infringing copies of the
CORe Exams and/or by making derivative works or other infringing use of the CORe Exams in
the United States of America.
25.

Harvard never authorized the defendants to copy or duplicate or license the

CORe Exams, either in whole or in part, or to offer for sale or sell, or offer access to, any copies
of its CORe Exams or individual test questions or answers appearing thereon.
26.

As a result of the foregoing activities, defendants are liable to Harvard for willful

infringement under 17 U.S.C. §501, et seq.
27.

Harvard has suffered and will continue to suffer, substantial and irreparable

damage to its business reputation and goodwill, as well as losses in an amount in excess of
$75,000, but not yet fully ascertained, and which will be further determined according to proof.
In addition to Harvard’s actual damages, Harvard is entitled, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §504, to
receive the profits made by defendants from their wrongful acts. In the alternative, Harvard is

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entitled to statutory damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §504(c). These statutory damages should be
enhanced in accordance with 17 U.S.C. §504(c)(2) due to the defendants’ willful conduct.
28.

Harvard has no adequate remedy at law for defendants’ wrongful conduct in that:

(1) Harvard’s copyrights are unique and valuable properties that have no readily determinable
market value; (2) the infringement by defendants constitutes interference with Harvard’s
goodwill and customer relations; and (3) defendants’ wrongful conduct and the resulting damage
is continuing. Therefore, Harvard is entitled to injunctive relief pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §502 and
to an Order under 17 U.S.C. §503 that any infringing materials should be impounded and
destroyed.
29.

Harvard is also entitled to an order under 17 U.S.C. §503 and 28 U.S.C. §1651(a)

requiring that the domain names certkiller.com, testking.com, certgenie.com, pass4sure.com and
the other domains listed on Exhibit 2 be transferred to Harvard.
30.

Harvard is also entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to

17 U.S.C. §505.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
State False Advertising And Unfair Competition Law
Under MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 93A, §§ 1-11.
(All Defendants)
31.

Plaintiff realleges and reincorporates herein by reference the allegations contained

in Paragraphs 1 through 30 of this Complaint as set forth above.
32.

The defendants’ acts within Massachusetts as described in this complaint

constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in Massachusetts within the meaning of Mass.
GEN. LAWS ch. 93A §§ 2 and 11.

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33.

The defendants’ violations of Mass. GEN. LAWS ch. 93A §§ 2 and 11 caused

Harvard substantial damages in Massachusetts in an amount to be determined at trial.
34.

Harvard has been damaged and will continue to be damaged in Massachusetts by

the acts of the defendants unless the defendants are preliminarily and thereafter permanently
enjoined by this Court.
35.

Harvard is without an adequate remedy at law.

36.

Harvard is entitled to multiple damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs pursuant to

Mass. GEN. LAWS ch. 93A § 11.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Harvard respectfully requests judgment as follows:
1.

That the Court enter judgment against defendants that they have willfully

infringed Harvard’s rights to the copyrighted CORe Exams identified in Exhibit 1 under 17
U.S.C. §501;
2.

That the Court issue permanent and injunctive relief against the defendants and

that defendants, their officers, agents, representatives, servants, employees, attorneys, successors
and assigns, and all others in active concert or participation with defendants be enjoined and
restrained from:
(a) Imitating, copying or making any other infringing use or infringing
distribution of any HBX CORe Exam or variations thereof;
(b) Using reproductions, counterfeits, copies, or colorable imitations of Harvard’s
copyrighted CORe Exams or variations thereof;

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(c) Distributing, offering for distribution, circulating, selling, offering for sale,
advertising, importing, promoting or displaying spurious products or
merchandise not authorized or licensed by Harvard;
(d) Utilizing or maintaining any website to store material that infringes on
Harvard’s copyrights;
(e) Providing in any medium whatsoever any copyrighted material owned by
Harvard; and
(f) Assisting, aiding or abetting any other person or business entity in engaging
or performing any of the activities referred to in subparagraphs (a) through (e)
above.
3.

That the Court enter an Order of impoundment pursuant to

Section 17 U.S.C. §503 and 28 U.S.C. §1651(a), impounding all infringing copies of Harvard
CORe Exams, and any related item, including business records which are in defendants’
possession and under their control.
4.

That the Court enter an Order pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §503 and 28 U.S.C. §1651(a)

requiring that the domain names certkiller.com, testking.com, certgenie.com, pass4sure.com and
the other domains listed on Exhibit 2 be transferred to Harvard.
5.

That the Court enter an Order declaring that defendants hold in trust, as

constructive trustees for the benefit of Harvard, their illegal profits gained from the distribution
of infringing copies of CORe Exams, and requiring defendants to provide Harvard with a full
and complete accounting of all amounts due and owing to Harvard as a result of defendants’
infringing activities.

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6.

That the Court enter an Order instructing defendants, jointly and severally, to pay

Harvard’s general, special, actual and statutory damages as follows:
(a) Harvard’s damages and defendants’ profits pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §504(b);
or
(b) In the alternative, enhanced statutory damages pursuant to
17 U.S.C. §504(c)(2) for defendants’ willful infringement of Harvard’s
copyright; and
(c) Harvard’s actual damages and defendants’ profits pursuant to Mass. GEN.
LAWS ch. 93A; and
(d) Pursuant to Mass. GEN. LAWS ch. 93A, increasing damages by three times the
actual amount found.
7.

That the Court order defendants to pay Harvard both the cost of this action and

reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by Harvard in prosecuting this action; and
8.

That the Court grant Harvard such additional and further relief as is just and

proper.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff Harvard hereby demands trial by jury as to all issues in this action triable of
right by a jury.

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DATED this 29th day of April, 2015

Respectfully submitted,
/s/ John J. Cotter
John J. Cotter (BBO # 554524)
K&L GATES LLP
State Street Financial Center
One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2950
[phone]
[e-mail]
Counsel for Plaintiff Harvard University

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EXHIBIT 1

EXHIBIT 2
CERTPLEX LTD. and GLOBAL SIMULATORS LIMITED domain names
actualanswers.com
actualcerts.com
actualtests.com
braindumps.com
certkiller.com
certpaper.com
cramguides.com
examsheets.com
examsim.com
passguide.com
real-exams.com
realtests.com
selfprep.org

selftestengine.com
test-king.com
test-papers.com
testsinside.com
actual-exam.com
certsheets.com
real-answers.com
real-exam.com
testkingcerts.com
testkingsite.com
testkingworld.net
testnotes.com

CERTIFICATION TRENDZ, LIMITED domain name
testking.com
ITSOLEXPERT LIMITED domain names
becertify.com
certgenie.com
dumps4exam.com
passcram.com
passdumps.com
practicedumps.com
questions4exam.com
questions4test.com
actualtests2014.com
beitcertified.com
cbtdumps.com
dumpsfiles.com

examblogger.com
measureup2014.com
pass4sure2014.com
pdfdump.com
pearsonvue2014.com
prepblogger.com
qablogger.com
realexams2014.com
testforprep.com
testking2014.com
testspdf.com
transcender2014.com

FREETECH SERVICES LIMITED domain names
apass4sure.com
pass4sure.com
pass-4sure.com
pass4sureexam.com

passguides.com
pass4sures.co
pass4sures.com

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true copy of the above document are being filed with this Court
through the electronic case filing (“ECF”) system on April 29, 2015 and will be served with
the Complaint in this Action as indicated in the Summons.
/s/ John J. Cotter
John J. Cotter