Righthaven LLC v. Center For Intercultural Organizing et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against Center For Intercultural Organizing, Kayse Jama (Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0978-1698547), filed by Righthaven LLC. Certificate of Interested Parties due by 8/15/2010. Proof of service due by 12/3/2010. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet, # 3 Summons)(Coons, John)

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Righthaven LLC v. Center For Intercultural Organizing et al Doc. 1 Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 STEVEN A. GIBSON, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 6656 sgibson@righthaven.com J. CHARLES COONS, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 10553 ccoons@righthaven.com JOSEPH C. CHU, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 11082 jchu@righthaven.com Righthaven LLC 9960 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 210 Las Vegas, Nevada 89129-7701 (702) 527-5900 Attorneys for Plaintiff UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEVADA RIGHTHAVEN LLC, a Nevada limitedliability company, Case No.: 2:10-cv-01322 COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Plaintiff, v. CENTER FOR INTERCULTURAL ORGANIZING, a not-for-profit Oregon entity; and KAYSE JAMA, an individual, Defendants. Righthaven LLC ("Righthaven") complains as follows against Center for Intercultural Organizing ("CIO") and Kayse Jama ("Mr. Jama"; collectively with CIO known herein as the "Defendants"), on information and belief: NATURE OF ACTION 1. This is an action for copyright infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 501. 1 Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 2 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PARTIES 2. Righthaven is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, a Nevada limited- liability company with its principal place of business in Nevada. 3. Righthaven is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, in good standing with the Nevada Secretary of State. 4. entity. 5. CIO is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, identified by the current CIO is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, a not-for-profit Oregon registrar, Network Solutions ("Network Solutions"), as the registrant, administrative contact and technical contact for the Internet domain found at <interculturalorganizing.org> (the "Domain"). 6. Mr. Jama is, and has been at all times relevant to this lawsuit, identified as the executive director of CIO in the content accessible through the Domain (the content accessible through the Domain and the Domain itself, collectively known herein as the "Website"). JURISDICTION 7. This Court has original subject matter jurisdiction over this copyright infringement action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 28 U.S.C. § 1338(a). 8. Righthaven is the owner of the copyright in the literary work entitled: "Misdemeanor violations leading to deportations" (the "Work"), attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 9. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Work has depicted and depicts the original source publication as the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 10. The Defendants willfully copied, on an unauthorized basis, the Work from a source emanating from Nevada. 11. On or about July 8, 2010, the Defendants displayed, and continue to display, an unauthorized reproduction of the Work (the "Infringement"), attached hereto as Exhibit 2, on the Website. 12. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Infringement has depicted and depicts the original source publication as the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2 Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 3 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13. The subject matter, at least in part, of the Work and the Infringement, is the alleged improper targeting of illegal aliens for misdemeanor infractions by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that is leading to deportations. 14. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Defendants knew that the Work was originally published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 15. At all times relevant to this lawsuit, the Defendants knew that the infringement was and is of specific interest to Nevada residents. 16. The Defendants' display of the Infringement was and is purposefully directed at Nevada residents. VENUE 17. The United States District Court for the District of Nevada is an appropriate venue, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2), because a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claim for relief are situated in Nevada. 18. The United States District Court for the District of Nevada is an appropriate venue, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c), because CIO is subject to personal jurisdiction in Nevada. 19. The United States District Court for the District of Nevada is an appropriate venue, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a), because the Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in Nevada. FACTS 20. 102(a)(1). 21. 22. 23. Righthaven is the owner of the copyright in and to the Work. The Work was originally published on June 28, 2010. On July 26, 2010, the United States Copyright Office (the "USCO") granted The Work constitutes copyrightable subject matter, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § Righthaven the registration to the Work, copyright registration number TX0007181503 (the 3 Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 4 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "Registration") and attached hereto as Exhibit 3 is evidence of the Registration in the form of a printout of the official USCO database record depicting the occurrence of the Registration. 24. On or about July 8, 2010, the Defendants displayed, and continue to display, the Infringement on the Website. 25. The Defendants did not seek permission, in any manner, to reproduce, display, or otherwise exploit the Work. 26. The Defendants were not granted permission, in any manner, to reproduce, display, or otherwise exploit the Work. CLAIM FOR RELIEF: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT 27. 26 above. 28. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to reproduce the Work, pursuant to 17 Righthaven repeats and realleges the allegations set forth in Paragraphs 1 through U.S.C. § 106(1). 29. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to prepare derivative works based upon the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(2). 30. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to distribute copies of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(3). 31. Righthaven holds the exclusive right to publicly display the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 106(5). 32. The Defendants reproduced the Work in derogation of Righthaven's exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(1). 33. The Defendants created an unauthorized derivative of the Work in derogation of Righthaven's exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(2). 34. The Defendants distributed, and continue to distribute, an unauthorized reproduction of the Work on the Website, in derogation of Righthaven's exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(3). 4 Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 5 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 35. The Defendants publicly displayed, and continue to publicly display, an unauthorized reproduction of the Work on the Website, in derogation of Righthaven's exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. § 106(5). 36. 37. 38. CIO has willfully engaged in the copyright infringement of the Work. Mr. Jama has willfully engaged in the copyright infringement of the Work. The Defendants' acts as alleged herein, and the ongoing direct results of those acts, have caused and will continue to cause irreparable harm to Righthaven in an amount Righthaven cannot ascertain, leaving Righthaven with no adequate remedy at law. 39. Unless the Defendants are preliminarily and permanently enjoined from further infringement of the Work, Righthaven will be irreparably harmed, and Righthaven is thus entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against further infringement by the Defendants of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 502. PRAYER FOR RELIEF Righthaven requests that this Court grant Righthaven's claim for relief herein as follows: 1. Preliminarily and permanently enjoin and restrain the Defendants, and the Defendants' officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, parents, subsidiaries, related companies, partners, and all persons acting for, by, with, through, or under the Defendants, from directly or indirectly infringing the Work by reproducing the Work, preparing derivative works based on the Work, distributing the Work to the public, and/or displaying the Work, or ordering, directing, participating in, or assisting in any such activity; 2. Direct the Defendants to preserve, retain, and deliver to Righthaven in hard copies or electronic copies: a. All evidence and documentation relating in any way to the Defendants' use of the Work, in any form, including, without limitation, all such evidence and documentation relating to the Website; 5 Case 2:10-cv-01322-JCM-LRL Document 1 Filed 08/05/10 Page 6 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 b. All evidence and documentation relating to the names and addresses (whether electronic mail addresses or otherwise) of any person with whom the Defendants have communicated regarding the Defendants' use of the Work; and c. of the Work; 3. Direct Network Solutions and any successor domain name registrar for the All financial evidence and documentation relating to the Defendants' use Domain to lock the Domain and transfer control of the Domain to Righthaven; 4. Award Righthaven statutory damages for the willful infringement of the Work, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c); 5. Award Righthaven costs, disbursements, and attorneys' fees incurred by Righthaven in bringing this action, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 505; 6. law; and 7. Grant Righthaven such other relief as this Court deems appropriate. Award Righthaven pre- and post-judgment interest in accordance with applicable DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Righthaven requests a trial by jury pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38. Dated this fifth day of August, 2010. RIGHTHAVEN LLC By: /s/ J. Charles Coons STEVEN A. GIBSON, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 6656 J. CHARLES COONS, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 10553 JOSEPH C. CHU, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 11082 9960 West Cheyenne Avenue, Suite 210 Las Vegas, Nevada 89129-7701 Attorneys for Plaintiff 6

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