The Football Association Premier League Limited et al v. Youtube, Inc. et al

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ANSWER to Complaint. Document filed by Google, Inc., Youtube, Inc., Youtube, LLC.(Klausner, Tonia Maria)

The Football Association Premier League Limited et al v. Youtube, Inc. et al

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PREMIER LEAGUE LIMITED and BOURNE CO., on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. YOUTUBE, INC., YOUTUBE, LLC, and GOOGLE INC. Defendants. ECF Case No. 1:07-cv-3582 (LLS) (FM) DEFENDANTS' ANSWER AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiffs and their class action lawyers challenge the protections of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") that Congress enacted a decade ago to encourage the development of services like YouTube. Congress recognized that such services could not and would not exist if they faced liability for copyright infringement based on materials users uploaded to their services. It chose to immunize these services from copyright liability provided they are properly responsive to notices of alleged infringement from content owners. Looking at the online world today, there is no question that Congress made the correct policy choice. Legitimate services like YouTube provide the world with free and authorized access to extraordinary libraries of information that would not be available without the DMCA -information created by users who have every right to share it. YouTube fulfills Congress's vision for the DMCA. YouTube also fulfills its end of the DMCA bargain, and indeed goes far beyond its legal obligations in assisting content owners to protect their works. Defendants YouTube, Inc., YouTube, LLC and Google Inc. (collectively, "Defendants"), by their undersigned attorneys, hereby answer Plaintiffs The Football Association Premier

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League Limited ("Premier League") and Bourne Co.'s ("Bourne," and collectively, "Plaintiffs") Complaint (the "Complaint"), as follows: NATURE OF ACTION 1. Defendants admit that YouTube LLC and Google today operate an online service called "YouTube" which can be accessed at the website www.youtube.com. Defendants deny that they have knowingly misappropriated and exploited Plaintiffs' property for their own gain without payment or license to the owners of the intellectual property. Defendants are without information sufficient to form a belief as to the remaining allegations of paragraph 1 of the Complaint, in part because such allegations are not simple, concise and direct averments as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(e), and on that basis Defendants deny such allegations. 2. Defendants admit that the Plaintiffs purport to bring claims on behalf of a class that consists of copyright owners (together with the owners of exclusive rights in sound recordings protected under state law). Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 2 of the Complaint. 3. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 3 of the Complaint. 4. Defendants admit that the YouTube service is popular, having millions of users as of July 2006. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 4 of the Complaint. 5. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 5 of the Complaint. 6. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 6 of the Complaint. 7. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 7 of the Complaint. 8. Defendants admit that Google acquired YouTube, Inc. in a transaction announced on October 9, 2006 and closed on November 13, 2006 and that YouTube has noted that it was "one

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of the most talked-about acquisitions to date." Defendants admit that at the time of the acquisition, Google operated its own video site called "Google Video." Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 8 of the Complaint. 9. Defendants admit that Plaintiffs seek injunctive and other equitable relief and damages, but deny that Plaintiffs are entitled to any such relief. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 9 of the Complaint. THE PARTIES A. Plaintiffs 10. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 10 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 11. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 11 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. B. Defendants 12. Defendants admit that YouTube, Inc. was founded in February 2005, and that the YouTube service became available to the general public on or about December 15, 2005. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 12 of the Complaint. 13. Defendants admit that YouTube, LLC is a limited liability company organized and

existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and with its principal place of business at 1000 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, California. Defendants admit that YouTube, LLC is a whollyowned subsidiary of Google and a successor to YouTube, Inc. Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 13 of the Complaint. 14. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 14 of the Complaint.

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15.

Defendants admit that Google is a publicly held corporation organized and existing

under the laws of the State of Delaware and with its principal place of business at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California. Defendants further admit that Google has a place of business in New York State and the Southern District of New York at 76 Ninth Avenue, New York, New York, and that on or about November 13, 2006, Google closed its acquisition of YouTube. Defendants deny any remaining allegations of paragraph 15 of the Complaint. 16. 17. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 16 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 17 of the Complaint. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 18. Defendants admit that the Complaint purports to state a claim under the Copyright Act,

17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. and under statutory and common law unfair competition laws, but deny that any such claims have been stated and that plaintiffs are entitled to any relief and otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 18 of the Complaint. 19. Defendants admit that this Court has original subject matter jurisdiction over certain

claims of Bourne Co. in this matter. Defendants deny that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the claims of the Premier League and deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 19 of the Complaint. 20. Defendants admit that this Court has personal jurisdiction over them for purposes of

this action. Defendants further admit that Google maintains an office and employs personnel in New York State and in this District, and is physically present in this state. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 20 of the Complaint. 21. Defendants admit that this Court has personal jurisdiction over them for purposes of

this action. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 21 of the Complaint.

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22.

Defendants admit that venue is proper in this District. CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS

23.

Defendants admit that Plaintiffs purport to bring this action on behalf of themselves and

as a class action. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 23 of the Complaint. 24. Paragraph 24 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 24 contains factual allegations, Defendants admit that YouTube, Inc. has stated in a court filing that over 20 million unique visitors came to YouTube's website during July 2006. Defendants deny Plaintiffs' mischaracterization of YouTube's press releases. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of paragraph 24 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 25. Paragraph 25 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 25 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 25 of the Complaint. 26. Paragraph 26 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 26 contains factual allegations, Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 26 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 27. Paragraph 27 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that

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paragraph 27 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 27 of the Complaint. 28. Paragraph 28 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 28 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 28 of the Complaint. 29. Paragraph 29 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 29 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 29 of the Complaint. 30. Paragraph 30 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 30 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 30 of the Complaint. 31. Paragraph 31 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 31 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 31 of the Complaint. ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS FOR RELIEF 32. Defendants admit that YouTube is a popular service that enables users to upload, view,

and share video clips without charge. Defendants further admit that YouTube contains a wide variety of material, that YouTube enables users to post and view material without charge and that YouTube has grown rapidly since its founding in February 2005. Defendants are without

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sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 32 concerning the growth rate of the service or its percentage of online video traffic, and on that basis denies the allegations. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 32 of the Complaint. 33. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 33 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 34. 35. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 34 of the Complaint. Defendants admit that YouTube has received and complied with DMCA notices from

the BBC, JASRAC and Viacom. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of Paragraph 35 of the Complaint. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 36 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 37 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 38 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 39 of the Complaint. Defendants admit that YouTube users are able to post comments in connection with

certain materials accessible through its service. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 40 of the Complaint. 41. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 41 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 42. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 42 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 43. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 43 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them.

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44.

Defendants admit that Google's website currently includes a capability for users to

search for video clips and receive search results that include links to clips on YouTube's service. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 44 of the Complaint. 45. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 45 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 46. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 46 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 47. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the

truth of the allegations of paragraph 47 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 48. Defendants admit that a list of URLs is contained within Exhibit A to the Complaint.

Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 48 of the Complaint. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 49 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 50 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 51 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 52 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 53 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 54 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 55 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 56 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 57 of the Complaint. Defendants admit that they meet the notice and takedown requirements of the Digital

Millennium Copyright Act safe harbors. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 58 of the Complaint.

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59.

Defendants admit that the YouTube service enables users to designate video clips as

private and thereby limit the audience of persons able to see video clips they upload to the service. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 59 of the Complaint. 60. 61. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 60 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 61 of the Complaint regarding

Defendants' supposed non-responsiveness and delay in responding to notices from Premier League. Defendants are without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the remaining allegations of paragraph 61 of the Complaint, and therefore deny them. 62. 63. 64. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 62 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 63 of the Complaint. Defendants admit there is a ten minute time limit on clips uploaded to the YouTube

service. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 64 of the Complaint. 65. Defendants admit that they do not enable downloading of copies of clips available

through the YouTube service. Defendants otherwise deny the allegations of paragraph 65 of the Complaint. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 66 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 67 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 68 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 69 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 70 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 71 of the Complaint.

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72.

Defendants admit that they have entered into license agreements with a number of

major media companies. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 72 of the Complaint. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 73 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 74 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 75 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 76 of the Complaint. Defendants admit that they qualify for the protections of the Digital Millennium

Copyright Act and satisfy the requirements of one or more of the Act's safe harbors. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 77 of the Complaint. 78. Paragraph 78 contains legal conclusions to which no response is required, but to the

extent a response is required, Defendants deny Plaintiffs' conclusions. To the extent that paragraph 78 contains factual allegations, Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 78 of the Complaint. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 79 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 80 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 81 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 82 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 83 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 84 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 85 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 86 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 87 of the Complaint.

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88. 89.

Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 88 of the Complaint. Defendants admit that Google has not placed a bid with Premier League for certain

media rights to footage from football matches. Defendants deny the remaining allegations of paragraph 89 of the Complaint. 90. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 90 of the Complaint. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 91. herein. 92. 93. 94. 95. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 92 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 93 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 94 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 95 of the Complaint. SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 96. herein. 97. 98. 99. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 97 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 98 of the Complaint. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 99 of the Complaint. Defendants incorporate by reference their responses to paragraphs 1-95 as if set forth Defendants incorporate by reference their responses to paragraphs 1-90 as if set forth

100. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 100 of the Complaint. 101. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 101 of the Complaint. THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF 102. Defendants incorporate by reference their responses to paragraphs 1-101 as if set forth herein. -11-

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103. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 103 of the Complaint. 104. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 104 of the Complaint. 105. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 105 of the Complaint. 106. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 106 of the Complaint. 107. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 107 of the Complaint. FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF 108. Defendants incorporate by reference their responses to paragraphs 1-107 as if set forth herein. 109. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 109 of the Complaint. 110. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 110 of the Complaint. 111. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 111 of the Complaint. 112. Defendants deny the allegations of paragraph 112 of the Complaint. DEFENSES FIRST DEFENSE (DMCA SAFE HARBORS) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part because Defendants are protected by one or more of the DMCA Safe Harbors in 17 U.S.C. § 512. SECOND DEFENSE (LICENSE) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by licenses, express and implied, granted or authorized to be granted by Plaintiffs or others with rights to grant them. THIRD DEFENSE (FAIR USE) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of fair use. FOURTH DEFENSE (LACK OF SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION) The Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction in whole or in part.

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FIFTH DEFENSE (FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM) Plaintiffs' allegations fail to state a claim for copyright infringement under federal, foreign or state common law. SIXTH DEFENSE (INNOCENT INTENT) Plaintiffs' damages, if any, are limited by Defendants' innocent intent. SEVENTH DEFENSE (COPYRIGHT PREEMPTION) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of preemption. EIGHTH DEFENSE (ESTOPPEL) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of estoppel. NINTH DEFENSE (WAIVER) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of waiver. TENTH DEFENSE (LACK OF STANDING) Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue some or all of the claims they seek to pursue. ELEVENTH DEFENSE (LACHES) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part by the doctrine of laches. TWELFTH DEFENSE (SUBSTANTIAL NON-INFRINGING USE) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part based on the doctrine of substantial noninfringing use, although Defendants submit Plaintiffs bear the burden of proving the doctrine's inapplicability. THIRTEENTH DEFENSE (FAILURE TO MITIGATE) Plaintiffs' claims are barred in whole or in part because Plaintiffs have failed to mitigate its damages, if any.

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FOURTEENTH DEFENSE (FOREIGN LAWS) To the extent Plaintiffs seek to assert claims arising under or based upon the laws of foreign countries, they have failed to identify any such laws or countries. Defendants may have numerous affirmative defenses arising under such laws, but cannot identify them unless and until Plaintiffs identify any foreign copyrights they purport to assert and foreign laws under which they purport to bring their claims. FIFTEENTH DEFENSE (PUTATIVE CLASS MEMBERS) Defendants allege that this lawsuit cannot proceed as a class action. Should the court determine otherwise, Defendants may have numerous affirmative defenses and counterclaims against individual members of any alleged class, and accordingly Defendants reserve their right to assert those affirmative defenses and counterclaims in a timely fashion. RELIEF REQUESTED WHEREFORE, Defendants respectfully request the following relief: 1. A judgment in favor of Defendants denying Plaintiffs and the putative plaintiff

class all relief requested in their Complaint in this action and dismissing Plaintiffs' Complaint with prejudice; 2. fees; and; 3. That the Court award Defendants such other and further relief as the Court deems That Defendants be awarded their costs of suit, including reasonable attorney's

just and proper.

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DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL In accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Defendants demand a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Date: July 9, 2007

Respectfully submitted, s/ Tonia Ouellette Klausner (TOK-8279) WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor New York, New York 10019 [phone] Attorneys for Defendants YouTube, Inc., YouTube, LLC and Google Inc.

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