The Authors Guild, Inc. et al v. Hathitrust et al
Filing
45
ENDORSED LETTER addressed to Judge Harold Baer, Jr. from Joseph Petersen dated 12/29/2011 re: We are attorneys for the defendants in the above-referenced action. We submit this letter pursuant to Rule 5A of Your Honor's Individual Rules of Practice to inform the Court that last night the defendants filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings seeking dismissal of certain of Plaintiffs' claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. ENDORSEMENT: If all parties to the M/D are in accord I can hear arguments the first 10 days of March and I will be in touch as to your most convenient date - otherwise the motion will be decided without oral argument - let me know on or before Friday 1/6/12. (Signed by Judge Harold Baer on 1/2/2012) (rjm)
KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTON LLP
". . KILPATRICK
.
...
,
www.kilpatricktownsend.com
TOWNSEND
USDSSDNY
DOCUMENT
ELECTRONICALLY FILED
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
DOC#: __--~~-,~
DATE FILED: / -1 -l~
December 29,2011
31 West 52nd Street
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t212 7758700 f212 775 8800
direct dial 212 775 8715
direct fax 212 775 8815
jpetersen@kilpatricktownsend.com
VIA HAND DELIVERY
The Honorable Harold Baer, Jr.
United States District Judge
Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse
500 Pearl Street
New York, New York 10007
Re:
The Authors Guild, et al. v. Hathitrust, et aL
Civil No. 11 CV 6351 (HB) (JLC)
Your Honor:
We are attorneys for the defendants in the above-referenced action. We submit this letter
pursuant to Rule 5 A of Your Honor's Individual Rules of Practice to inform the Court that last
night the defendants filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings seeking dismissal of certain of
Plaintiffs' claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The motion seeks dismissal of plaintiffs' claims asserted on behalf of unidentified
members of various U.S. and foreign trade associations. As set out in the motion, these
"Associational Plaintiffs" lack standing to assert copyright infringement claims for unidentified
works in which their unidentified members allegedly hold copyright.
Further, defenda..l1ts' seek dismissal of plaintiffs' claims that any distribution and display
of copyrighted works in connection with the University of Michigan's "Orphan Works Project"
will infringe Plaintiffs' copyrights. As set out in detail in the motion, plaintiffs lack standing to
assert such claims and, additionally, their claims are not ripe. This is because, among other
reasons: (1) no works have been made available yet through the Orphan Works Project; (2) the
University of Michigan withdrew its previous orphan works candidates and is in the process of
creating a more robust process to identify orphan works candidates; and (3) defendants have
committed to providing plaintiffs 120-days advance notice before any works are made available
through the Orphan Works Project.
Based on the deadlines set forth in Local Civil Rule 6.1 (b), defendants expect that the
motion will be fully briefed on January 18,2012. In accordance with Your Honor's Individual
Rules, we will furnish the Court with courtesy copies of the motion after it is fully briefed.
Defendants respectfully request oral argument on the motion.
US2008313IS06.3
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The Honorable Harold Baer, Jr.
December 29,2011
Page 2
We thank the Court for its attention to this matter.
cc:
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IF ALL PARTIES TO THE MID ARE IN ACCORD I CAN HEAR ARGUMENTS THE FIRST
10 DAYS OF MARCH & I WILL BE IN TOUCHE AS TO THE MOS CONVENIENT DATE
OTHERWISE THE MATTER WILL BE DECIDED WITH OUT ORAL ARGUMENT - LET
ME KNOW ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY 1/6/12.
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