ICF Technology, Inc. v. Google Inc.

Filing 28

ORDER denying #15 Plaintiff's Motion for TRO by Judge James L. Robart.(MD)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 8 9 10 ICF TECHNOLOGY, INC., Plaintiff, 11 v. 12 13 ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER GOOGLE, INC., Defendant. 14 15 CASE NO. C13-2068JLR Before the court is Plaintiff ICF Technology, Inc.’s (“ICF”) motion for a 16 temporary restraining order (“TRO”). (Mot. (Dkt. # 15).) ICF is a company that hosts 17 websites. (Am. Compl. (Dkt. # 18) ¶ 4.) ICF claims that Defendant Google, Inc. 18 (“Google”), a multinational corporation that controls the world’s most-used internet 19 search engine (id. ¶ 5), is interfering with ICF’s business relations by restricting access to 20 its customers’ websites (id. ¶¶ 11.1-12.6). ICF asks the court to order Google to cease 21 these actions immediately. (See Mot.) Google argues that a TRO is not warranted at this 22 time. The court agrees with Google, concluding that a TRO should not issue because ICF ORDER- 1 1 has not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of its claims, or indeed even 2 serious questions going to the merits of its claims. 3 4 I. BACKGROUND ICF is a “web host” for several thousand subscription websites. (Am. Compl. ¶ 4.) 5 ICF uses hard drive space and bandwidth on its servers to host websites, thus allowing 6 companies to offer services on the internet without having to invest in the hosting 7 technology and infrastructure themselves. (Id.) The websites involved in this case are 8 pornography websites hosted by ICF. (Engrav Decl. (Dkt. # 1-4) Ex. A at 7-31.) They 9 include sites such as “www.hotxxx.com,” “www.lotzawebcams.com,” 10 “cams.youjizzpremium.com,” and hundreds more. (Id.) 11 Google recently took adverse action against these websites. (Am. Compl. ¶ 6.) 12 Google notified ICF and its clients that the websites in question violate Google’s 13 “Webmaster or Quality Guidelines.” (Id.) Specifically, Google warned the sites not to 14 engage in “thin content,” i.e., providing internet content that has little or no value to end15 users. (Id. ¶ 9.) Google applied a “manual spam action” to these pornography websites, 16 which ICF alleges makes it “nearly impossible” for users to access the websites through 17 the Google search engine or any Google-affiliated browser or operating system such as 18 Chrome, Firefox, or Android. (Id. ¶ 6-7.) Specifically, ICF alleges that if a user seeks to 19 access the websites in question through a Google-affiliated platform, the user is directed 20 not to the requested website, but to links containing information on how to hack into that 21 website without a subscription. (Id.) 22 ORDER- 2 1 ICF sued Google. ICF claims Google tortiously interfered with a prospective 2 advantage, business expectancy, or contractual relation of ICF by limiting access to its 3 clients’ websites. (Id. ¶¶ 11.1-12.6.) ICF also alleges defamation and a claim under 4 Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (“CPA”), RCW chapter 19.86. (Id. ¶ 13.) ICF 5 claims that if Google is not ordered to cease and desist its “manual spam action” 6 immediately, ICF will suffer irreparable harm. (Mot. at 3-4.) Accordingly, ICF moved 7 for a TRO. (See Mot.) 8 II. 9 A. 10 ANALYSIS Legal Standard for Issuing a TRO The standard for issuing a TRO is identical to the standard for issuing a 11 preliminary injunction. Lockheed Missile & Space Co., Inc. v. Hughes Aircraft Co., 887 12 F. Supp. 2d 1320, 1323 (N.D. Cal. 1995). The court must consider (1) whether the 13 plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) whether the plaintiff is likely to suffer 14 irreparable harm absent a TRO; (3) whether the balance of hardships tips in the plaintiff’s 15 favor, and (4) whether the injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Res. Def. 16 Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). 17 In the Ninth Circuit, courts also apply the so-called “serious questions” test. See 18 Alliance for Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1134-35 (9th Cir. 2011). The Ninth 19 Circuit has held that the serious questions test is consistent with Winter and that courts 20 may still apply that test. Id. at 1134 (“[T]he ‘serious questions’ version of the sliding 21 scale test remains viable after the Supreme Court’s decision in Winter.”). Thus, the Ninth 22 Circuit has held that a district court may grant injunctive relief if there are serious ORDER- 3 1 questions going to the merits of the plaintiff’s claims and the balance of hardships tips 2 sharply towards the plaintiff, “so long as the plaintiff also shows that there is a likelihood 3 of irreparable injury and that the injunction is in the public interest.” Id. at 1134-35. 4 B. ICF Has Not Shown Likelihood of Success on the Merits 5 Neither of the above standards is met here because ICF has not shown likelihood 6 of success on the merits of its claims, or indeed even serious questions going to the merits 7 of its claims. The court applies well-settled principles governing preliminary injunctive 8 relief. Preliminary injunctive relief is “customarily granted on the basis of procedures 9 that are less formal and evidence that is less complete than in a trial on the merits.” Cf. 10 Univ. of Texas v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 390, 395 (1981). At the TRO stage, a “party is 11 not required to prove his case in full . . . ,” and “it is generally inappropriate for a federal 12 court at the preliminary-injunction stage to give a final judgment on the merits.” Id. A 13 party seeking preliminary relief has the initial burden of proving likelihood of success on 14 the merits. Perfect 10, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 508 F.3d 1146, 1158 (9th Cir. 2007). 15 ICF has not met this initial burden. On each of ICF’s claims, there is at least one 16 element for which, at this stage, success seems unlikely. 17 This is most apparent with respect to ICF’s tortious interference claims. To prove 18 a claim for tortious interference with contractual relations or a business expectancy, a 19 plaintiff must show: (1) the existence of a valid contractual relationship or business 20 expectancy; (2) that defendants had knowledge of that relationship; (3) an intentional 21 interference inducing or causing a breach or termination of the relationship or 22 expectancy; (4) that defendants interfered for an improper purpose or used improper ORDER- 4 1 means; and (5) resulting damages. Commodore v. Univ. Mech. Contractors, Inc., 839 2 P.2d 314, 322 (Wash. 1992). ICF fails with respect to element (4)—improper purpose or 3 improper means. ICF makes only a formulaic allegation of improper purpose: “Google’s 4 interference was for an improper purpose or made by improper means.” (Am. Compl. 5 ¶¶ 11.5, 12.5, 13.4.) In its briefing, ICF confirms that it does not know what Google’s 6 improper purpose might be: “Google’s intent is a question of fact and as of yet Plaintiff 7 does not know Google’s intent behind the manual spam action.” (ICF Suppl. Br. (Dkt. 8 # 18) at 8.) This is insufficient to meet ICF’s burden of showing that it is likely to 9 succeed on its tortious interference claims. See Commodore, 839 P.2d at 322. ICF 10 presents only speculation1 regarding Google’s improper purpose, and speculation is not 11 enough to meet ICF’s burden of showing likelihood of success or serious questions. See 12 Narragansett Indian Tribe v. Guilbert, 934 F.2d 4, 6 (1st Cir. 1991) (“Likelihood of 13 success cannot be woven from the gossamer threads of speculation and surmise.”) 14 ICF’s other two claims face similar hurdles. To be specific, ICF has not presented 15 enough evidence and argument to meet its burden of demonstrating that it is likely to 16 succeed in proving the elements of its claims for defamation and violation of the CPA.2 17 18 1 ICF appears to rely on the following line of reasoning: Google must have some purpose 19 for its actions; they claim their purpose is “thin content”; there is no “thin content”; thus, “thin content” is not Google’s actual purpose, so Google must have some other purpose; therefore 20 Google’s actual purpose must be improper. There are numerous flaws in this logic, if this is indeed the logic ICF is employing. Further, as discussed below, ICF has not demonstrated that it 21 can prove that its websites do not have “thin content.” 2 This is not to say that success on these claims is impossible; only that, at this point, it 22 appears unlikely based on the record before the court. See Camenisch, 451 U.S. at 395 (“[I]t is ORDER- 5 1 See Perfect 10, 508 F.3d at 1158. To prove a claim for defamation, a plaintiff must 2 show: (1) falsity; (2) an unprivileged communication; (3) fault; and (4) damages. 3 Commodore, 839 P.2d at 320. To prove a claim for violation of the CPA, a plaintiff must 4 show: (1) an unfair or deceptive act or practice; (2) occurring in trade or commerce; (3) 5 public interest impact; (4) injury to plaintiff in his or her business or property; and (5) 6 causation. Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc. v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 719 P.2d 531, 7 532-33 (Wash. 1986). 8 For each of these claims, ICF faces key obstacles. In particular, ICF would need 9 to convince the court, through either factual evidence or citation to legal authority, that 10 Google’s actions were in some way unwarranted or wrongful. Commodore, 839 P.2d at 11 320 (requiring falsity for defamation); Hangman Ridge, 719 P.2d at 532-33 (requiring an 12 unfair or deceptive act for a CPA violation). Google claims that it performed its manual 13 spam action for legitimate reasons—because ICF’s clients’ websites had “thin content,” 14 among other problems. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 9.) Thus, to succeed on its claims, ICF 15 would need to persuade the court, or a jury, that Google’s claim of “thin content” was 16 false, see Commodore, 839 P.2d at 32, or that its manual spam action was deceptive, see 17 Hangman Ridge, 719 P.2d at 532-33. ICF has not done this. ICF argues that its clients’ 18 websites do not have “thin content,” but instead have only overlapping content with 19 multiple “webcam” performers appearing on numerous different websites. (ICF Reply 20 (Dkt. # 4-4) at 36-37.) This may or may not be true—the court is far from an expert in 21 generally inappropriate for a federal court at the preliminary-injunction stage to give a final 22 judgment on the merits.”). ORDER- 6 1 these matters and has very little competent evidence before it on which to make an 2 informed decision. (See id.) Even if ICF’s claims are true, it is another consideration 3 altogether whether this state of affairs supports Google’s claim of “thin content,” or 4 renders that claim false or deceptive. However, what is apparent to the court is that the 5 evidence and authority currently in the record is insufficient to establish a likelihood that 6 Google’s “thin content” claim is either false or deceptive. Based on this shortcoming, the 7 court concludes that ICF will likely struggle to prove its claims for defamation and 8 violation of the CPA. See Commodore, 839 P.2d at 32; Hangman Ridge, 719 P.2d at 9 532-33. 10 Each of these claims presents its own unique problems as well. To prove 11 defamation, ICF will need to show that Google published an unprivileged 12 communication, namely its claim of “thin content.” Commodore, 839 P.2d at 320; Pate 13 v. Tyee Motor Inn, Inc., 467 P.2d 301, 302 (Wash. 1970) (stating that a defamatory 14 statement must be “communicated to someone other than the person or persons 15 defamed”). Google vigorously disputes this element, arguing persuasively that it only 16 disseminated its claim of “thin content” to ICF and ICF’s client websites, all of whom are 17 “persons defamed.” (See Google Resp. (Dkt. # 4-1) at 42.) ICF does not demonstrate 18 what proof or argument it will present to the contrary. (See Mot.; ICF Suppl Br.) 19 Similarly, to prove a violation of the CPA, ICF will need to prove public interest impact. 20 See Hangman Ridge, 719 P.2d at 532-33. Again, Google vigorously disputes this 21 element. (See Google Resp. at 42-43.) And while the court takes no position on the 22 ORDER- 7 1 question of public interest impact, this presents yet another obstacle to ICF’s potential for 2 success on the merits. 3 Finally, even if these obstacles could be surmounted, ICF would need to overcome 4 Google’s immunity defenses. See Perfect 10, 508 F.3d at 1158 (stating that if the moving 5 party carries its burden of demonstrating likelihood of success on the merits, “the burden 6 shifts to the non-moving party to show a likelihood that its affirmative defense will 7 succeed”). Google asserts that it is immune from suit under the First Amendment and the 8 Communications Decency Act (“CDA”), 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(2). (Google Resp. at 389 41.) It is possible that ICF could circumvent these defenses in whole or in part by 10 arguing, as it does, that navigation through a browser’s address bar does not warrant 11 protection under the First Amendment or the CDA. (See ICF Suppl. Br. at 5-7.) 12 However, at present, ICF cites virtually no authority and presents virtually no evidence to 13 support its argument, nor does it provide any other persuasive reason why Google’s 14 defenses do not bar its claims. (See id.) Thus, the court concludes that there is a 15 likelihood that Google’s First Amendment and CDA defenses will succeed. See Perfect 16 10, 508 F.3d at 1158 17 On balance, and considering the obstacles to ICF’s success outlined above, the 18 court concludes that ICF has not met its burden of demonstrating likelihood of success on 19 the merits, or indeed even serious questions going to the merits of its claims. 20 Accordingly, ICF is not entitled to a TRO at this time. 21 22 ORDER- 8 1 III. CONCLUSION For the reasons described above, the court DENIES ICF’s motion for a TRO (Dkt. 2 3 # 15). 4 Dated this 20th day of December, 2013. 5 7 A 8 JAMES L. ROBART United States District Judge 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 ORDER- 9

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?