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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDIANA
MALIBU MEDIA, LLC, )
)
Plaintiff, ) Civil Case No.
)
v. )
)
JOHN DOE subscriber assigned IP address )
24.13.26.28, )
)
Defendant. )
)
COMPLAINT-ACTION FOR DAMAGES FOR
PROPERTY RIGHTS INFRINGEMENT
Plaintiff, Malibu Media, LLC, sues Defendant John Doe subscriber assigned IP address
24.13.26.28, and alleges:
Introduction
1. This matter arises under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, 17
U.S.C. 101 et seq. (the Copyright Act).
2. Defendant is a persistent online infringer of Plaintiffs copyrights. Indeed,
Defendants IP address as set forth on Exhibit A was used to illegally distribute each of the
copyrighted movies set forth on Exhibit B.
3. Plaintiff is the registered owner of the copyrights set forth on Exhibit B (the
Copyrights- in-Suit).
Jurisdiction And Venue
4. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1331 (federal question); and 28 U.S.C. 1338 (patents, copyrights, trademarks and unfair
competition).
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5. Plaintiff used proven IP address geolocation technology which has consistently
worked in similar cases to ensure that the Defendants acts of copyright infringement occurred
using an Internet Protocol address (IP address) traced to a physical address located within this
District, and therefore this Court has personal jurisdiction over the Defendant because (i)
Defendant committed the tortious conduct alleged in this Complaint in this State, and (ii)
Defendant resides in this State and/or (iii) Defendant has engaged in substantial and not isolated
business activity in this State.
6. Based upon experience filing over 1,000 cases the geolocation technology used by
Plaintiff has proven to be accurate to the District level in over 99% of the cases.
7. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and (c), because:
(i) a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claims occurred in this District;
and, (ii) the Defendant resides (and therefore can be found) in this District and resides in this
State; additionally, venue is proper in this District pursuant 28 U.S.C. 1400(a) (venue for
copyright cases) because Defendant or Defendants agent resides or may be found in this
District.
Parties
8. Plaintiff, Malibu Media, LLC, (d/b/a X-Art.com) is a limited liability company
organized and existing under the laws of the State of California and has its principal place of
business located at 409 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 501, Los Angeles, CA, 90015.
9. Plaintiff only knows Defendant by his, her or its IP Address. Defendants IP
address is set forth on Exhibit A.
10. Defendants Internet Service Provider can identify the Defendant.

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Factual Background
I. Defendant Used the BitTorrent File Distribution Network To Infringe Plaintiffs
Copyrights

11. The BitTorrent file distribution network (BitTorrent) is one of the most
common peer-to-peer file sharing systems used for distributing large amounts of data, including,
but not limited to, digital movie files.
12. BitTorrents popularity stems from the ability of users to directly interact with
each other in order to distribute a large file without creating a heavy load on any individual
source computer and/or network. The methodology of BitTorrent allows users to interact directly
with each other, thus avoiding the need for intermediary host websites which are subject to
DMCA take down notices and potential regulatory enforcement actions.
13. In order to distribute a large file, the BitTorrent protocol breaks a file into many
small pieces called bits. Users then exchange these small bits among each other instead of
attempting to distribute a much larger digital file.
14. After the infringer receives all of the bits of a digital media file, the infringers
BitTorrent client software reassembles the bits so that the file may be opened and utilized.
15. Each bit of a BitTorrent file is assigned a unique cryptographic hash value.
16. The cryptographic hash value of the bit (bit hash) acts as that bits unique
digital fingerprint. Every digital file has one single possible cryptographic hash value correlating
to it. The BitTorrent protocol utilizes cryptographic hash values to ensure each bit is properly
routed amongst BitTorrent users as they engage in file sharing.
17. The entirety of the digital media file also has a unique cryptographic hash value
(file hash), which acts as a digital fingerprint identifying the digital media file (e.g. a movie).
Once infringers complete downloading all bits which comprise a digital media file, the
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BitTorrent software uses the file hash to determine that the file is complete and accurate.
18. Plaintiffs investigator, IPP International UG, established a direct TCP/IP
connection with the Defendants IP address as set forth on Exhibit A.
19. IPP International UG downloaded from Defendant one or more bits of each of the
digital movie files identified by the file hashes on Exhibit A.
20. Defendant downloaded, copied, and distributed a complete copy of Plaintiffs
movies without authorization as enumerated on Exhibit A.
21. Each of the cryptographic file hashes as set forth on Exhibit A correlates to a
copyrighted movie owned by Plaintiff as identified on Exhibit B.
22. IPP International UG downloaded from Defendant one of more bits of each file
hash listed on Exhibit A. IPP International UG further downloaded a full copy of each file hash
from the BitTorrent file distribution network and confirmed through independent calculation that
the file hash matched what is listed on Exhibit A. IPP International UG then verified that the
digital media file correlating to each file hash listed on Exhibit A contained a copy of a movie
which is identical (or alternatively, strikingly similar or substantially similar) to the movie
associated with that file hash on Exhibit A. At no time did IPP International UG upload
Plaintiff' s copyrighted content to any other BitTorrent user.
23. IPP International UG connected, over a course of time, with Defendants IP
address for each hash value as listed on Exhibit A. The most recent TCP/IP connection between
IPP and the Defendant's IP address for each file hash value listed on Exhibit A is included within
the column labeled Hit Date UTC. UTC refers to Universal Time which is utilized for air traffic
control as well as for computer forensic purposes.
24. An overview of the Copyrights-in-Suit, including each hit date, date of first
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publication, registration date, and registration number issued by the United States Copyright
Office is set forth on Exhibit B.
25. IPPs software also logged Defendants IP address being used to distribute third
party files through BitTorrent. This evidence indicates that Defendant engaged in BitTorrent
transactions associated with 241 files between 10/06/2013 and 05/02/2014. Collectively, this
evidence is referred as the Additional Evidence.
26. Plaintiff has the Additional Evidence on a document and can produce it.
27. The Additional Evidence demonstrates that Defendant is a persistent BitTorrent
user.
28. Many of the titles to the third party works may also be relevant to proving
Defendant is the infringer because they correlate to the Defendants hobbies, profession, or other
interests.
Miscellaneous
29. All conditions precedent to bringing this action have occurred or been waived.
30. Plaintiff has retained counsel and is obligated to pay said counsel a reasonable fee
for its services.
COUNT I
Direct Infringement Against Defendant

31. The allegations contained in paragraphs 1-30 are hereby re-alleged as if fully set
forth herein.
32. Plaintiff is the owner of the Copyrights- in-Suit, as outlined in Exhibit B, each of
which covers an original work of authorship.
33. By using BitTorrent, Defendant copied and distributed the constituent elements of
each of the original works covered by the Copyrights-in-Suit.
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34. Plaintiff did not authorize, permit or consent to Defendants distribution of its
works.
35. As a result of the foregoing, Defendant violated Plaintiffs exclusive right to:
(A) Reproduce the works in copies, in violation of 17 U.S.C. 106(1) and 501;
(B) Redistribute copies of the works to the public by sale or other transfer of
ownership, or by rental, lease or lending, in violation of 17 U.S.C. 106(3) and 501;
(C) Perform the copyrighted works, in violation of 17 U.S.C. 106(4) and 501, by
showing the works images in any sequence and/or by making the sounds accompanying the
works audible and transmitting said performance of the works, by means of a device or process,
to members of the public capable of receiving the display (as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 101s
definitions of perform and publically perform); and
(D) Display the copyrighted works, in violation of 17 U.S.C. 106(5) and 501, by
showing individual images of the works nonsequentially and transmitting said display of the
works by means of a device or process to members of the public capable of receiving the display
(as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 101s definition of publically display).
36. Defendants infringements were committed willfully within the meaning of 17
U.S.C. 504(c)(2).
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court:
(A) Permanently enjoin Defendant and all other persons who are in active concert or
participation with Defendant from continuing to infringe Plaintiffs copyrighted works;
(B) Order that Defendant delete and permanently remove the digital media files
relating to Plaintiffs works from each of the computers under Defendants possession, custody
or control;
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(C) Order that Defendant delete and permanently remove the infringing copies of the
works Defendant has on computers under Defendants possession, custody or control;
(D) Award Plaintiff statutory damages per infringed Work pursuant to 17 U.S.C.
504-(a) and (c);
(E) Award Plaintiff its reasonable attorneys fees and costs pursuant to 17 U.S.C.
505; and
(F) Grant Plaintiff any other and further relief this Court deems just and proper.
DEMAND FOR A JURY TRIAL
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.
Respectfully submitted,

NICOLETTI LAW, PLC

By: /s/ Paul J. Nicoletti
Paul J. Nicoletti, Esq. (P-44419)
33717 Woodward Ave, #433
Birmingham, MI 48009
Tel: (248) 203-7800
E-Fax: (248) 928-7051
Email: [email protected]
Attorneys for Plaintiff


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