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2024-cv-07736

Bug Art Limited v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

法院:伊利诺伊州北法院
发案日期:2024-08-27
原告:Bug Art Limited
代理律所:Keith
诉讼类型:版权
# Date Description
[+] 1 2024-08-27 COMPLAINT filed by Bug Art Limited; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-22407925.
2 2024-08-27 SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited Schedule A to Complaint 1
3 2024-08-27 CIVIL Cover Sheet
4 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Keith A. Vogt
5 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Yanling Jiang
6 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Yi Bu
7 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Adam Grodman
8 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Cameron Eugene Mcintyre
9 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Monica Rita Martin
10 2024-08-27 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Bug Art Limited by Christopher Romero
[+] 11 2024-08-27 NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Bug Art Limited
12 2024-08-28 MOTION by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited for leave to file under seal
13 2024-08-28 MOTION by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited for leave to file excess pages
[+] 15 2024-08-28 MEMORANDUM in support of 14 Exparte motion
[+] 16 2024-08-28 SEALED EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited Sealed Exhibit 2, Declaration of Jane Crowther regarding memorandum in support of motion, 15
17 2024-08-28 MAILED Copyright report to Registrar, Washington DC
20 2024-12-27 ANNUAL REMINDER: Pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 (Notification of Affiliates), any nongovernmental party, other than an individual or sole proprietorship, must file a statement identifying all its affiliates known to the party after diligent review or, if the party has identified no affiliates, then a statement reflecting that fact must be filed. An affiliate is defined as follows: any entity or individual owning, directly or indirectly (through ownership of one or more other entities), 5% or more of a party. The statement is to be electronically filed as a PDF in conjunction with entering the affiliates in CM/ECF as prompted. As a reminder to counsel, parties must supplement their statements of affiliates within thirty (30) days of any change in the information previously reported. This minute order is being issued to all counsel of record to remind counsel of their obligation to provide updated information as to additional affiliates if such updating is necessary. If counsel has any questions regarding this process, this LINK will provide additional information. Signed by the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall on 12/27/2024: Mailed notice.
18 2024-12-30 MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Plaintiff's motion for leave to file under seal 12, ex parte motion for a temporary restraining order and electronic service of process 14, and motion to exceed page limitation 13 are granted in part. Plaintiff's submissions (e.g., Dkt. 15-3 at 35) establish that, were Defendants to learn of these proceedings before the execution of Plaintiff's requested preliminary injunctive relief, there is a significant risk that Defendants could destroy relevant documentary evidence and hide or transfer assets beyond the reach of the Court. Accordingly, subject to unsealing at an appropriate time, Plaintiff may for now file under seal the documents identified in the motion to seal and appearing at docket entries 2 and 16. The Temporary Restraining Order being entered along with this minute order shall also be placed under seal. In addition, for the purpose of the motions cited above, the Court holds, dubitante, that Plaintiff's filings support proceeding (for the time being) on an ex parte basis under FRCP 65(b)(1). (This holding is subject to reconsideration in future "Schedule A" cases.) Specifically, and as noted above, were Defendants to be informed of this proceeding before a TRO could issue, it is likely assets and websites would be redirected, thus defeating Plaintiff's interests in identifying Defendants, stopping Defendants' infringing conduct, and obtaining the equitable accounting that, at this point, Plaintiff states that it may pursue. These facts justify, among other relief, the imposition of a prejudgment asset restraint against Defendants in an amount not to exceed $50,000 per separate account. In addition, the Court finds, at least for now on this limited and one-sided record and without prejudice to revisiting the issue, that it has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because they directly target their business activities toward consumers in the United States, including Illinois. Specifically, Defendants have targeted sales to Illinois residents by setting up and operating e-commerce stores that target United States consumers using one or more Seller Aliases, offer shipping to the United States, including Illinois, accept payment in U.S. dollars, and have sold products using infringing versions of Plaintiff's copyrighted works to residents of Illinois. The evidence presented to the Court also shows that Plaintiff has demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits (including evidence of active infringement and sales into Illinois), that the harm to Plaintiff is irreparable, and that an injunction is in the public interest. An injunction serves the public interest because of the consumer confusion caused by infringing goods, and there is no countervailing harm to Defendants from an order directing them to stop infringement. Electronic service of process does not violate any treaty and is consistent with due process because it effectively communicates the pendency of this action to Defendants. As several judges have previously noted, there may be reason to question both the propriety of joining all Defendants in this one action and whether Plaintiff will pursue an accounting (which Plaintiff asserts as justification for an asset freeze), but at this preliminary stage, the Court is persuaded that Plaintiff has provided sufficient evidence of coordinated activity and the prospect of an accounting to justify the requested relief as to all Defendants. Expedited discovery is warranted to identify Defendants and to implement the asset freeze. If any Defendant appears and objects, the Court will reconsider the asset freeze and joinder. Enter sealed Temporary Restraining Order. Mailed notice.
[+] 19 2024-12-30 SEALED TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 12/30/2024.
21 2025-01-02 MOTION by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited for extension of time to Post Bond
26 2025-01-06 SURETY BOND in the amount of $ 10,000.00 posted by Bug Art Limited
22 2025-01-08 MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Plaintiff's Motion for Extension of Time to Post Bond 21 is granted. Mailed notice.
23 2025-01-08 MOTION by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited for preliminary injunction
[+] 24 2025-01-08 MEMORANDUM by Bug Art Limited in support of motion for preliminary injunction 23
[+] 25 2025-01-08 SUMMONS Returned Executed by Bug Art Limited as to The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A on 1/8/2025, answer due 1/29/2025.
27 2025-02-06 NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by All Plaintiffs as to [certain] defendants
28 2025-02-06 MOTION by Plaintiff Bug Art Limited for default judgment as to the Defendants Identified in First Amended Schedule A
[+] 29 2025-02-06 MEMORANDUM by Bug Art Limited in support of motion for default judgment 28
30 2025-02-06 ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendants chengshenmaoyi Black Friday Deals, HICGO, Jamesonz, YUHULIAN, DADANING by Adam Edward Urbanczyk
31 2025-02-07 ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant WALLDOR 7-14 Days Delivery by Adam Edward Urbanczyk
32 2025-02-07 MOTION by Defendants chengshenmaoyi Black Friday Deals, HICGO, Jamesonz, YUHULIAN, DADANING, WALLDOR 7-14 Days Delivery for extension of time
33 2025-02-10 MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: The Court sets an in-person motion hearing on Plaintiff's motion for default judgment 28 for 2/12/2025 at 10:00 A.M. in Courtroom 2125. Attorney Adam Edward Urbanczyk is directed to appear at the hearing. Mailed notice.
34 2025-02-12 NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by All Plaintiffs as to [certain] defendants
35 2025-02-12 NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by All Plaintiffs as to defendant no. 8 Qiuse
36 2025-02-12 MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: In-person motion hearing held on 2/12/2025. For the reasons stated on the record, Defendants' motion for extension of time [32] is granted. Plaintiff's motion for default judgment is taken under advisement. Mailed notice.
37 2025-02-26 NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by All Plaintiffs as to [certain] defendants
38 2025-03-03 ORDER: Plaintiff's motion for default judgment [28] is granted. Civil case terminated. Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction [23] is dismissed as moot. Signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 3/3/2025. Mailed notice.
39 2025-03-03 FINAL JUDGMENT ORDER signed by the Honorable John F. Kness on 3/3/2025. Mailed notice.
40 2025-03-03 SATISFACTION of Judgment as to defendant no. 13 Weisheng Info and defendant no. 91 newEmergingstyle
41 2025-05-09 SATISFACTION of Judgment as to [certain] defendants