Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-03504/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-03504-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1125 Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EXPRESS MEDIA GROUP, LLC, and

DVD.COM, INC.,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

EXPRESS.COM,

Defendant. /

No. C 06-03504 WHA

ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR

LEAVE TO ADD NEW PARTIES

AND FILE FIRST AMENDED

COMPLAINT AND VACATING

HEARING

In this action alleging cyberpiracy under 15 U.S.C. 1125(d), plaintiffs move for leave to

file an amended complaint and to add new parties. 

Express Media Group LLC and DVD.com, Inc. acquired the domain name express.com

in 2001. Allegedly, an anonymous entity fraudulently induced a domain-name registrar into

transferring ownership of the express.com domain name without plaintiffs’ permission. 

Plaintiffs were unable to discover the identity of new domain-name registrant as it was

registered anonymously. They filed a complaint on May 31, 2006, naming express.com as a

defendant under the in rem provisions of 15 U.S.C. 1125(d)(2). 

Gregory Ricks, owner of Express Corporation, appeared at the case management

conference held September 14, 2006. He later filed an answer that alleged that he and Express

Corporation had registered the express.com domain name. Discovery is ongoing, but plaintiffs

still do not know the identities of other parties involved in the alleged domain-name theft. 

Case 3:06-cv-03504-WHA Document 32 Filed 01/04/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Plaintiff now moves to file a first amended complaint and add Gregory Ricks and Express

Corporation as defendants. Defendant filed a statement of non-opposition. 

Leave to amend a complaint shall be freely given when justice so requires under FRCP

15(a). Absent a showing of bad faith, dilatory motive, or undue prejudice to another party,

leave to amend should be freely granted. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). Pursuant

to a case management order, parties were given until November 16, 2006, to seek leave to

amend pleadings or add new parties. This motion was filed on that day. Also, defendant has

filed a statement of non-opposition, and no bad faith motive is apparent here. Plaintiffs have

shown good cause to amend their complaint. 

For all the above-stated reasons, plaintiffs’ motion is GRANTED. No further argument

being necessary, the hearing is hereby VACATED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 4, 2007 WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:06-cv-03504-WHA Document 32 Filed 01/04/07 Page 2 of 2