Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00498/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00498-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:501 Copyright Infringement

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SONY BMG MUSIC )

ENTERTAINMENT, a Delaware general ) 

partnership, et al., )

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

vs. )

)

)

DOES 1 -10, )

)

Defendants. )

)

)

___________________________________ )

1:07-cv-00498- OWW - NEW

(WMW)

ORDER GRANTING EX

PARTE APPLICATION FOR

LEAVE TO TAKE

EXPEDITED DISCOVERY

[Doc. 6]

On April 3, 2007, Plaintiffs, record companies which own the copyrights in sound

recordings, filed an ex parte application for leave to take expedited discovery pursuant to

Rule 26, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In this application, Plaintiffs seek leave of court

to take limited, immediate discovery to determine the true identities of Doe Defendants who

are being sued for direct copyright infringement. Without such discovery, Plaintiffs cannot

identify the Doe Defendants, and thus cannot pursue their lawsuit to protect their copyrighted

works from infringement. Accordingly, the court will grant Plaintiffs’ application for the

Case 1:07-cv-00498-OWW -GSA Document 18 Filed 07/09/07 Page 1 of 2
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reasons stated therein.

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1) Plaintiffs may immediately serve Rule 45 subpoenas on Barry Merchant, Catherine

Merchant, Brian Merchant, and Keith Merchant seeking written discovery and

depositions, as well as computer inspections of any computers owned or used by any

of these four individuals. These subpoenas shall seek information sufficient to

identify each Doe Defendant.

2) Plaintiffs may immediately serve discovery on America Online by serving a Rule 45

subpoena that seeks information to help identify each Doe Defendant.

3) Any information disclosed to Plaintiffs in response to the Rule 45 subpoenas may be

used by Plaintiffs solely for the purpose of protecting Plaintiffs’ rights under

Copyright Law.

 

 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 9, 2007 /s/ William M. Wunderlich 

mmkd34 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00498-OWW -GSA Document 18 Filed 07/09/07 Page 2 of 2