Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07966/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-07966-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 28:1338 Copyright Infringement

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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

SILVERLIT TOYS MANUFACTORY, LTD., a

Hong Kong company; and SPIN MASTER

LTD., a Canadian corporation,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ABSOLUTE TOY MARKETING, INC., a Utah

corporation, dba HOBBYTRON.COM; TIM

GIBSON; and JIM ROYER,

Defendants.

 /

No. C 06-7966 CW

ORDER GRANTING IN

PART PLAINTIFFS'

APPLICATION FOR AN

ORDER EXPEDITING

DISCOVERY

On January 22, 2007, Plaintiffs Silverlit Toys Manufactory

Ltd. and Spin Master Ltd. filed an ex parte application for an

order expediting discovery. Defendants oppose the request. The

matter was taken under submission on the papers. Having considered

all of the papers filed by the parties, the Court grants in part

Plaintiffs' request.

 Courts allow expedited discovery upon a showing of good cause.

Semitool, Inc. v. Tokyo Electron Am., Inc., 208 F.R.D. 273, 276

(N.D. Cal. 2002). In Semitool, the court explained, "Good cause

may be found where the need for expedited discovery, in

consideration of the administration of justice, outweighs the

Case 4:06-cv-07966-CW Document 67 Filed 02/05/07 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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prejudice to the responding party." Id.

Plaintiffs have already filed their motion for a preliminary

injunction and now argue that expedited discovery is necessary "to

ascertain the source and quantity of Defendants' Infringing

Products." Application for Order Expediting Discovery at 5. 

However, the relief Plaintiffs seek in their motion for preliminary

injunction relates to the marketing and sale of allegedly

infringing products. While the source and quantity of those

products may be important issues at later stages of litigation,

they are not necessary for the Court to decide the motion for a

preliminary injunction.

Plaintiffs also argue that they need further information about

Defendants' alleged plans to introduce a new infringing product

beginning in February, 2007 in order "to obtain the complete relief

requested by Plaintiffs in their motion for preliminary

injunction." Application at 5. Because Plaintiffs seek relief

that would prohibit the marketing or sale of any infringing

product, additional information about Defendants' future plans is

not necessary for the Court to decide the motion for a preliminary

injunction.

Although the information Plaintiffs seek to discover is not

necessary for the resolution of the motion for the preliminary

injunction, the Court finds that it is appropriate to allow limited

expedited discovery in the interest of advancing this case. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' application for an

order expediting discovery (Docket No. 43) is GRANTED in part. 

Accordingly, and good cause appearing therefor, Plaintiffs may

Case 4:06-cv-07966-CW Document 67 Filed 02/05/07 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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serve the request for production of documents filed as Exhibit B to

their application for an order expediting discovery with the

following changes:

(1) Request for Production No. 1 shall state: "All DOCUMENTS

and TRANSPORT AND/OR SHIPPING DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING shipments

received by YOU, from May 1, 2006 though the present of the

following mini RC helicopter toys: PLAINTIFF'S Silverlit Picoo ZTM

Helicopter, the 'Picco Z,' the 'Pico Z,' and the 'Picco 3.'"

(2) Request for Production No. 2 shall state: "All DOCUMENTS

and TRANSPORT AND/OR SHIPPING DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING YOUR planned

and future distribution of the 'Picco 3' mini RC helicopter."

(3) Request for Production No. 4 shall state: "All

COMMUNICATIONS between YOU and WORLD TRADING, from May 1, 2006

through the present, CONCERNING the following mini RC helicopter

toys: PLAINTIFF'S Silverlit Picoo ZTM Helicopter, the 'Picco Z,' the

'Pico Z,' and the 'Picco 3.'"

The information produced by Defendants shall be subject to the

temporary protective order filed concurrently with this order. 

Either party may move to modify or vacate the protective order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

2/5/07

Dated: CLAUDIA WILKEN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:06-cv-07966-CW Document 67 Filed 02/05/07 Page 3 of 3