Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-03883/USCOURTS-cand-3_14-cv-03883-2/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MEDIA.NET ADVERTISING FZ-LLC,

Plaintiff,

v.

NETSEER, INC.,

Defendant.

___________________________________/

No. C-14-3883 EMC

ORDER RE JOINT DISCOVERY

LETTER

(Docket No. 39)

The Court has received a joint discovery letter from the parties in the above-referenced case. 

As reflected in the letter, Plaintiff seeks discovery in order to oppose Defendant’s motion for

summary judgment, to dismiss, or, in the alternative for a more definite statement. That motion is

currently set for hearing on October 1, 2015. No trial date has been set in the case. Having

considered the contents of the joint letter, as well as all other evidence of record, the Court hereby

rules as follows.

Plaintiff’s request to take the deposition of Defendant’s CTO is denied. Plaintiff argues that

his deposition is needed because (1) he was the individual who actually copied Plaintiff’s code; (2)

contrary to what Defendant asserts, that code has “numerous creative and/or expressive nonfunctional elements” (and thus is copyrightable); and (3) and Plaintiff “needs to confirm [Defendant]

knew it was not limited to using identical code.” Letter at 2. The problem with Plaintiff’s position

is that it has failed to explain why the deposition of the CTO specifically is needed in order for it “to

confirm [Defendant] knew it was not limited to using identical code.” Letter at 2. Moreover,

Case 3:14-cv-03883-EMC Document 40 Filed 08/18/15 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Plaintiff does not explain why the latter information could not be obtained through written discovery.

The Court, however, shall grant Plaintiff limited relief with respect to its request for an

extension in order for it to follow-up on written discovery propounded on Defendant. The hearing

on Defendant’s motion shall be CONTINUED to October 29, 2015. The opposition to Defendant’s

motion shall be filed by October 8, 2015, and the reply by October 15, 2015.

In order to meet the briefing and hearing schedule above, the Court shall also require the

parties to meet and confer in person regarding the written discovery needed by Plaintiff. Counsel

having full and complete authority on discovery must attend the meet and confer, and the meet and

confer must undertaken in good faith. The prior meet-and-confer efforts documented by the parties

in the joint letter are inadequate, and the parties are forewarned that they both risk being sanctioned

should they not engage in a good-faith meet and confer. The meet and confer shall take place no

later than a week from the date of this order. By the same date, the parties shall file a joint letter

reporting back on their meet-and-confer efforts. 

Finally, the Court hereby REFERS all discovery matters in this case for resolution by a

magistrate judge. Thus, for example, the joint letter required above shall be directed to the attention

of the magistrate judge rather than the undersigned. The magistrate judge is instructed to resolve

any discovery dispute identified in the joint letter on an expedited basis. Moreover, if documents are

to be produced, they must be produced in sufficient time for Plaintiff to incorporate them into its

opposition to Defendant’s motion. Defendant, therefore, must be prepared to produce documents (if

so ordered) in a short time frame.

This order disposes of Docket No. 39.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 18, 2015

_________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:14-cv-03883-EMC Document 40 Filed 08/18/15 Page 2 of 2