Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/98883899/CamUP-v-Google
Timestamp: 2018-06-24 00:24:22
Document Index: 727512607

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 50', '§ 3426', '§ 1331', '§ 1051', '§101', '§ 1332', '§ 1391', '§ 3426', '§ 3426', '§ 1125']

Joseph E. Addiego (CA State Bar No. 169522) DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP 505 Montgomery Street, Suite 800 San Francisco. California 94111 Telephone: (415)276-6500 Facsimile: (415) 276-6599 Email: joeaddiego@dwt.com
E"'" In 9 fI
5 William E. Wallace III (pro Hac Vice Application Pending) 6 CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP
7 8 Ian A. Taronji (Pro Hac Vice Application Pending) 2001 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Telephone: (202) 912-5045 Facsimile: (202) 912-6000 Email: William.Wallace@CliffordChance.com
JUN 2 S ~OW
W\EI<\NG
~'CHAAP W. 101' COURl CLERK, U.S·TW~V'OF CALIfORNIA NOR1HERN DIS
10 11 ~ 12 13 14 15
Attorneys for Plaintiff BE IN, INC., a New York corporation
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN BE
ff- 16
IN, INC., a New York corporation
J(e"
l 2 3378
GOOGLE, INC., a California corporation, RICHARD ROBINSON, an individual, and DOES 1 through 3, inclusive, Defendants.
) COMPLAINT FOR COPYRIGHT ) INFRINGEMENT, TRADE DRESS, ) MISAPPROPRIATION OF TRADE ) SECRETS, AND CIVIL CONSPIRACY ) ) ) Demand for Jury Trial )
Plaintiff, BE IN, INC. ("Be In" or "Plaintiff"), by and through its counsel, for its Complaint against Defendants, aOOGlE, INC. ("GoogIe") and RICHARD ROBINSON, allege as follows: NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. Be In incorporated in 2008 in the State of New York and is engaged in the business
of creating and marketing online social media platforms that provide the means for groups of people to interact through chat and webcam. 2. Be In maintains the CamUp website (www.camup.com) which allows several
Complaint for Copyrightinfringelllall. DWT 1987082Svl 0096269-000001
Trade Dress, Misappropriation
ofTrnde
Secrets and Civil Conspirn(;y. Case No.
individuals to join a video chat by webcam, and share online media such as videos in a dedicated 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f~ video chat room. Be In has won awards and accolades for its innovation and creativity in
developing the CamUp platform. 3. Google is a large, multinational corporation providing Internet-related products and
services including its ubiquitous Google+, 4. Representatives
search engine, and its recently
released social media platform,
from Be In met with Richard Robinson
("Mr. Robinson"),
Head of Business Markets (UK), in London in May 2011, to discuss the possibility
collaboration between Google and Be In. At this meeting, and after Google agreed to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information provided from Be In to Google, Be In that a "Watch with your users to initiate a CamUp
11 provided a live demonstration
12 13 14 mends" button be embedded
of its CamUp product, and proposed within all YouTubel pages, allowing
session directly from YouTube.
The "Watch with your friends" button had not been launched, Mr. Robinson strategy for
shared, or released to the public at any time prior to this May 2011 meeting. including Be In's business and marketing
15 requested and was provided documents
monetizing the CamUp product and "Watch with your friends" button. 5. At no time during or after the May 2011 meeting did Mr. Robinson indicate that Nor did
Google was independently
developing a product or feature that was identical to CamUp. determined
he indicate that Google had independently
to embed a "Watch with your friends" To the contrary, he expressed great
button for any of its products or services on You Tube pages.
interest in Be In's Cam Up product and business and marketing strategy. 6. After this meeting, Mr. Robinson failed to respond to several follow-up
from Be In. Also subsequent to the meeting, Be In noted a dramatic spike in user site, in particular from Mountain View, California, where Google is
traffic to the CamUp headquartered. 7.
Many of these visitors stayed on the site longer than the typical user. In or around June 2011, Google released Google+, which includes a feature called Google also embedded a
Hangouts, a video chat platform similar in look and feel to CamUp.
owns YouTube. 2
Trade Dress, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil ConspiJaCY. Case No.
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. OWl 1987082Svl 0096269'()OOOOI
1 Hangouts "Watch with your friends" button on its YouTube pages, virtually identical in text and 2 overalJ appearance to the CamUp button that Be In proposed to Google at the May 2011 London 3 meeting. 4 8. Plaintiff asserts the foJlowing claims against Google, Mr. Robinson, and/or John
5 Does Nos. 1-3: (I) infringement of CamVp's trade dress in violation of Section 43(a) of the 6 Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § I125(a); (2) infiingement ofcopyrigbt in the audiovisual elements of the
7 CamVp website, in violation of the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 50]; (3) misappropriation 8 of Plaintiffs trade secrets - in particular, the "Watch with your friends" button, placement of the 9 button, and business plan for monetizing the CamVp feature on YouTube - in violation of the 10 California Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 3426 et seq.; and (4) civil conspiracy
II among Google and others within the Google organization (to be identified) to misappropriate 12 Plaintiff's trade secrets. 13 9. Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer irreparable harm, loss and/or damages in
1]4 an amount in excess of$75,000.00. 5 10. By this action, Plaintiff seeks all monetary damages to which it is entitled, including
16 actual and punitive damages and lost profits, and also seeks to enjoin the Google+ Hangout 17 platform as a result of its infringement of CamUp's trade dress and copyright.
PARTIES 11. Be In is a New York corporation, with its principal place of business in New York City, New York. Be In is the creator of CamUp, an online portal where users can upload and embed videos, photos and songs and share these media in real time with multiple users that are able to access this media in a virtual video chat. 12. Google is a Delaware corporation, with its principal place of business in Mountain View, California. Google markets Google+, which includes a feature called Hangouts, which
purports to serve a similar function as CamUp. 13. Upon information and belief, Richard Robinson is Google UK's Head of Business Markets and is a resident of the United Kingdom. 14. Upon information and belief, John Doe # I is an employee or representative of
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil Conspiracy. Case No. DWT 1987082Svl 0096269'()()o()OI
1 Google or any affiliated entity, and participated in the conspiracy to misappropriate Be In's trade 2 3 4 secrets. IS. Upon information and belief, John Doe #2 is an employee or representative of
Google or any affiliated entity, and participated in the conspiracy to misappropriate Be In's trade
5 secrets. 6 7 8
16. Upon information and belief, John Doe #3 is an employee or representative of Google or any affiliated entity, and participated in the conspiracy to misappropriate Be In's trade secrets. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
17. This Court has jurisdiction to hear this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 by
11 virtue of the federal questions presented under the Lanham Act, IS U.S.C. § 1051 et seq .. and the ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 12 Copyright Actof1976, 13 17 U.S.C. §101 et seq.
18. This Court also has jurisdiction to hear this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 by
14 virtue of the diversity of the parties, and because the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00. 15 19. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.c. § 1391(b), because Google's
16 principal place of business is Mountain View, California, located within this judicial district, and 17 transacts business in this district. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21. 20. INTRADISTRICT ASSIGNMENT Pursuant to Civil L.R. 3-2(c), this action should be assigned to the San Jose district
because this action arises in Santa Clara County. See also Civil L.R. 3-2(e). FACTS In 2009, Be In developed the first version of their online social media platform,
called Gigln. GigIn allowed six individuals to simultaneously collaborate in a virtual music studio through webcarn or chat. 22. In 2010, the second version of the platform was introduced, this time allowing up to
ten individuals to connect and view the same media. 23. In 201), the latest version of the platform was introduced to the public under the
name CamUp. following a period of private Beta testing, CamUp was officially unveiled in
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil Conspiracy. Case No. OWT 19870825vl 0096269-000001
March 2011, at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas ("SXSW") and made available 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 at www.camup.com. 24. At all relevant times, CarnUp has had a copyright notice on its website stating "©
[year] CarnUp - Project Your World. Product of BE IN Inc. All Rights Reserved." 25. While at SXSW, representatives from Google, including Marissa Mayer, Vice
President of Consumer Products and Local Services, and several Google engineers, visited Be In's booth to learn more about the CamUp product. 26. In April 2011, Be In won the 2011 MIPTV Connected Creativity Ventures startup
competition and was voted by a panel of top venture capitalists as the best and most innovative
10 startup of the year. ]1
~ .....l ~
On May 11.2011, Joseph D'Anna, Co-founder and CEO of Be In, and Nik Miskov,
VP of Business Development of Be In, met with Mr. Robinson of Google in London to discuss the In
13 CamUp product and possibilities for a business collaboration between Be In and Google. 14 advance of this meeting, Be In and Google Ireland executed a non-disclosure agreement. 15 28.
During the meeting, Be In shared its confidential trade secrets regarding plans and
16 strategies for potential applications of CamUp in certain business sectors. Mr. DIAnna identified 17 YouTube as the most logical area where partnership between the two companies could be 18 achieved.
At this meeting, Be In presented its idea to have a CamUp "Watch with your friends"
button appear at the bottom of all YouTube pages with text that read "Watch with your friends on CamUp." This button would allow users to initiate an instant CamUp session from the YouTube page itself. Be In also shared its proprietary business plan and strategy for monetizing the
integration of CamUp with YouTube. 30. At the meeting, Mr. Robinson was extremely enthusiastic about the CamUp product,
and expressed interest in determining how best to integrate CamUp with Google Docs, as well as possible collaboration in the education space. Mr. Robinson also indicated that he would put Be In in touch with individuals from YouTube to explore further possibility of using the technology on its platform.
Compillint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil Conspiracy, Case No. DWT 1981082Svl 0096269'()OOOOI
Mr. Miskov sent follow-up correspondence to Mr. Robinson, but received no
2 response. 3 4 5 6 7 32. Subsequent to the May 2011 meeting, Be In noted a dramatic spike in user traffic to
the CamUp site, in particular from individuals located in Mountain View, California, where Google is headquartered. These unique site visits averaged almost 40 minutes per visit. much longer than the typical visit from a CamUp user. which is on average 1-4 minutes. Also. the
traffic from these locations was direct, as opposed to having been directed from a search engine or
8 via links from other websites. Upon information and belief, these CamUp website visits were 9 from Google employees who logged on with the intent of studying the CamUp site prior to their
10 improper launch of Google+ and the Hangouts feature.
In or around June, 2011. Google launched Google+, a social networking platform
12 that represents Google's attempt to compete with Facebook. Google+ includes a feature called 13 Hangouts, which allow users to video chat with up to nine people. 14 16 34. In addition, Google added a feature where a user can click on the "Watch with your
15 friends" button on any YouTube page. 35. At the time that Google introduced Hangouts, it embedded a Hangouts "Watch with
17 your friends" button under YouTube videos that was an identical copy of the CamUp button 18 proposed only one month earlier by Be In at the May 2011 London meeting. Below are screen 19 shots showing the similarities between CamUp's mocked-up proposal for a "Watch with your 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
friends" button included in YouTube and Google's Hangouts "Watch with your friends" button on Youfube'':
The screen shot of the YouTube video with the Hangouts "Watch with your friends" button was captured shortly after the release of Google+. Google has since altered its "Watch with your friends" button to remove the identical language that Be In proposed during the May 20 II meeting.
Complaint for C()pyrighl Infringement. Trade DWT 1987082Sv) 0096269'()OOOOI
Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil ConspilllCy. ClISeNo.
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Complaint for Copyright Infringement, Trade Dress, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil Conspiracy, Case No. DWT 1981082S\" 0096269'()()()OOI
The mocked up screen shots included identical language.
Be In's proposed CamUp Hangouts button stated
button states "Watch with your mends on CamUp," whereas Google's "Watch with your friends. Start a Google+ Hangout." 37. trade dress. specifically
The Google+ Hangouts feature also includes several elements of Be In's proprietary Hangouts attempts to replicate the overall look and feel of the CamUp platform, the inclusion of several video chat screens directly underneath a main screen
containing video or other media.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION: MISAPPROPRIATION
38. 39. YouTube
Be In incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 37 as if fully set forth herein. Be In's idea to include a CamUp "Watch with your friends" button under each video, and the business plan and strategy for imp1ementing and monetizing these
I-oo.'l
video chats, are trade secrets under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Cal. in that these trade secrets are information that derive
Civ. Code § 3426, ct seq. ("CUTSA"), independent
economic value to Be In, and are the subject of reasonable
efforts to maintain their
secrecy. See Cal. Civ. Code § 3426. 40. Google and Mr. Robinson have acquired, disclosed, or used Plaintiff's trade secrets
f-. 16
17 18 19 ~
through improper means by utilizing Be In's idea to include a CamUp "Watch with your friends" button under each You Tube video. as well as utilizing Be In's business plan and strategy for implementing 41. and monetizing these video chats. Defendants' actions have damaged Plaintiff by denying Plaintiff any revenue from In addition, Google's profits from Plaintiff has suffered and
of Cam Up through the YouTube site.
utilizing its Hangouts feature through YouTube should be disgorged.
continues to suffer irreparable harm, loss and/or damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION: CIVIL CONSPIRACY
42. 43. Be In incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 41 as if fully set forth herein. Google, Mr. Robinson, and John Does Nos. 1-3 formed and operated a conspiracy to Plaintiffs trade secrets. Plaintiff provided its trade secrets to Mr. Robinson who, these trade secrets to Google and John
upon information' and belief, transmitted or communicated 8
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Civil Conspilllcy. Case No,
DWT 1987082Svl 0096269.000001
Does Nos. 1-3. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ~ 46. 47. 44. Google, Mr. Robinson, and John Does Nos. 1-3 in fact misappropriated Plaintiff's
trade secrets in furtherance of this conspiracy. 45. conspiracy By virtue of the Defendants' to misappropriate Plaintiff's unJawful and intentional acts in furtherance of a to
trade secrets, Plaintiff
suffer, irreparable injury and damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. THIRD CAUSE OF ACfION: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
Be In incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 45 as if fully set forth herein. Plaintiff has maintained rights in its copyrighted CamUp product since its
introduction in March 2011. 48. registration Plaintiff submitted an application to the United States Copyright Office for
...J 12
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 13 14
of copyright, comprising, inter alia, the CamUp web video chat platform, on June 22,
2012. The copyright office assigned the application as No. 1-779959021.49. On information and belief, Google had access to and willfully copied Be In's CamUp
web video chat platform in its Google+ Hangouts feature. 50. As a result of this instance of copyright infringement, Plaintiff has suffered, and
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continues to suffer, irreparable injury and damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. FOURTH 51. 52. CAUSE OF ACTION: FEDERAL UNFAIR COMPETITION; TRADE DRESS INFRINGEMENT 1 through 50 as if fully set forth herein. trade dress. This trade dress
Be In incorporates by reference paragraphs Plaintiff has enforceable
rights in its proprietary
includes the following non-functional
elements of the CamUp website and social media platform
that, as a whole, are protectible: (1) large window containing media - typically video, but it could also contain music and pictures; and (2) placement of logos on top left; (3) similar white and gray color palette; and (4) several windows underneath the large window of media that contain webcam images of participants in the video web-chat. 53. On information and belief, Google knowingly created and is deliberately using
screens in its Google+ Hangouts platform that are confusingly similar to CamUp with willful and
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Ci\ll Conspiracy. Case No.
DWT 1987082Svl 0096269~OI
1 callous disregard to Plaintiff's rights to enforce its trade dress. 2 3 4 5 54. The Google+ Hangouts platform is confusingly similar to the trade dress of the
CamUp website, and is likely to cause confusion or mistake, or to deceive users as to affiliation, connection, or association. 55. Google has knowingly and willfully copied Plaintiff's source-identifying trade dress
6 of the elements of the CamUp platform described above. 7 56. These acts constitute unfair competition in violation of Section 43(a) of the Lanham
8 Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a). 9 57. Upon information and beJief, unless enjoined by an Order of this Court, Google will
10 continue to use screens that it knowingly and intentionally copied from Plaintiff's CamUp
11 platform, and will knowingly and intentionally continue to copy additional screens from CamUp 12 in future versions of Google+ Hangouts . 13 58. By virtue of Google's intentional and unlawful conduct, Plaintiff has suffered, and
.....l .....l Ul
14 continues to suffer, irreparable injury and damage to its business reputation and goodwill. By
reason of this intentional and unlawful conduct, Google has caused, is causing, and, unless such acts and practices are enjoined by the Court, wilJ continue to cause irreparable harm and damages
17 to Plaintiff in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, and for which Plaintiff is entitled to injunctive 18 relief and monetary damages. 19
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court grant judgment against Google and Mr. Robinson on the counts detailed above and issue the following relief: 1. Preliminary injunction prohibiting Google from using its Hangouts button on
C 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
YouTube videos; 2. Permanent injunction prohibiting Google from using its Hangouts button on
YouTube videos; 3. Preliminary injunction prohibiting Google from utilizing or maintaining its Hangouts
feature on Google+; 4. Permanent injunction prohibiting Google from utilizing or maintaining its Hangouts
Complaint forCopyrightlnrringctnent.
DWT 1987082Svt 0096269-000001
Trade Dress. Misappropriation ofTrade Secrets and Civil Conspimcy. Case No.
feature on Google+; 2 5. An accounting of any and all profits of Google attributable Monetary damages adequate to compensate Plaintiff to its infringing acts; acts of trade copyright
for Defendants'
secret misappropriation,
civil conspiracy in furtherance of trade secret misappropriation,
infringement and trade dress infringement,
including actual and punitive damages and lost profits,
6 in an amount greater than $75,000.00; 7 8 9 10
Attorney's fees; Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest;
Costs of suit herein incurred; and
10. Such other and further relief, including all available monetary and equitable relief, as
the case may require and this Court deems just and proper.
Respectfully submitted, DA VIS WRIGHT TREMAINE
BY:4u~
oephE. Addiego
CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP William E. Wallace III (Pro Hac Vice application pending) Ian A. Taronji (Pro Hac Vice application pending) Attorneys for Plaintiff BE IN, INC, a New York Corporation
Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress, Misapprop.iation of Trade Secrets and Ch'il Conspiracy. Cese No.
DWT 1987082Svl 0096269'()()OOOJ
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL 2 3 4
5 6 DATED this 28th day of June 2012. Respectfully submitted, DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP Plaintiff Be In, Inc. hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable pursuant to Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
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J sep E. Addiego III
CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP William E. Wallace III (Pro Hac Vice application pending) Ian A. Taronji (Pro Hac Vice application pending) Attorneys for Plaintiff BE lN, INC, a New York Corporation
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Complaint for Copyright Infringement. Trade Dress, Misappropriation of Tmde Secrets and Civil Conspirucy, Case No.
DWT 1987082Svl 0096269'(){)()o()I