ABS-CBN Corporation, Et Al. v. ACESHOWBIZ - Me, Et Al.
ABS-CBN Corporation, Et Al. v. ACESHOWBIZ - Me, Et Al.
ABS-CBN Corporation, Et Al. v. ACESHOWBIZ - Me, Et Al.
ABS-CBN CORPORATION, a
Philippines corporation,
ABS-CBN FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.
d/b/a Star Cinema, a Philippines corporation,
and ABS-CBN INTERNATIONAL, a
California corporation,
Plaintiff,
vs.
ACESHOWBIZ.ME; ASONTADO.NET;
BAGANI.CLUB; CINENATIN.COM a/k/a
LUMANGDRAMA.COM; CINESILIP.PH;
FILIKULAMO.TO; FILIPINOSHOW.COM;
FILIPINOSHOWS.COM;
FULLEPISODEPINOY.COM;
FULLTAGALOGMOVIES.COM;
GLOBALPINOYCHANNEL.NET;
GOVIDEOS.ME; IPINOYAKO.COM;
KKVIDEOS.NET; KSHOWSHD.COM;
LAMBINGAN.NET; MEDIATRO.NET;
MINIHEALTHCARE.COM;
NEWASIANTV.CO; ONDRAMANICE.IO;
PARIWIKI.PH; PINOYAKOHD.COM;
PINOYBAYS.NET;
PINOYCHANNELAKO.COM;
PINOYCHANNELSHD.COM;
PINOYCINEMA.NET; PINOYHUB.NET;
PINOYMOVIESHUB.COM;
PINOYSERYETV.NET; PINOYTIME.COM;
PINOYTVLOVERS.NET;
PINOYTVOFW.NET;
PINOYTVSHOWS.SITE;
PINOYTVSHOWSTAMBAYAN.COM;
PUTLOCKER5MOVIES.COM;
TAGALOGSHOWS.NET;
TELESERYEREPLAY.ORG; VIDPH.COM;
WATCHONLINEPINOY.COM; and
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 2 of 37
WOWOWIN.ORG, EACH AN
INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP OR
UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATION,
Defendants.
“Plaintiffs” or “ABS-CBN”), by and through their counsel, hereby sue Defendants, the
Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations identified in the caption, which are
set forth on Schedule “A” hereto (collectively “Defendants”), and allege as follows:
the largest media and entertainment company in the Republic of the Philippines (the
“Philippines”). With its twelve large production studios, ABS-CBN produces thousands of hours
of original content every year for its numerous television stations, including daily drama
teleseries, drama anthologies, movies, musical and variety shows, game shows, reality shows,
news programs, current affairs programs, documentaries, music video 24/7 (Myx), AM talk radio
with DJ live on-screen (DZMM), FM radio shows with DJ live on-screen (MOR), and public
affairs programs. Every day, ABS-CBN’s programming is broadcast worldwide through its
agreements with dozens of cable companies’ premium channels, telecom provider partnerships,
Internet subscription services, and through its own 24-hour cable and satellite service, which
with the online infringement of the intellectual property in its programs and brands by pirate
2
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 3 of 37
websites operating under a variety of domain names, including through the Internet websites
identified on Schedule “A” hereto (the “Subject Domain Names”). Through their websites
operating under the Subject Domain Names, Defendants advertise and hold out to the public that
they have ABS-CBN’s copyrighted content and perform ABS-CBN’s copyrighted content over
the Internet, in order to illegally profit from ABS-CBN’s intellectual property, without ABS-
CBN’s consent.
websites operating under the Subject Domain Names, provide on-demand streaming
performances of full-length versions of ABS-CBN’s movies and television shows through their
respective websites. On information and belief, Defendants facilitate access to infringing content
which is streamed through their respective websites operating under the Subject Domain Names,
rather than users of the websites uploading the content. On information and belief, Defendants
often display the latest content to their servers soon after the initial premier or broadcast in the
Philippines. Further, on information and belief, Defendants control the organization and
presentation of the content by themselves, provide links to ABS-CBN content, identify the
content as ABS-CBN’s through the use of ABS-CBN’s trademarks, distribute and perform such
content under ABS-CBN’s trademarks, and stream such content for users’ viewing through their
enormous cost to ABS-CBN. Defendants are responsible for many infringements of ABS-
CBN’s copyrighted movies, television shows, and trademarks. Through these infringements,
Defendants are causing substantial harm to ABS-CBN, which has made significant investments
3
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 4 of 37
of money, time and creative energies to produce the content and to develop its intellectual
property, technical platform, branding, promotions, sales, and goodwill around its content and
partnership agreements with premium cable channels, through its own Internet pay subscription
service, and through its own 24-hour pay-per-view programming. Free streaming of ABS-CBN’s
derived from consumers; deprives ABS-CBN’s legitimate digital and broadcast advertisers and
sponsors from having their ads and commercials viewed by these consumers; diverts customers
worldwide from its subscription services and confuses consumers as to the source and legitimacy
of its content and distribution channels; harms ABS-CBN’s ability to continue to build out its
paying customer base, particularly in international markets and the United States; and interferes
with and harms ABS-CBN’s distribution and sponsorship agreements, hurting its and its
5. Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain Names are classic
examples of pirate operations, having no regard whatsoever for the rights of ABS-CBN and
counterfeiting and infringement, false designation of origin under the Lanham Act, common law
unfair competition; common law trademark infringement pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114, 1116,
1121, 1125(a), and 1125(d), and The All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a); 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et
seq.; and copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. The registered
4
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 5 of 37
and unregistered copyrighted works at issue herein are foreign works produced in the
7. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.,
15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125(a), 15 U.S.C. § 1121 and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338.
8. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1367 over the state
law claims, because the claims are so related to the trademark and copyright claims in this action,
over which this Court has original jurisdiction, that they form part of the same case or
9. Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this District because they target
business activities towards consumers in the State of Florida through their advertisement,
promotion, distribution, and performance of pirated ABS-CBN copyrighted content via their
unauthorized Internet-based content distribution services, including through the use of ABS-
CBN’s trademarks. Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain Names are fully
accessible in this District and, upon information and belief, Defendants infringe ABS-CBN’s
intellectual property rights in this District. Finally, upon information and belief, Defendants
cause harm to ABS-CBN’s business within this District by diverting customers in this District
and within the State of Florida to their unauthorized Internet-based content distribution service
through, at least, the websites operating under the Subject Domain Names. Defendants, through
their illegal distribution service, are directly and unfairly competing with ABS-CBN’s economic
interests in the State of Florida and causing ABS-CBN harm within this jurisdiction. ABS-CBN
regularly enforces its intellectual property rights and authorized this action to be brought in its
name.
5
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 6 of 37
10. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) because Defendants
are, on information and belief, non-resident aliens, and thus may be sued in “any judicial district
in which any defendant is subject to the Court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to such an
action,’ as set forth above. Venue is also proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(c)
because a “defendant not resident in the United States may be sued in any judicial district.”
Finally, Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a), which states that “civil
actions, suits, or proceedings arising under any Act of Congress relating to copyrights… may be
instituted in the district in which the defendant or his agent resides or may be found.” Defendants
may be found in this district, as they are subject to personal jurisdiction herein.
THE PLAINTIFFS
11. ABS-CBN Corporation is a public Philippines corporation with its principal place
subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation with its principal place of business located in Quezon City,
Philippines.
of ABS-CBN Corporation with its principal place of business located at 2001 Junipero Serra
14. Plaintiff, ABS-CBN International, is, and at all times relevant hereto has been, the
registered owner of the trademarks identified on Schedule “B” hereto (collectively, the “ABS-
CBN Registered Marks”), which are valid and registered on the Principal Register of the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (the “ABS-CBN Registered Marks”). The ABS-CBN
Registered Marks are used in conjunction with high quality services in the categories identified
6
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 7 of 37
in Schedule “B” hereto. True and correct copies of the Certificates of Registration for the ABS-
15. The ABS-CBN Registered Marks have been used in interstate commerce for
many years to identify and distinguish ABS-CBN’s high-quality services for an extended period
16. The ABS-CBN Registered Marks have never been assigned or licensed to the
17. The ABS-CBN Registered Marks are symbols of ABS-CBN’s quality, reputation,
18. ABS-CBN International is also, and at all times relevant hereto has been, the
owner of all rights in and to the common law trademark (the “ABS-CBN Common Law
19. The ABS-CBN Common Law Trademark is used in conjunction with high quality
20. The ABS-CBN Common Law Trademark has been used in interstate commerce
for many years to identify and distinguish ABS-CBN’s high-quality entertainment content
distribution services and serves as a symbol of ABS-CBN’s quality, reputation, and goodwill.
21. The ABS-CBN Common Law Trademark has never been assigned or licensed to
23. Together, the ABS-CBN Registered Marks and the ABS-CBN Common Law
trademark are referred to herein as the “ABS-CBN Marks.” ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN
7
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 8 of 37
Film Productions, Inc., and ABS-CBN International all share exclusive rights in and to the ABS-
CBN Marks. Moreover, ABS-CBN Corporation, ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., and ABS-
CBN International are all licensed to use and enforce the ABS-CBN Marks.
24. The ABS-CBN Marks have been used by ABS-CBN long prior in time to
Defendants’ use of copies of those Marks. The ABS-CBN Marks have never been assigned or
25. ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. is the owner of the copyright registered in the
United States of America in and to the movie on Schedule “D” hereto. Upon information and
belief, ABS-CBN’s registration of the work identified on Schedule “D” hereto pre-dates
Examples of these works are identified in Exhibit “3” to the Complaint, and include, but are not
limited to, the movies entitled “Unexpectedly Yours,” “Sin Island,” and “Can We Still Be
Friends;” the March 6, 2018, May 29, 2018, June 12, 2018, and June 13, 2018 episodes of the
television show entitled “Ang Probinsyano;” the April 26, 2018, May 31, 2018, June 4, 2018,
June 6, 2018, June 11, 2018, June 12, 2018, and June 15, 2018 episodes of the television show
titled “Bagani;” The February 10, 2018, February 20, 2018, March 2, 2018, March 6, 2018, June
1, 2018, June 4, 2018, June 5, 2018, June 11, 2018, June 12, 2018, and June 15, 2018 episodes of
the television show titled “The Blood Sisters;” and the March 2, 2018 and March 6, 2018
27. The copyrighted work identified on Schedule “D” hereto, in addition to any
unregistered works owned by ABS-CBN Corporation, are collectively referred to herein as the
8
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 9 of 37
“Copyrighted Works.” A true and correct copy of the Certificate of Registration for the
Productions, Inc. all share exclusive rights in and to the Copyrighted Works. ABS-CBN
Corporation, ABS-CBN International, and ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. are all licensed to
29. ABS-CBN is the largest media and entertainment company in the Philippines. All
of ABS-CBN’s TV shows and movies are initially produced in the Philippines and then aired
through its broadcast facilities or regional theaters in the Philippines. Simultaneous with, or after
that original broadcast, ABS-CBN’s Filipino-centric content is then distributed throughout the
world via customer-paid subscriptions, including through numerous cable companies’ premium
channels and telecom provider partnerships, such as with DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Cox
Frontier Communications, GCI Cable, Golden Rain Foundation, Groton Utilities, Hawaiian
Telecom, ICable, KPU CommVision, MCV, MTA Communications, Norwood Light Dept.,
OpenBand Media, OSN, Phonoscope, Rainier Cable TV, RCN, Rogers, San Bruno Cable,
Service Electric, Shaw, Starhub, Summit Broadband, SureWest, Tacoma Public Utilities,
TVMax, Wave Broadband, Windjammer Cable, Zito Media, and many more.
subscription services, such as TFC.TV and IWANTV.COM.PH, as well as through their own 24-
hour cable and satellite service TFC (The Filipino Channel) and TFC IPTV, which offers Pay-
Per-View programming. The TFC.TV portal is meant to provide its customers with improved
9
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 10 of 37
navigation and easier access to the latest ABS-CBN shows and content. In addition, it also
includes a premium subscription package, which includes over 160+ Entertainment shows, 50+
31. ABS-CBN has expended substantial time, money, and other resources developing,
advertising, and promoting the ABS-CBN Marks, Copyrighted Works, and its distribution
identify services and content bearing the ABS-CBN Marks and promoted under the ABS-CBN
33. Genuine and authorized ABS-CBN services and content are widely legitimately
advertised, promoted, and distributed by ABS-CBN and its authorized partners. Over the course
of the past five to seven years, visibility on the Internet, particularly via Internet search engines
such as Google, Yahoo!, and Bing has become increasingly important to ABS-CBN’s overall
marketing and consumer education efforts. Thus, ABS-CBN expends significant monetary
resources on Internet marketing and consumer education, including search engine optimization
(“SEO”) strategies. Those strategies allow ABS-CBN and its authorized partners to fairly and
legitimately educate consumers about the value associated with the ABS-CBN brand and the
34. ABS-CBN creates and distributes content serving the worldwide Filipino
community. This includes the populace of the Philippines, estimated at 92.3 million persons, as
well as the substantial overseas community, which is estimated at between 10.5 million and 13.5
Countries with significant resident Filipino populations overseas include: United States
10
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 11 of 37
(3,494,281 persons); Saudi Arabia (1,267,658); UAE (931,562); Canada (852,401); Malaysia
(686,547); Australia (391,705); Japan (243,136); United Kingdom (218,777); Kuwait (213,638);
Qatar (200,016); Hong Kong (195,128); Singapore (184,498); and Italy (172,148). Id.; see also
Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos (as of Dec. 2012)
(http://cfo.gov.ph/images/stories/pdf/2012_Stock_Estimate_of_Filipinos_Overseas.pdf).
35. The United States hosts the largest population of Filipinos outside the Philippines.
Id. Filipinos are estimated by the U.S. State Department to be the second-largest Asian-
Department of State, U.S. Relations with the Philippines, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific
the United States for ABS-CBN’s business given the size of the State’s Filipino community.
11
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 12 of 37
THE DEFENDANTS
36. Defendants operate through the Subject Domain Names and are comprised of
individuals, partnerships and/or business entities of unknown makeup, which, upon information
and belief, reside and/or operate in foreign jurisdictions. Defendants have the capacity to be sued
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(b). Defendants’ websites operating under the
Subject Domain Names are fully accessible in this District and throughout the United States of
America.
37. Upon information and belief, Defendants use aliases in conjunction with the
38. On information and belief, Defendants are directly and personally contributing to,
39. Defendants are part of an ongoing conspiracy to create and maintain an illegal
online distribution network of ABS-CBN’s and others’ intellectual properties which (i) confuses
consumers as to the source of Defendants’ infringing content and the legitimacy of its
distribution service and (ii) expands the marketplace for illegal distribution services of pirated
content while shrinking the legitimate marketplace for genuine distribution services of ABS-
CBN’s Copyrighted Works. The natural and intended byproduct of Defendants’ actions is the
erosion and destruction of the goodwill associated with the ABS-CBN name and associated
trademarks, as well as the destruction of the legitimate market sector in which it operates.
40. Defendants are the past and present conscious forces behind the operation of, at
41. On information and belief, Defendants directly engage in unfair competition with
ABS-CBN by (i) advertising, offering for distribution, promoting, and performing ABS-CBN’s
12
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 13 of 37
trademarks to consumers within the United States and within this district through the fully
accessible websites operating under the Subject Domain Names, as well as additional domains
and websites not yet known to ABS-CBN, and (ii) creating and maintaining an illegal
marketplace enterprise for the purpose of diverting business from legitimate distribution services
of the Copyrighted Works offered by ABS-CBN and its partners. Defendants have purposefully
directed some portion of its illegal activities towards consumers in the State of Florida through
the advertisement, offers to perform, and performance of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works in the
State. On information and belief, Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain
Names are accessible in the Southern District of Florida and infringements of ABS-CBN’s
and maintained their respective Subject Domain Names, and the websites operating thereunder.
On information and belief, Defendants have anonymously registered and maintained the Subject
43. On information and belief, Defendants will continue to register, transfer, and/or
acquire new domain names for the purpose of infringing ABS-CBN’s trademarks and copyrights
unless preliminarily and permanently enjoined. Moreover, on information and belief, Defendants
will continue to maintain and grow their illegal distribution service network at ABS-CBN’s
than illegal operations established and operated in order to infringe the intellectual property
13
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 14 of 37
45. Defendants’ business names (i.e., the Subject Domain Names and any other
domain names used in connection with infringing ABS-CBN’s trademarks or copyrights), are
themselves are a significant part of the means by which Defendants further their infringing
scheme and cause harm to ABS-CBN in that they cause and effect the infringement as described
herein. Moreover, Defendants are using ABS-CBN’s famous name, trademarks, and Copyrighted
Works to drive Internet consumer traffic to their websites operating under the Subject Domain
Names, thus increasing the value of the Subject Domain Names and decreasing the size and
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
46. On information and belief, and at all times relevant hereto, Defendants in this
action have had full knowledge of ABS-CBN’s ownership of the ABS-CBN Marks and the
Copyrighted Works, including its exclusive rights to use, perform, distribute, and license such
47. Defendants advertise ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works to the public and use the
ABS-CBN Marks to distribute and perform such content. See Exhibit 3 attached hereto,
Defendants use the ABS-CBN Marks, without authorization, to attract consumer traffic to their
websites operating under the Subject Domain Names and to distribute and perform infringements
14
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 15 of 37
49. Further, Defendants use the ABS-CBN Marks, without authorization, to falsely
suggest the distribution methods for the infringing video content embedded on the websites
operating under the Subject Domain Names for streaming are authorized, genuine distribution
50. Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain Names stream many of
51. On information and belief, Defendants’ streaming of the video content also
52. On information and belief, Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject
Domain Names are “closed websites,” meaning that they do not allow users to make additions or
changes to the websites, such that the content streamed through the websites can only be
provided by the respective website’s operators and are not uploaded by viewers. On information
and belief, the operators of Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain Names
also insert the links provided on the websites through which users view ABS-CBN’s video
content in a player window on the respective website itself. When a user clicks on the link to
one of ABS-CBN’s movies or television shows, Defendants’ websites operating under the
Subject Domain Names then stream the full-length version of the video. This includes, but is not
limited to, the movie identified on Schedule “D” hereto and in Exhibit 2, as well as those
15
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 16 of 37
53. On information and belief, the large inventory of popular entertainment content
available on Defendants’ websites operating under the Subject Domain Names, including full-
length copies of newly released movies, archived movies, and television show episodes – all
available at the click of a button and often made available immediately after the original
on the intellectual property rights of ABS-CBN through their distribution and performance of
ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works and using the ABS-CBN Marks to promote, advertise, and
distribute such content. On information and belief, Defendants are using identical copies of
ABS-CBN’s trademarks for different quality services. ABS-CBN has extensively and
continuously used the ABS-CBN Marks before Defendants began offering counterfeit and
confusingly similar imitations of ABS-CBN’s distribution services. The net effect of Defendants’
actions will cause confusion of consumers at the time of initial interest and during the use of the
Defendants’ illegal distribution services on their websites operating under the Subject Domain
Names, who will believe Defendants’ websites are legitimate, authorized distributors of ABS-
55. On information and belief, Defendants operate websites that serve only one
purpose – to function as commercial online hubs for publicly providing performances of popular
copyrighted content, including many of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works, over the Internet to
many users, without authorization or license. On information and belief, Defendants effect this
illegal scheme, in part, through the draw to consumers of ABS-CBN’s Marks and Copyrighted
Works on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names in order to achieve higher
16
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 17 of 37
56. Defendants are infringing ABS-CBN’s trademarks through their copying, use,
distribution and/or performance of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works under the ABS-CBN Marks
on the fully accessible Internet websites operating under the Subject Domain Names.
57. Defendants are causing harm to ABS-CBN and the consuming public by (i)
causing an overall degradation of the value of the goodwill associated with the ABS-CBN
Marks, (iii) increasing ABS-CBN’s overall cost to market its content and services and educate
consumers about its brand via the Internet, and (iii) maintaining an illegal marketplace enterprise
which perpetuates the ability of Defendants and future entrants to that marketplace to confuse
58. As part of their overall infringement and counterfeiting scheme, Defendants are,
upon information and belief, concurrently employing substantially similar and often times
coordinated, paid advertising and SEO strategies based, in large measure, upon an illegal use of
counterfeits and infringements of the ABS-CBN Marks and the ABS-CBN Copyrighted Works.
Specifically, Defendants are using counterfeits of ABS-CBN’s famous name and the ABS-CBN
Marks, in addition to the titles of the ABS-CBN Copyrighted Works, in order to make their
websites offering pirated performances of the ABS-CBN Copyrighted Works appear more
relevant and attractive to search engines across an array of search terms. By their actions,
marketplace for ABS-CBN’s genuine services. Defendants are causing concurrent and
indivisible harm to ABS-CBN and the consuming public by (i) depriving ABS-CBN of its right
to fairly compete for space within search engine results and reducing the visibility of ABS-CBN
genuine content and services on the World Wide Web, (ii) causing an overall degradation of the
value of the goodwill associated with the ABS-CBN Marks, (iii) increasing ABS-CBN’s overall
17
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 18 of 37
cost to market its services and educate consumers about its brand via the Internet, and (iv)
maintaining an illegal marketplace enterprise, which perpetuates the ability of Defendants and
future entrants to that marketplace to confuse consumers and harm ABS-CBN with impunity.
59. On information and belief, Defendants are concurrently conducting and targeting
their counterfeiting and infringing activities towards consumers and causing harm, and
multiplying that joint harm in their efforts to maintain an illegal distribution network of
copyrighted content using ABS-CBN’s trademarks, within this district and elsewhere throughout
the United States. As a result, Defendants are defrauding ABS-CBN and the consuming public
60. Defendants’ use of the ABS-CBN Marks and performances of the Copyrighted
Works are without ABS-CBN’s consent or authorization. Upon information and belief,
Defendants in this action have had full knowledge of ABS-CBN’s ownership of the ABS-CBN
Marks and Copyrighted Works, including their exclusive rights to use and license such
blindness to ABS-CBN’s intellectual property rights for the purpose of trading on ABS-CBN’s
goodwill and reputation. If Defendants’ intentional counterfeiting and infringing activities are
not preliminarily and permanently enjoined by this Court, ABS-CBN and the consuming public
deception, and mistake in the minds of consumers and the public before, during, and after their
use of the Defendants’ illegal content distribution services. Moreover, Defendants’ wrongful
18
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 19 of 37
conduct is likely to create a false impression and deceive customers and the public into believing
there is a connection or association between ABS-CBN and Defendants, which there is not.
63. Given the visibility of Defendants’ various websites and the similarity of their
actions, including their SEO activities, it is clear Defendants are either related or, at a minimum,
cannot help but know of each other’s existence and the damage likely to be caused to ABS-CBN
64. Although some Defendants may be acting independently, they may properly be
deemed to be acting in concert because they are combining the force of their actions to multiply
65. On information and belief and based on publicly available sources, by advertising,
promoting and performing the Copyrighted Works, and encouraging, facilitating and assisting in
the viewing and copying of the copyrighted content, Defendants’ websites attract many page
66. On information and belief, the infringement-driven traffic increases the volume of
online advertising impressions and transactions, and thereby increases online advertising
revenues and enables Defendants to charge advertisers higher rates, and reap significant profits
thereby. Moreover, the wrongfully obtained consumer traffic increases the value of the Subject
Domain Names. In these ways, the Defendants’ business model critically depends on attracting
67. On information and belief, Defendants derive revenue from ad impressions, and
the sale of highly valuable user analytic data, from and to the ad services that are operating on
19
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 20 of 37
68. On information and belief, Defendants infringe, and induce, cause and/or
materially contribute to the infringing activity of their users by distributing and performing,
through the use of ABS-CBN’s trademarks and identification of movies and television shows as
69. Defendants infringe, and induce, cause and/or materially contribute to the
infringing activity of their users by frequently updating their inventory of content, often very
shortly thereafter the original premier or broadcast in the Philippines, in order to tap into the
known market for pirated Filipino-centric content and constantly promote to consumers the
70. Because Defendants cause the infringed content to be displayed on their websites
operating under the Subject Domain Names and be streamed, they could stop the infringement at
any point.
because to do so would defeat the very purpose for which the Subject Domain Names and
associated websites exist – i.e., to provide copyrighted movies and television shows with Filipino
content by infringing upon the intellectual property rights of the largest media company in the
Philippines.
72. Defendants have actual and constructive knowledge, or should have knowledge,
of their and their users’ infringement of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works and trademarks for at
least the reasons that: (i) they insert and provide links to, organize by movie or television show
title, and perform the infringing content for users; (ii) they distribute and perform the content
under ABS-CBN’s Marks; (iii) as the largest media and entertainment company in the
20
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 21 of 37
Philippines, ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works are highly popular in Filipino communities and
74. ABS-CBN is suffering irreparable and indivisible injury and has suffered
substantial monetary damages as a result of Defendants’ unauthorized and unlawful use of the
ABS-CBN Marks and Copyrighted Works. If Defendants’ counterfeiting and infringing, unfairly
competitive activities, and their illegal marketplace enterprise are not preliminarily and
permanently enjoined by this Court, ABS-CBN and the consuming public will continue to be
harmed.
75. The harm and damage sustained by ABS-CBN has been directly and proximately
caused by Defendants’ infringing activities and by the creation, maintenance, and very existence
76. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
Defendants based on their use of counterfeits, copies and/or colorable imitations of the ABS-
CBN Marks on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names, which distribute and
Copyrighted Works using the ABS-CBN Marks, without authorization. See Exhibit 3.
21
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 22 of 37
79. Defendants’ counterfeiting and infringing use of the ABS-CBN Marks is likely to
cause and actually is causing confusion, mistake, and deception among members of the general
public as to the origin and quality of the pirated content as well as the legitimacy of Defendants’
activities are likely to cause and actually are causing confusion, mistake, and deception among
members of the trade and the general consuming public as to the origin and quality of
81. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause
unquantifiable and irreparable harm and unquantifiable damages to ABS-CBN and are unjustly
infringement of the ABS-CBN Marks in violation of ABS-CBN’s rights under Section 32 of the
83. ABS-CBN has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury due to
Defendants’ above described activities if Defendants are not temporarily, preliminarily and
permanently enjoined.
Count Two -- False Designation of Origin Pursuant to § 43(a) of the Lanham Act
84. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
85. Defendants’ illegal distribution services for the pirated content is using exact
copies of the ABS-CBN Marks to perform and distribute the Copyrighted Works, including
within many of ABS-CBN’s important business markets, such as the State of Florida.
22
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 23 of 37
86. Defendants are using the ABS-CBN Marks in connection with their illegal
distribution services for the Copyrighted Works in violation of ABS-CBN’s intellectual property
rights and to intentionally confuse consumers into believing the pirated content and distribution
services are sponsored and endorsed by ABS-CBN. See Exhibit 3. Defendants’ unauthorized
use of the ABS-CBN Marks is designed to falsely suggest that their activities are sponsored
and/or endorsed by ABS-CBN. On information and belief, Defendants’ unlawful use of the
ABS-CBN Marks is designed to make their services appear legitimate in order to attract a larger
87. Defendants, on information and belief, have used in connection with their illegal
distribution services, false designations of origin and false descriptions and representations,
including words or symbols which tend to falsely describe or represent such distribution services
to the general viewing public, with full knowledge of the falsity of such designations of origin
88. Defendants have authorized infringing uses of the ABS-CBN Marks in connection
with their illegal distribution service for the Copyrighted Works. Defendants have
misrepresented to members of the consuming public that the distribution services of pirated
content to which Defendants are facilitating access to are genuine and authorized distribution
services of ABS-CBN, and that their distribution services for such content are sponsored and/or
endorsed by ABS-CBN.
89. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause
23
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 24 of 37
91. ABS-CBN has no adequate remedy at law and has sustained injury and monetary
damages caused by Defendants’ conduct. Absent an entry of an injunction by this Court, ABS-
CBN will continue to suffer irreparable injury to their goodwill and business reputation, as well
as monetary damages.
92. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
93. This is an action against Defendants based on their (i) performance and
distribution of pirated ABS-CBN content using marks which are identical, both visually and
phonetically, to the ABS-CBN Marks and the (ii) creation and maintenance of an illegal ongoing
service network in which viewers may access public performances of and copy the pirated ABS-
CBN content, operating parallel to ABS-CBN’s own Internet pay subscription service through
which ABS-CBN promotes its genuine content, in violation of Florida’s common law of unfair
competition.
94. Specifically, and as described above, Defendants are promoting, advertising, and
otherwise facilitating access to and copying of the Copyrighted Works using the ABS-CBN
Marks for the purpose of creating a veneer of legitimacy for Defendants’ operation. See Exhibit
unfairly compete with ABS-CBN and others for (i) space in search engine results across an array
of search terms and (ii) visibility on the World Wide Web, for the purpose of earning a profit at
the ABS-CBN’s expense, thereby, collectively depriving Plaintiffs of a valuable marketing and
educational tool which would otherwise be available to Plaintiffs and reducing the visibility of
24
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 25 of 37
95. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause confusion,
mistake, and deception among members of the trade and general consuming public as to the
origin and quality of Defendants’ distribution services by their use of the ABS-CBN Marks.
96. ABS-CBN has no adequate remedy at law and is suffering irreparable injury as a
97. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
98. This is an action for common law trademark infringement against Defendants
based on their offering for distribution, distribution, offers to perform, and performance of the
Copyrighted Works using ABS-CBN’s Marks. ABS-CBN is the owner of all common law rights
99. Specifically, Defendants, upon information and belief, are offering for
distribution, distributing, offering to perform and performing the Copyrighted Works using
100. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause confusion,
mistake, and deception among members of the trade and the general consuming public as to the
origin and quality of Defendants’ distribution service using the ABS-CBN Marks.
101. ABS-CBN has no adequate remedy at law and is suffering damages and
102. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
25
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 26 of 37
103. ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. has registered and owns the copyright in and to
the movie identified on Schedule “D” hereto and in Exhibit “2.” ABS-CBN Corporation owns
the unregistered copyrights in and to the works identified in paragraph 25 and Exhibit 3, which
104. Defendants have copied, performed, and distributed these works through their
websites operating under the Subject Domain Names as part of a large scale and ongoing daily
illegal enterprise. This illegal enterprise, without injunctive relief, will continue through the
Subject Domain Names as well as through other domains owned now or in the future by the
Defendants.
105. Defendants are directly liable for infringing ABS-CBN’s copyrighted works
under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 106(1), (3), (4) & 501.
106. Without authorization from any Plaintiff, or right under law, Defendants have
those works used by Defendants to cause and effect the copying, performance and/or distribution
of those works through their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names to public users
107. Defendants have actual and constructive knowledge, or should have knowledge,
of their infringement of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works for at least the reasons that: (i) they
insert and provide links to, organize by show title, and perform the infringing content, and do so
for the purpose of users’ viewing of pirated content; (ii) they advertise and promote the content
on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names; (iii) as the largest media and
26
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 27 of 37
108. The foregoing acts of infringement have been willful, intentional, and purposeful,
exclusive rights, ABS-CBN is entitled to actual damages as well as Defendants’ profits pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b).
110. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause
unquantifiable and irreparable harm and unquantifiable damages to ABS-CBN and are unjustly
amount of $150,000.00 per infringement, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), or such other amount
112. ABS-CBN is further entitled to its attorneys’ fees and full costs pursuant to
17 U.S.C. § 505.
113. In addition, ABS-CBN is entitled to injunctive relief, as set forth below, because
of the continuing infringement of many of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works and because of the
114. ABS-CBN hereby adopts and re-alleges the allegations set forth in paragraphs 1
115. On information and belief, users of Defendants’ websites operating under the
Subject Domain Names have directly infringed ABS-CBN’s copyrights, including the
Copyrighted Works identified herein, by performing, copying and/or distributing works owned
27
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 28 of 37
by ABS-CBN, without authorization, or right under law, in violation of the Copyright Act, 17
116. Defendants are contributorily liable for their users’ direct infringement of ABS-
117. Defendants have actual and constructive knowledge, or should have knowledge,
of their users’ infringement of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works for at least the reasons that: (i)
they insert and provide links to, organize by movie or television show title, and perform the
infringing content, and do so for the purpose of users’ viewing; (ii) they advertise and promote
the content on the websites operating under the Subject Domain Names; and (iii) as the largest
media and entertainment company in the Philippines, ABS-CBN’s content is highly popular in
Filipino communities and Defendants profit as a direct result of performing that content.
118. Defendants induce, cause and/or materially contribute to the infringing activity of
their users for all the reasons stated herein, including but not limited to because Defendants:
(i) advertise the presence and availability Filipino content; (ii) promote the presence and
availability of Filipino content and, specifically, ABS-CBN’s content, through (a) the text and
content on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names and (b) through the use of
(iii) display pirated content and organizes that content for ready access by movie or television
show title; (iv) insert the links on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names
directing users where to view the content; (v) stream the pirated content to users for viewing; (vi)
frequently update their inventory of pirated content, often within minutes or hours of the premier
or broadcast in the Philippines, in order to tap into the known market for pirate Filipino-centric
content and constantly to feed the consumers’ desire for that content; (vii); enable users to copy
28
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 29 of 37
the works; and (viii) because by promoting and providing the content, Defendants drive more
traffic to their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names to increase the profits it
119. Defendants have the right and ability to supervise and control their websites
operating under the Subject Domain Names and the users’ infringing activity as set forth above.
Because Defendants cause the infringed content to be loaded on their “closed websites” and be
streamed on their websites operating under the Subject Domain Names, they could stop the
infringement of ABS-CBN’s copyrights. Popular, copyrighted works act as a draw that attracts
users and advertising to the Subject Domain Names and associated websites, resulting in
revenues from advertising impressions tied to page views and other sources.
121. Defendants have taken affirmative steps to foster infringement by creating their
websites operating under the Subject Domain Names and streaming the content, viewed through
video player embedded thereon, with the object of promoting the illegal viewing of ABS-CBN’s
copyrighted movies and television shows by presentation of the movies and television shows in
association with ABS-CBN as the television network and titles associated with a telecast; and by
promoting the websites and their pirated content through their websites operating under the
and automated manner. To the contrary, as set forth above, they control the selection and
provision of the content and are the causes making that content available and accessible to their
29
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 30 of 37
public users. Without the active and material contributions from Defendants, the massive
123. Defendants target known demand for illegal access to and viewing of the
124. Defendants are the direct and proximate cause of the harm to ABS-CBN alleged
herein.
125. The foregoing acts of infringement by Defendants have been willful, intentional,
126. Defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and are continuing to cause
unquantifiable and irreparable harm and unquantifiable monetary damages to ABS-CBN and are
exclusive rights, ABS-CBN is entitled to actual damages as well as Defendants’ profits pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b).
amount of $150,000.00 per infringement, pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), or such other amount
129. ABS-CBN is further entitled to its attorneys’ fees and full costs pursuant to
17 U.S.C. § 505.
130. In addition, ABS-CBN is entitled to injunctive relief, as set forth below, because
of the continuing infringement of many of ABS-CBN’s Copyrighted Works and because of the
30
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 31 of 37
§ 1116, 17 U.S.C. § 502(a), and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 enjoining Defendants, their
agents, representatives, servants, employees, and all those acting in concert or participation
distributing any ABS-CBN Copyrighted Works and/or content that currently exists or which
exists in the future; from infringing, counterfeiting, or diluting the ABS-CBN Marks, or any
mark or trade dress similar thereto, in connection with the offering of any unauthorized services,
including but not limited to the advertisement, promotion, performance, copying, broadcasting,
performance, and/or distribution of any ABS-CBN Copyrighted Works and/or other ABS-CBN
content that currently exists or which exists in the future, from using any logo, trade name or
trademark or trade dress that may be calculated to falsely advertise the services of Defendants as
being sponsored by, authorized by, endorsed by, or in any way associated with ABS-CBN; from
association, or engaging in any act that is likely to falsely cause members of the public to believe
any content or services of Defendants are in any way endorsed by, approved by, and/or
associated with ABS-CBN; from using any reproduction, counterfeit, infringement, copy or
colorable imitation of the ABS-CBN Marks in connection with the publicity, promotion,
31
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 32 of 37
other symbols tending to falsely describe or represent Defendants’ services as being connected
with ABS-CBN, or in any way endorsed by ABS-CBN; from engaging in search engine
optimization strategies using colorable imitations of the ABS-CBN name or trademarks; and
from creating, maintaining, operating, joining, and participating in its World Wide Web based
illegal marketplace used to copy, distribute, perform, advertise, or promote services offering
pirated content, including but not limited to the Copyrighted Works, using counterfeits or
rights, title, and interest, to the Subject Domain Names to Plaintiffs, and, if within five (5) days
of entry of such an order, Defendants fail to make such an assignment, the Court order the act be
done by another person appointed by the Court at Defendants’ expense, such as the Clerk of
D. Entry of an Order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), The All Writs Act, that upon
ABS-CBN’s request, the top level domain (TLD) Registries for the Subject Domain Names or
their administrators, including backend registry operators or administrators, place the Subject
Domain Names on Registry Hold status for the remainder of the registration period for the
domain names, thus removing it from the TLD zone files which link the Subject Domain Names
E. Entry of an Order pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), The All Writs Act, canceling
for the life of the current registration or, at ABS-CBN’s election, transferring the Subject
Domain Names and any other domain names used by Defendants to engage in above described
32
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 33 of 37
infringing activities at issue, including counterfeiting of the ABS-CBN Marks at issue, to ABS-
F. Entry of an Order requiring Defendants to account to and pay ABS-CBN for all
profits and damages resulting from Defendants’ trademark counterfeiting and infringing
activities and that the award to ABS-CBN be trebled, as provided for under 15 U.S.C. § 1117, or,
at ABS-CBN’s election with respect to Count I, that ABS-CBN be awarded statutory damages
from Defendants in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) per each counterfeit
trademark used and service offered, as provided by 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c)(2) of the Lanham Act.
G. Entry of an award pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1117 (a) and (b) of ABS-CBN’s costs
and reasonable attorneys’ fees and investigative fees associated with bringing this action.
H. Entry of an Order requiring Defendants to pay ABS-CBN for all profits and
damages resulting from Defendants’ copyright infringement and infringing activities, together
with appropriate interest thereon; that Defendants be required to account to ABS-CBN for, and
disgorge to ABS-CBN, and to pay to ABS-CBN, all the gains, profits, savings and advantages
realized by Defendants from their acts of copyright infringement described above; or, at ABS-
CBN’s election with respect to Counts V and VI, that ABS-CBN be awarded statutory damages
from Defendants in the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) per each
registered copyrighted work infringed, as provided by 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), enhanced to reflect the
willful nature of Defendants’ infringement, instead of an award of actual damages or profits, and
be awarded its costs and disbursements incurred in this action, including reasonable attorneys’
I. Entry of an Order that, upon Plaintiff’s request, any advertising services, financial
institutions, payment processors, banks, escrow services, money transmitters, and their related
33
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 34 of 37
companies and affiliates, identify and restrain all funds, up to and including the total amount of
transfer systems used in connection with the Subject Domain Names, or other alias domain
names used by Defendants presently or in the future, as well as any other related accounts of the
same customer(s) and any other accounts which transfer funds into the same financial institution,
herein.
K. Entry of an order for such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper
and just.
34
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 35 of 37
SCHEDULE “A”
DEFENDANTS BY NUMBER AND SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME
35
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 36 of 37
36
Case 0:18-cv-61553-DPG Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/09/2018 Page 37 of 37
SCHEDULE “B”
PLAINTIFFS’ REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
Registration Registration
Trademark Number Date Class/Services
IC 036 – telephone calling card
services
SCHEDULE “C”
PLAINTIFFS’ COMMON LAW TRADEMARK
Trademark
SCHEDULE “D”
PLAINTIFFS’ FEDERALLY REGISTERED COPYRIGHT
37