Phase One v. West
Phase One v. West
Phase One v. West
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PHASE ONE NETWORK, INC., Case No.: 22-cv-9511
Plaintiff,
COMPLAINT AND DEMAND
v. FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiff, Phase One Network, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) by its attorneys, Adelman Matz,
P.C., for its complaint against YE f/k/a Kanye West d/b/a “Yeezy Tech” (“Defendant
West”), Alex Klein (“Klein”), Kano Computing Limited (“Kano”), Stemplayer, LTD,
Getting Out Our Dreams II, LLC (“GOOD II”), Getting Out Our Dreams, Inc. a/k/a
G.O.O.D. Music (“GOOD Music”), Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings,
Inc. (“Def Jam”), and UMG Recordings, Inc. a/k/a Universal Music Group (“UMG
copyright infringement, and vicarious copyright infringement under the Copyright Act of
1976, 17 U.S.C. §101 et seq., based on the knowing and willful conduct by Defendants
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2. This Court has federal question jurisdiction over the subject matter of this
action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a) because this action alleges violations of
federal statutes including the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. §§101, et seq.
3. Upon information and belief, this Court has personal jurisdiction over the
themselves of doing business in New York through selling the Infringing Works (as defined
below), on the music playback device, the “Stemplayer”, within the State of New York.
Further, all Defendants benefit from the sales of the infringing work and sales of the music
the Defendants are subject to the Court’s personal jurisdiction with respect to the action,
as Defendants have sold the infringing work and music playback device, the Stemplayer,
within the State of New York, and including within this District.
5. Plaintiff is incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey with its
principal place of business located at 424 West 33rd Street, Suite 220, New York, NY
10001.
in and to numerous compositions, including the musical composition and sound recording
for the song “South Bronx” by Boogie Down Productions (“South Bronx” or the “Work”).
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composition of music that is distributed worldwide over the internet via, among other
Website”), which music is available for purchase worldwide. Upon information and belief,
Defendant West does business as “Yeezy Tech” in connection with the sale and distribution
of the Stemplayer.
Stemplayer Website, including but not limited to managing sales of the Stemplayer.
10. Upon information and belief, Kano Computing Limited is a private limited
company incorporated in London, England, with its principal place of business located at
Unit 12.1 11 – 29 Fashion Street, London, England E1 6PX. Upon information and belief,
Kano has designed, developed, produced, and distributed over 1.2 million complex
computer products globally, including the Stemplayer which was developed with co-
developed, manufactured, and also distributed the Stemplayer, which includes the
12. Upon information and belief, Klein is the co-founder and Chief Executive
13. Upon information and belief, Klein resides in the United Kingdom, and
does sustainable business in the United States and this State, including with respect to the
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14. Upon information and belief, Stemplayer, LTD is a private limited company
incorporated in London, England, with its principal place of business located at Unit 12.1
15. Upon information and belief, Stemplayer, LTD has distributed the
Stemplayer, which includes the Infringing Track (as described below), since March 2022.
16. Upon information and belief, GOOD II is limited liability company existing
under the laws of the state of Delaware with its principal place of business located at 6
17. Upon information and belief, GOOD II maintains authorship and ownership
of the copyrights and other properties pertaining to West’s musical creations and other
works.
18. Upon information and belief, GOOD II has exploited and authorized use of
19. Upon information and belief, GOOD Music is a record label founded by
West in 2004. GOOD Music is a sublabel of and is distributed by Def Jam. GOOD Music
20. Upon information and belief, GOOD Music supervised the illegal
reproduction of the Infringing Track (as described below) and authorized the illegal
reproduction and distribution of the Plaintiff’s copyright protected work on the Stemplayer.
21. Upon information and belief, Def Jam is a music label owned by and is a
division of UMG, with its headquarters located at 2220 Colorado Ave, Floor 5, Santa
Monica, CA 90404.
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22. Upon information and belief, Def Jam supervised the illegal reproduction
of the Infringing Track (as described below) and authorized the illegal reproduction and
23. Upon information and belief, UMG is a record company that owns the Def
Jam music label and sublabel, GOOD Music, with its principal place of business at 2220
24. Upon information and belief, UMG, as the parent company of Def Jam,
GOOD Music, and GOOD II, authorized the infringing actions as described herein,
Stemplayer.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
25. Plaintiff is a record company and owner to the copyright in “South Bronx”
by Boogie Down Productions. Upon information and belief, Defendant West, GOOD II,
GOOD Music, Def Jam, and UMG (collectively the “West Parties”), knowingly without a
license, unlawfully copied from “South Bronx” when creating the track “Life of the Party”
(the “Infringing Track”). Defendant West and GOOD II used and copied portions of
Plaintiff’s copyrighted work, South Bronx, to create a derivate work, the Infringing Track,
26. Upon information and belief, Defendant West, Kano Computing Limited,
Alex Klein and Stemplayer, LTD (collectively the “Stemplayer Parties”), created,
developed and sold a music playback device, the Stemplayer (“Stemplayer”), which has a
limited number of musical works on it. The Stemplayer Parties willfully distributed the
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Infringing Track by reproducing the Infringing Track onto the Stemplayer and selling the
27. Upon information and belief, Defendant West, Klein and Kano each have
authority over the manner in which the Stemplayer is sold, including the content included
28. Upon information and belief, Defendant West, Klein and Kano all
29. Upon information and belief, according to Defendant West, within only the
first 24 hours of launching the Album, he sold 11,000 units of the Stemplayer, which
30. Upon information and belief, sales of the Stemplayer loaded with the album
Donda have continued since that time, resulting in millions of dollars of more revenue to
31. Upon information and belief, the West Parties authorized the distribution of
32. Upon information and belief, Defendants reproduced and incorporated the
advertisements and marketing for the album Donda and the Stemplayer (the “Infringing
Advertisements”).
Defendants, as specified herein, have reproduced South Bronx, displayed South Bronx,
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distributed South Bronx, and created derivatives of South Bronx, without authorization or
35. South Bronx remains a seminal track in the American hip hop lexicography.
Created by Lawrence Parker p/k/a KRS-One and Scott Sterling p/k/a DJ Scott La Rock,
the two original members of the American hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, South
Bronx was a response to the Queensbridge-based MC-Shan track, “The Bridge,” and the
36. South Bronx is noted, not only for being an important diss track, but also
for its realistic lyrical depiction of the life in the Bronx, which was unheard of at the time.
37. South Bronx is also an iconic example of the early use of sampling in hip
combination of dancehall reggae and hip hop, led to the creation of gangsta rap. In 2020,
Rolling Stone listed “Criminal Mind” (the album containing South Bronx, to which it was
the lead single) as 239 on its list of the 400 Greatest Albums of All Time.
38. Both the sound recording and composition copyrights for South Bronx are
registered with the United States Copyright Office and attained U.S. Copyright
Registration No. SR 115-448 with an effective date of May 14, 1990, and U.S. Copyright
(the “Registrations”).
39. Through a series of written and legal transfers, Plaintiff acquired 50% of the
right, title, and interest in the Work and the Registrations, and 100% of the administration
rights over the masters and compositions in the Work and the Registrations.
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40. As such, Plaintiff has acquired the right, title, and interest in and to the
copyright in South Bronx, as well as all rights to income from South Bronx and the right
41. Upon information and belief, prior to creating the Infringing Track, the
West Parties had access to the Work, which was widely distributed.
42. Upon information and belief, sometime in 2021, the West Parties created
the Infringing Track titled “Life of The Party,” a musical work that incorporated Plaintiff’s
a. The Infringing Track reproduces the horn hits from South Bronx.
Bronx.
44. Upon information and belief, at all times herein the West Parties were
aware that South Bronx was copyright protected and owned by Plaintiff and that they had
45. On July 15, 2021, the West Parties sent Plaintiff a formal licensing request
through their clearance agent, Eric D. Weissman of Eric Weissman Music Licensing, Inc.,
for the use of South Bronx in the Infringing Track, and the communications confirmed that
South Bronx had been incorporated into the Infringing Track even though West had yet to
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46. Upon information and belief, despite the fact that final clearance for use of
South Bronx in the Infringing Track was never authorized, the Infringing Track was
ways.
47. Upon information and belief, on August 25, 2021, the West Parties and
Kano launched the Stemplayer and stemplayer.com, taking pre-orders for the device, with
the intent to distribute the Infringing Track via the Stemplayer device and stemplayer.com.
what could only have been an intentional effort by the West Parties to advertise the
Stemplayer by providing social media influencers with access to the device, the Infringing
50. Upon information and belief, beginning in October of 2021 the Stemplayer
Parties distributed the Infringing Track by reproducing the Infringing Track onto the
51. Users were encouraged to and given the ability to split the songs on it
(which included the Infringing Track) into stems that can then be freely customized and
manipulated using the device (the use of the Infringing Track on the Stemplayer and
stemplayer.com, the Infringing Advertisements, and the Track Leak, are collectively herein
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52. On November 10, 2021, with the parties still not having come to an
agreement regarding a license to use South Bronx in the infringing track, the West Parties,
through their clearance agent Mr. Weissman, requested that Plaintiff forward a license
responded to Mr. Weissman, stating that she was out of office for the remainder of the
54. On November 16, 2021, the West Parties, through their clearance agent Mr.
Weissman, formally retracted the July 15, 2021, license request to use South Bronx.
55. Upon information and belief, the West Parties retracted the licensing
request despite having already incorporated South Bronx into the Infringing Track,
distributed the infringing track through the Stemplayer and its associated website, and
56. Upon information and belief, beginning in 2021 and continuing until at least
2022, the West Parties also reproduced, distributed, displayed, and performed South Bronx
57. Upon information and belief, in March of 2022, the company Stemplayer
LTD was incorporated and along with the Stemplayer Parties began distributing the
58. Upon information and belief, by virtue of the above, the West Parties
authorization or permission.
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60. Further, Defendants’ infringing acts were willful and deliberate, and
committed with prior notice and knowledge of Plaintiff’s copyrights in and to the Work.
61. By illegally incorporating South Bronx into the Infringing Track and
authorizing the distribution of the Infringing Track through the Stemplayer and its
associated website, all Defendants have allowed for the widespread distribution of the
COUNT I
(Copyright Infringement)
62. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of paragraphs 1
64. Upon information and belief, as described herein, Defendants have copied,
commercial purpose, South Bronx as part of the Infringing Track and Infringing
Plaintiff.
65. Upon information and belief, Defendants had access to Plaintiff’s work,
66. Upon information and belief, the West Parties have created derivative
from Plaintiff, which include but are not limited to the Infringing Track and the Infringing
Advertisements.
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67. Upon information and belief, by means of the West Parties' use of the
significant portion of the Infringing Track was appropriated from South Bronx.
68. Upon information and belief, by means of the West Parties’ use of the
abovementioned sound recordings of South Bronx, portions of the Infringing Track are
69. Upon information and belief, the Stemplayer Parties, including Stemplayer
LTD, infringed upon the Plaintiff’s copyright by distributing the Infringing Track on the
Stemplayer.
70. Upon information and belief, Defendants infringing acts alleged herein
were willful, deliberate, and committed with prior notice and knowledge of Plaintiff’s
71. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff has been harmed by the infringement
72. Further, upon information and belief, the infringing acts of the Defendants
have been, are, and, if continued hereafter, will continue to be committed willfully.
Defendants are liable to the Plaintiff for willful copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. §
501. Plaintiff suffered, and will continue to suffer, losses in an amount not yet ascertained
to receive the profits made by the Defendants from their wrongful acts, pursuant to 17
U.S.C. § 504(b).
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U.S.C. § 504(c).
75. Upon information and belief, statutory damages against Defendants should
infringement.
76. Plaintiff is also entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs of pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 505.
77. As a result of Defendant’s acts and conduct, Plaintiff has sustained and will
continue to sustain substantial, immediate, and irreparable injury for which there is no
COUNT II
(Contributory Infringement)
78. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of paragraphs 1
participated in, aided and abetted in and profited from the illegal reproduction, creation of
80. Upon information and belief, the Defendants have engaged in willful
81. Upon information and belief, as a result of Defendants’ actions third parties
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82. Upon information and belief, Defendants have profited from their
83. Plaintiff suffered, and will continue to suffer, losses in an amount not yet
is entitled to receive the profits made by the Defendants from their wrongful acts, pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 504(b).
84. As a result of its actions, Defendants are liable to the Plaintiff for willful
copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. Plaintiff suffered, and will continue to
suffer, losses in an amount not yet ascertained but to be determined at trial. In addition to
Plaintiff’s actual damages, Plaintiff is entitled to receive the profits made by the Defendants
17 U.S.C. § 504(c).
86. Plaintiff is also entitled to recover its attorneys’ fees and costs of pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 505.
COUNT III
(Vicarious Infringement)
87. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation of paragraphs 1
88. Upon information and belief, the Defendants are vicariously liable for the
infringement alleged herein because they had the right and ability to supervise the
infringing conduct, and because they had a direct financial interest in the infringing
activity.
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89. Upon information and belief, Defendants knew, or should have known, that
they, their agents, representatives, and customers were not authorized to reproduce, create
derivative works, display, perform, or distribute the Infringing Track in any capacity.
protected work and the distribution of the Infringing Track by the Defendants occurred
while the Defendants had the right and ability to supervise the infringing actions of third
parties.
91. Upon information and belief, the Defendants controlled and authorized how
92. Upon information and belief, by controlling and authorizing the distribution
of the Infringing Track, the Defendants have engaged in willful vicarious copyright
infringement.
herein, Defendants have obtained profits they would not otherwise have realized but for
addition to Plaintiff’s actual damages, Plaintiff is entitled to receive the profits made by
94. As a result of its actions, Defendants are liable to the Plaintiff for willful
copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501. Plaintiff suffered, and will continue to
suffer, losses in an amount not yet ascertained but to be determined at trial. In addition to
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Plaintiff’s actual damages, Plaintiff is entitled to receive the profits made by the Defendants
95. Plaintiff is informed and believed and thereon alleges that Defendants have
intentional, and malicious, which further subjects Defendants to liability for statutory
damages under section 504(c)(2) of the Copyright Act in the sum of up to $150,000 per
infringement and/or a preclusion from asserting certain equitable and other defenses.
96. Plaintiff is also entitled to recover its attorneys’ fees and costs of pursuant
to 17 U.S.C. § 505.
representatives, affiliated companies and other business entities successors, assignees and
those acting in concert with them or at their direction, from directly or indirectly
to, transmitting, publicly performing or otherwise exploiting in any manner the track South
Bronx.
Bronx under 17 U.S.C. §501, and that the infringement by the Defendants was willful;
including the value of all gains, profits, advantages, benefits, and consideration derived by
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damages and the Defendants’ profits, for an award of statutory damages against
employees, and all persons acting in concert with it, be permanently enjoined from
f) That the Court enters an Order pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 503 mandating the
impounding of all infringing copies of South Bronx, including the Infringing Track and the
Infringing Advertisements, and any other materials prepared by Defendants containing any
h) That any judgment be entered against Defendants jointly and severally; and
i) For such other and further relief in favor of Plaintiff as the Court deems just
and proper.
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all claims for relief and issues triable
by jury.
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