1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 SAN JOSE DIVISION 7 8 STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC, Case No. 23-cv-04338-VKD

9 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S EX 10 v. PARTE MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE A SUBPOENA 11 JOHN DOE SUBSCRIBER ASSIGNED IP ADDRESS 104.58.207.87, Re: Dkt. No. 8 12 Defendant.

13 14 Plaintiff Strike 3 Holdings, LLC (“Strike 3”) seeks leave to serve a third-party subpoena on 15 AT&T Internet prior to a Rule 26(f) conference. 16 Strike 3 has established that good cause exists for it to serve a third-party subpoena on 17 AT&T Internet, the above-referenced subscriber’s internet service provider.1 See Gillespie v. 18 Civiletti,

(9th Cir. 1980); UMG Recording, Inc. v. Doe, No. C08-1193 SBA, 19

, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 3, 2008). Strike 3 has demonstrated that (1) it can 20 identify the defendant with sufficient specificity such that the Court can determine that the 21 defendant is a real person or entity who could be sued in federal court, (2) it has identified 22 previous steps taken to locate the elusive defendant, (3) its action against the defendant could 23 withstand a motion to dismiss, and (4) there is a reasonable likelihood of being able to identify the 24 defendant through discovery such that service of process would be possible. See Columbia Ins. 25 1 There is a discrepancy in the declaration submitted by Mr. Patrick Paige, who attests that he read 26 Mr. Williamson’s declaration. Mr. Paige’s declaration, however, predates Mr. Williamson’s declaration by several days. Compare Dkt. No. 8-1 (Paige Declaration at ECF 22 & ¶ 27) with 27 Dkt. No. 8-1 at ECF 15). As Mr. Williamson’s declaration appears to be virtually identical to 1 Co. v. Seescandy.com,

(N.D. Cal. 1999). Additionally, Strike 3’s 2 application indicates that Strike 3 has satisfied the registration requirements under 17 U.S.C. 3 § 411(a) for commencing a copyright infringement lawsuit. Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. 4 Wall-Street.com, LLC,

(2019). Once Strike 3 learns the defendant’s identity, it 5 cannot rely on a bare allegation that a defendant is the registered subscriber of an internet protocol 6 address associated with infringing activity to state a plausible claim for direct or contributory 7 copyright infringement. Cobbler Nevada, LLC v. Gonzales,

(9th Cir. 2018). 8 However, at this stage of these proceedings, and upon the record presented, Strike 3 properly may 9 serve discovery to ascertain the defendant’s identity. See generally Glacier Films (USA), Inc. v. 10 Turchin,

(9th Cir. 2018) (observing that the district court’s case 11 management order permitting “limited discovery from an Internet Service Provider to establish a 12 potential infringer’s identity” was “a sensible way to manage its dockets . . . .”). 13 Accordingly, the Court grants Strike 3’s application and orders as follows: 14 1. Strike 3 may serve a Rule 45 subpoena on AT&T Internet commanding AT&T 15 Internet to provide Strike 3 with the true name and address of the subscriber to whom AT&T 16 Internet assigned IP address 104.58.207.87. Strike 3 shall attach a copy of this order to any such 17 subpoena. 18 2. AT&T Internet shall serve a copy of the subpoena and a copy of this order on the 19 subscriber within 30 days of the date of service of the subpoena on AT&T Internet. AT&T 20 Internet may serve the subscriber using any reasonable means, including written notice sent to the 21 subscriber’s last known address, transmitted either by first-class mail or via overnight service. 22 3. Strike 3 may only use the information disclosed in response to a Rule 45 subpoena 23 served on AT&T Internet for the purpose of protecting and enforcing Strike 3’s rights as set forth 24 in its complaint. 25 4. AT&T Internet may object to the Rule 45 subpoena, and may also seek a protective 26 order. 27 If AT&T Internet produces information regarding the identity of the subscriber to Strike 3, 1 court. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED. 3 Dated: September 12, 2023 4 5 VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI 6 United States Magistrate Judge 4 8 9 10 11 12

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