Opinion
3:23-cv-335 (SRU)
03-29-2023
STRIKE 3 HOLDINGS, LLC, Plaintiff, v. JOHN DOE subscriber assigned IP address 73.126.58.165, Defendant.
ORDER ON MOTION FOR LEAVE TO SERVE THIRD-PARTY SUBPOENA PRIOR TO A RULE 26(f) CONFERENCE
STEFAN R. UNDERHILL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The motion for leave to serve a third-party subpoena prior to a Rule 26(f) Conference is granted. See Doc. No. 9.
Plaintiff established that “good cause” exists for it to serve a third-party subpoena on Comcast Cable (hereinafter the “ISP”). See Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3, 604 F.3d 110, 118-19 (2d Cir. 2010) (citing Sony Music Entm't v. Does 1-40, 326 F.Supp.2d 556, 564-65 (S.D.N.Y. 2004)); Strike 3 Holdings, LLC v. Doe, 2017 WL 5001474, at *2, *6 (D. Conn. Nov. 1, 2017); John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Doe Nos. 1-30, 284 F.R.D. 185, 189 (S.D.N.Y. 2012).
Plaintiff may serve the ISP with a Rule 45 subpoena commanding the ISP to provide Plaintiff with the true name and address of the Defendant to whom the ISP assigned an IP address as set forth in the Complaint. Plaintiff shall attach to any such subpoena a copy of this Order.
Plaintiff may also serve a Rule 45 subpoena in the same manner as above on any service provider that is identified in response to a subpoena as a provider of Internet services to one of the Defendants.
If the ISP qualifies as a “cable operator,” as defined by 47 U.S.C. § 522(5), which states:
the term “cable operator” means any person or group of persons (A) who provides cable service over a cable system and directly or through one or more affiliates owns a significant interest in such cable system, or (B) who otherwise controls or is responsible for, through any arrangement, the management and operation of such a cable system.it shall comply with 47 U.S.C. § 551(c)(2)(B), which states:
A cable operator may disclose such [personal identifying] information if the disclosure is . . . made pursuant to a court order authorizing such disclosure, if the subscriber is notified of such order by the person to whom the order is directed.by sending a copy of this Order to the Defendant.
Plaintiff may only use the information disclosed in response to a Rule 45 subpoena served on the ISP for the purpose of protecting and enforcing Plaintiff's rights as set forth in its Complaint.
So ordered.