<= DeCSS Central Main Page
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
JARED B. BOBROW (State Bar. No. 133712)
2882 Sand Hill Road, Suite 280
Menlo Park, California 94025
Telephone: (650) 926-6200
Facsimile: (650) 854-3713
OF COUNSEL:
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
ROBERT G. SUGARMAN** Pro hac vice applications being submitt=
ed to the
Court.
JEFFREY L. KESSLER*
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Telephone: (212) 310-8000
Facsimile: (212) 310-8007
Attorneys for Plaintiff
DVD Copy Control Association, Inc.
Additional Counsel Listed On The Signature Page
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA
|------------------------------------------>
| |
| DVD COPY CONTROL ASSOCIATION, INC., a |
| not-for-profit trade association, |
| |
| |
| Plaintiff, |
| |
| |
| v. |
| |
| |
| ANDREW THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN, an individual; |
| ANDREW BUNNER, an individual; JOHN V. |
| KEW, an individual; SCOTT KARLINS, an |
| individual; GLENN ROSENBLATT, an |
| individual; DALE EMMONS, an individual, |
| EMMANUEL GOLDSTEIN, an individual; |
| DOUGLAS R. WINSLOW, an individual; |
| JONATHAN BLANK, an individual; ROGER |
| KUMAR, an individual; ROBERT JONES, an |
| individual; EN HONG, an individual; |
| MATTHEW ROBERT PAVOLICH, an individual; |
| IAN A. GULLIVER, an individual; JON |
| HANSON, an individual; DAVID M. CHAN, an |
| individual; CAMERON SIMPSON, an |
| individual; TOM VOGT, an individual; |
| CYRIL AMSELLEM, an individual; THORSTEN |
| FENK, an individual; ADRIAN BAUGH, an |
| individual and DOES 1-500, inclusive. |
| |
| |
| Defendants. |
| |
|------------------------------------------>
>---------------------------------------|
| |
| Case No. |
| |
| |
| |
| COMPLAINT FOR |
| INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR |
| MISAPPROPRIATION OF |
| TRADE SECRETS |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
>---------------------------------------|
Plaintiff, the DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. =
(?DVD
CCA?), by its attorneys, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, for its Compl=
aint,
alleges as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff, DVD CCA, a trade association and the sole licensi=
ng entity
for Digital Video Disc (?DVD?) technology, brings this action to e=
njoin
defendant web site owners (?Defendants?) from their continued
misappropriation of trade secrets licensed by DVD CCA. DVD CCA is=
informed
and believes, and based thereon alleges that Defendants have discl=
osed, and
continue knowingly and willfully to disclose, proprietary informat=
ion on
their Internet web sites as part of a scheme to defeat DVD encrypt=
ion
software which thus enables users to illegally pirate copies of DV=
D videos.
2. The named defendants, and certain Doe defendants, continue t=
heir
unauthorized posting of proprietary information -- which they eith=
er
obtained by improper means or knew or should have known was obtain=
ed by
others by improper means -- despite the fact that cease and desist=
letters
were sent to their web sites demanding that such proprietary infor=
mation be
taken down from their sites. After receiving such notice, many su=
ch web
sites voluntarily removed the proprietary information at issue fro=
m their
sites. Certain defendants have not received any notice to date be=
cause
their existence has only recently come to the attention of DVD CCA=
.
3. Defendants? posting of the proprietary information licensed =
by DVD
CCA on their web sites has caused the illegal pirating of the moti=
on
picture industry?s copyrighted content contained on DVDs. Defenda=
nts?
actions threaten the financial stability of this new digital video=
format
for viewing movies and other images -- which has thus far been wel=
l
received by the consuming public. Additionally, Defendants? actio=
ns
threaten the very existence of DVD CCA and the hundreds of compani=
es
involved in the DVD industry, including 73 companies in California=
of which
there are 42 in this county and an additional 17 in other Bay area=
locations. Moreover, if Defendants are not restrained and enjoine=
d, their
unchecked illegal activities will chill future technological innov=
ation in
the motion picture, consumer electronics and computer industries a=
nd
discourage other industries from making their content available to=
the
public (as the motion picture industry has done here) in new forma=
ts.
PARTIES
The Plaintiff
4. Plaintiff, DVD CCA, is a not-for-profit trade association or=
ganized
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has its principal plac=
e of
business at 225 B Cochrane Circle, Morgan Hill, California. DVD C=
CA is the
sole licensor of a proprietary system for the encryption and decry=
ption of
data contained on DVDs known as the Content Scramble System (or ?C=
SS?).
The Defendants
5. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Andrew Thomas McLaughlin (?McLaughlin?) is a citizen of =
the State
of California, and operates an Internet web=
site addressed as
mclaughlin.orange.ca.us/~andrew.
6. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Andrew Bunner (?Bunner?) is a citizen of the State of Ca=
lifornia,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as www.sharedlib.org/d=
ecss.zip.
7. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant John V. Kew (?Kew?) is a citizen of the State of Califor=
nia, and
operates an Internet web site addressed as www.logorrhea.com/deCSS=
.html.
8. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Scott Karlins (?Karlins?) is a citizen of the State of G=
eorgia,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.theresistance.net/files.html.
9. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Glenn Rosenblatt (?Rosenblatt?) is a citizen of the Stat=
e of New
York, and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.pzcommunications.com/decss/main.html.
10. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Dale Emmons (?Emmons?) is a citizen of the State of Wisc=
onsin,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.frozenlinux.com/civ/decss.
11. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Emmanuel Goldstein (?Goldstein?) is a citizen of the Sta=
te of New
York, and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.2600.com/news/1999/1112.html.
12. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Douglas R. Winslow (?Winslow?) is a citizen of the State=
of
Maryland, and operates Internet web sites addressed as
douglas.min.net/~drw/css-auth and Chatzone.org/~drw/css-auth.
13. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Jonathan Blank (?Blank?) is a citizen of the State of Ok=
lahoma,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as caspian.twu.net/dvd=
.
14. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Roger Kumar (?Kumar?) is a citizen of the State of Penns=
ylvania,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as www.bigteam.org.
15. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Robert Jones (?Jones?) is a citizen of the State of Sout=
h
Carolina, and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.dev.zero.org/freecss.html.
16. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant En Hong (?Hong?) is a citizen of the State of Georgia, a=
nd
operates an Internet web site addressed as www.dvd-digest.com.
17. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Matthew Robert Pavolich (?Pavolich?) is a citizen of the=
State of
Indiana, and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.livid.on.openprojects.net.
18. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Ian A. Gulliver (?Gulliver?) is a citizen of the State o=
f New
York, and operates an Internet web site addressed as
www.gullii.stu.rpi.edu/dvd.
19. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Jon Hanson (?Hanson?) is a citizen of the State of Kansa=
s, and
operates an Internet web site addressed as www.jonhanson.com/dvd.
20. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant David M. Chan (?Chan?) is a citizen of the State of Minn=
esota,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as www.dumn.edu/~dchan=
/css.
21. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Cameron Simpson (?Simpson?) resides in Dundas Valley, Au=
stralia,
and operates an Internet web site addressed as www.zip.com.au/~cs.=
22. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Tom Vogt (?Vogt?) resides in Wedel, Denmark, and operate=
s an
Internet web site addressed as www.lemuria.org/DeCSS.
23. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Cyril Amsellem (?Amsellem?) resides in Val de Marne, Fra=
nce, and
operates an Internet web site addressed as www.dvd-area.com.
24. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Thorsten Fenk (?Fenk?) resides in the country of Germany=
, and
operates an Internet web site addressed as tasam.com/~fenkt/dvd.
25. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
defendant Adrian Baugh (?Baugh?) resides in Oxford, England, and o=
perates
an Internet web site addressed as
merlin.kebble.ox.ac.uk/~adrian/css/mirrors.html.
26. DVD CCA is unaware of the true names and/or capacities of th=
e
defendants sued herein under the fictitious names Does 1-500, purs=
uant to
Code of Civil Procedure Section 474, who each were responsible in =
some way
for the acts and omissions complained of herein. DVD CCA will see=
k leave
of court to amend the complaint to allege such names and capacitie=
s at such
time as they are ascertained.
27. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges,=
that
each of the Doe defendants 1 through 26 operate Internet web sites=
, at the
below addresses, which disseminate confidential proprietary CSS in=
formation
and also provide ?links? to other web sites which disseminate such=
information:
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| Doe | Web Site =
|
| Defendant | =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 1. | www.free-dvd.org.lu =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 2. | josefine.ben.tuwien.ac.at/~david/dvd =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 3. | rockme.virtualave.net/ =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 4. | amor.rz.hu-berlin.de/~h0444t2v =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 5. | www.homestead.com/_ksi0701961562917005/avoid?/in=
dex.htm |
| | =
|
|-----------------+-------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 6. | www.anglefire.com/jazz/avoiderman/ =
|
| | =
|
=
--0__=5wtQQgNO1nGD1W1bKJTIvgv4RDT7A5q8KRprXqRgDeHXqMhMPqqD0L2W
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Disposition: inline
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 7. | www.intelcities.com/Main_Street/Avoiderman/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 8. | www.members.theglobe.com/avoiderman/dvd.htm |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 9. | members.zoom.com/_XMCM/lkjhgfdsa2/index.html |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 10. | www.vexed.net/CSS/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 11. | www.unitycode.org/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 12. | batman.jytol.fi/~vuori/dvd/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 13. | www.zpok.demon.co.uk/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 14. | www.dvdlinks.co.uk/css/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 15. | www.twistedlogic.com/archive/dvd |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 16. | www.capital.net/~wooly/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 17. | geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Campus/8877/index.html |
| | geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Campus/8877/index.html |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 18. | www.angelfire.com/mt/popefelix/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 19. | members.tripod.lycos.nl/jvz/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 20. | tv.acmecity.com/parody/356/index.html |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 21. | cryptome.org/dvd-free.htm |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 22. | altern.org/bettina/0a0a.html |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 23. | www.crosswinds.net/~valo/DeCSS/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 24. | info.astercity.net/~nicodem/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 25. | 134.100.185.221/decss/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
| | |
| 26. | www.dvdripper.videopage.de/ |
| | |
|-----------------+---------------------------------------------------------|
28. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges, that
each of the Doe defendants 27 through 54 operate Internet web sites, at the
below addresses, which disseminate confidential proprietary CSS
information:
|----------------->
| |
| Doe |
| Defendant |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Web Site |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 27. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Crypto.gq.nu |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 28. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.humpin.org/decss |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 29. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| 209.132.25.138/~inkk/DVD/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 30. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| members.brabant.chello.nl/~j.vreeken/main.html |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 31. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| dirtass.beyatch.net/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 32. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| therapy.endorphin.org/DVD/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 33. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.angelfire.com/in2/mirror/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 34. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| sent.freeserve.co.uk/DeCSS |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 35. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| members.tripod.co.uk/bap/css/css.html |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 36. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| angelfire.com/myband/decss/top.html |
| angelfire.com/myband/decss/top.html |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 37. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/tylerbridge/679/dvd.html |
| fortunecity.com/tinpan/tylerbridge/679/dvdcss.html |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 38. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| munitions.vipul.net/software/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 39. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| munitions.polkaroo.net/software/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 40. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| munitions.dyn.org/software/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 41. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| munitions.cifs.org/software/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 42. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| uk1.munitions.net/software/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 43. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| munitions.firenze.linux.it/algorithms/streamciphers/decss.tar.gz |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 44. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| perso.libertysurf.fr/ortal98/dvd_rip/decss_12b.zip |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 45. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| users.drak.net/bemann/software/css/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 46. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/3224/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 47. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| ftp://alma.dhs.org/pub/DVD/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 48. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| decss.tripod.com/index.html |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 49. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| discordia.de/decss/DeCss.zip |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 50. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.dvd-copy.com/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 51. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| dvdtidbits.com/dvd.shtml |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 52. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| www.neophile.net/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 53. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| perso.club-internet.fr/ches/dl/rippers/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------->
| |
| 54. |
| |
|----------------->
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| plato.nebulanet.net:88/css/ |
| |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
29. DVD CCA is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges, that
each of the Doe defendants 55 through 72 operate Internet web sites, at the
below addresses, which provide
--0__=5wtQQgNO1nGD1W1bKJTIvgv4RDT7A5q8KRprXqRgDeHXqMhMPqqD0L2W
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
?links? to other web sites which disseminate
confidential proprietary CSS information:
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| Doe | Web Site =
|
| Defendant | =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 55. | quintessenzs.at/q/mirrors.html =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 56. | www.ceraton.com/decss/ =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 57. | slashdot.org/articles/99/11/09/1342207.shtml =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 58. | cryptome.org/dvd-css.htm =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 59. | ftp://dvd:dvd@206.98.63.136/ =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 60. | www.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=3D547600297 =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 61. | www.brakton.freeservers.com/#downloads =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 62. | www.remco.xgov.net/dvd/ =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 63. | www.dvdcracked.tvheaven.com/index.html =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 64. | dvdsite.homepage.com/ =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 65. | www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Derby/2659 =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 66. | get.to/dvdsite =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 67. | home.worldonline.dk/~andersa/download/index.htm=
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 68. | www.ooze.org/dvd.html =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 69. | start.at/dvdsoft =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 70. | mmadb.no/hwplus/DeCSS/decss.html =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 71. | home.sol.no/~espen-b/dvd/css/decss.html =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
| | =
|
| 72. | o2.uio.no/dvd =
|
| | =
|
|-----------------+------------------------------------------------=
--------|
ALLEGATIONS
DVD Format and Need For Copy Protection
30. DVDs provide high quality images, such as motion pictures, d=
igitally
formatted on a convenient 5-inch disc that is resistant to wear an=
d damage
and allows for many attractive consumer features not presently ava=
ilable in
other video formats. DVD video discs containing data comprising m=
otion
pictures in encrypted form can be played either on special purpose=
machines
(?DVD Players?) or personal computers (?PCs?) equipped with DVD dr=
ives.
Encryption is necessary to prevent copying of the copyrighted mate=
rial on
the DVD. In order that the copyrighted motion picture can be play=
ed,
either form of player device requires implementation of the CSS al=
gorithm
and ?master keys? to carry out the decryption of the data stored o=
n the
disc. The implementation that provides this decryption function i=
s
developed by the licensees of DVD CCA using the detailed specifica=
tions
which is provided by DVD CCA to such licensees.
31. Before allowing their copyrighted motion pictures to be used=
on the
DVD format, the motion picture companies insisted on a viable copy=
protection system to prevent users from making copies of the motio=
n
pictures. Such protection is necessary to prevent copying from di=
scs that
are rented or borrowed and, more importantly, to prevent broader s=
cale
piracy through widespread transmission of these motion pictures ov=
er the
Internet and widespread distribution of ?pirated? discs in competi=
tion with
the authorized prerecorded discs.
32. Without the motion picture companies? copyrighted content fo=
r DVD
video, there would be no viable market for computer DVD drives and=
DVD
players, as well as the related computer chips and software necess=
ary to
run these devices and, thus, there would be no DVD video industry.=
33. CSS is proprietary technology that was developed to provide =
the
protection demanded by the motion picture companies against unauth=
orized
copying of their copyrighted material. This proprietary technolog=
y,
including trade secrets, is currently being licensed by DVD CCA, a=
s the
sole duly authorized licensing entity for the CSS technology. Any=
party
desiring lawfully to use the CSS technology -- either to encrypt c=
ontent or
decrypt content -- must do so through a license from DVD CCA.
The CSS Agreement as Mechanism to Protect DVD Encryption Soft=
ware
34. Beginning on or about October 31, 1996, DVD CCA?s
predecessor-in-interest began licensing CSS technology pursuant to=
an
agreement that later became the Amended and Restated CSS Interim L=
icense
Agreement, including the related CSS PROCEDURAL AND AMENDED AND RE=
STATED
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (collectively, the ?CSS Agreement?). Sin=
ce that
time hundreds of licensees have entered into the CSS Agreement. T=
he CSS
Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which the CSS =
licensing
entity (currently DVD CCA) would grant licenses to, among others,
manufacturers of DVD players or DVD drives and related hardware an=
d
software. Licensees were granted the right to use the security sy=
stem on
DVD products and agreed to safeguard the CSS technology from publi=
c
disclosure.
35. The CSS Agreement gives the licensees the right to use the
technology, and provides the necessary descrambling technology and=
?master
keys? to do so. The proprietary technology is not accessible to u=
nlicensed
third parties because it is either incorporated in hardware device=
s --
chips -- or made tamper resistant if distributed in the form of ac=
tual
software. Both forms of distribution are such that the proprietar=
y
technology cannot be viewed by non-licensees. Each licensee is as=
signed a
set of ?master keys? unique to each licensee. When the DVD system=
was
created, approximately 400 such ?master keys? were predesignated, =
to be
assigned to licensees over time, and each DVD disc contains, in a =
part of
the disc not normally read by the player device, a file containing=
the 400
?master keys.? The system will not operate unless the key contain=
ed in the
licensee?s decryption module (a chip or software program) matches =
one of
the ?master keys? stored on the DVD disc.
36. The CSS Agreement requires licensees to maintain the confide=
ntiality
=
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of certain defined pieces of information, such as the algorithms and
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?master keys? and, as such, licensees are subject to a very stringent s=
et
of rules to ensure the maintenance of confidentiality within the g=
roup of
licensees.
37. Among the safeguards taken is the requirement that only thos=
e
licensees that absolutely need to know a particular algorithm and/=
or key
are provided with such information. For example, a manufacturer o=
f
semiconductor chips for descrambling CSS content in stand-alone DV=
D players
is provided with information necessary for manufacturing such chip=
s but not
with information concerning the scrambling process itself or the
authentication between DVD drives and the descrambling module used=
for
computer-based implementations. Companies that merely assemble pa=
rts and
components produced by others may be required to be licensees in o=
rder to
purchase such parts and components, but these companies are not pr=
ovided
with the proprietary CSS information at issue.
38. The CSS Agreement mandates that licensees provide the propri=
etary CSS
technology at issue only to the strictest minimum number of licens=
ee's
employees who require access to the information, beginning with on=
ly three
employees and expanding beyond three only upon notification to the=
licensor
of the names of the additional employees. Licensees who violate t=
hese
requirements are subject to liquidated damages in the amount of $1=
million
per violation (with a cap based on profits made from the sale of l=
icensed
products).
39. Additionally, licensees implementing authentication and desc=
rambling
functions in the software are required to do so only in a manner t=
hat
obscures the proprietary CSS technology at issue, so as effectivel=
y to
frustrate anyone seeking to obtain such proprietary information. =
Specific
means of accomplishing this protection requirement are provided to=
licensees to illustrate the types of measures to be taken and the =
level of
technical skill that must be employed to defeat any such measures.=
Failure
to abide by these operating restrictions can subject the licensee =
to
injunctions prohibiting the sale of the product in which the failu=
re
occurs, through actions brought either by the licensor or by third=
party
beneficiary content owners.
Creation of DVD CCA
40. DVD CCA?s predecessor-in-interest began the process of licen=
sing
companies to use the technology pursuant to copy protection rules =
contained
in the ?procedural specifications? associated with the CSS Agreeme=
nt. The
companies in the DVD video business (motion picture, computer, and=
consumer
electronics companies) recognized that the licensing of CSS techno=
logy,
which is and was critical to the adoption of the DVD video format,=
ought to
be controlled and administered by the companies in the three indus=
tries
together and that the costs associated with such critical intellec=
tual
property protection should be borne by the hundreds of companies i=
nvolved
in the DVD video business.
41. The DVD industry agreed that the best solution would be the =
creation
of a licensing entity owned and controlled by the licensees of the=
technology, pursuant to governance rules that balanced the interes=
ts of the
three industries involved.
42. The DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. was, therefore, forme=
d in
December 1998 as a Delaware not-for-profit trade association.
43. The transition to have DVD CCA become this tri-industry lice=
nsing
administrator began some time ago. In September 1999, DVD CCA hir=
ed its
first staff and occupied offices in Morgan Hill, California. Foll=
owing
staff training and working with personnel of DVD CCA?s
predecessors-in-interest, who have administered the CSS Agreement,=
in early
December 1999, DVD CCA and its predecessor signed an agreement, wh=
ereby DVD
CCA began itself to handle the day-to-day licensing tasks pursuant=
to the
CSS Agreement.
44. In mid-December 1999, DVD CCA?s predecessor-in-interest assi=
gned its
licensing interests under the CSS Agreement making DVD CCA the sol=
e
licensing entity which grants licenses to the CSS technology in th=
e DVD
video format. Additionally, DVD CCA was given direct rights to en=
force the
CSS Agreement.
The ?Hack? of the CSS Technology
45. As early as October 25, 1999, the source code of a program n=
amed
DeCSS was posted on the Internet by Jon Johansen, an individual re=
siding in
Norway, on the web site mmadb.no/hwplus/Software/DeCSS/decss.html.=
The
DeCSS program which appeared on this web site embodies, uses, and/=
or is a
substantial derivation of confidential proprietary information whi=
ch DVD
CCA licenses pursuant to the CSS Agreement. The DeCSS program and=
links to
other sites with the DeCSS program were removed from the web site =
on or
around November 8, 1999. The program was removed by Mr. Johansen =
after a
demand to remove the infringing information was sent to him by an =
attorney
from Simsonsen & Mus=E6us, a Norwegian law firm. A link to the De=
CSS program
reappeared on the site on December 11, 1999. It is not clear who =
is
responsible for posting the link. The web site operator is named =
as Doe
defendant 70 in this Complaint.
46. On information and belief, the DeCSS program first appeared =
in the
United States, as early as October 25, 1999, on a web site operate=
d by
defendant Pavolich addressed as www.livid.on.openprojects.net.
47. On information and belief, this proprietary information was =
obtained
by willfully ?hacking? and/or improperly reverse engineering softw=
are
created by CSS licensee Xing Technology Corporation (?Xing?). Xin=
g?s
software is and was licensed to users under a license agreement wh=
ich
specifically prohibits reverse engineering.
48. Since the October 25, 1999 appearance of DeCSS, proprietary =
CSS
information has been displayed on web sites (or by web sites ?link=
ing? to
other web sites which display the information) in at least 11 stat=
es and 11
countries throughout the world. Extensive investigative efforts w=
ere
immediately undertaken by DVD CCA and the Motion Picture Associati=
on?s
(?MPA?) anti-piracy task force, to locate web sites which were pos=
ting
and/or ?linking? to other sites posting the proprietary informatio=
n, and
Internet service providers which were hosting such sites. The MPA=
sent
notices to 66 web sites and Internet service providers demanding t=
hat this
information be removed immediately. After receiving such notice,
approximately 25 of these web sites and Internet service providers=
voluntarily removed the proprietary information or ?links? to the
information at issue. On information and belief, all named defend=
ants
(with the exception of defendant Hanson) and Does 1, 8, 10 through=
14, 16,
26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 35, 48 through 54, and 62 through 72 have rece=
ived
notice through the MPA and refused to remove the information at is=
sue.
Defendant Hanson and the other Doe defendants have not received an=
y notice
to date because their existence has only recently become known.
49. Defendants knew or should have known when they posted or pro=
vided
?links? to the DeCSS program on their web sites that it was being =
made
available by virtue of the unauthorized use of proprietary informa=
tion and
that they were misusing proprietary confidential information gaine=
d through
improper means. This is because the DeCSS program has the capabil=
ity to
defeat DVD encryption software and, as a result, the DeCSS program=
allows
users to illegally pirate the copyrighted motion pictures containe=
d on DVD
videos - - activity which is fatal to the DVD video format and the=
hundreds
of computer and consumer electronics companies whose businesses re=
ly on the
viability of this digital format.
Information posted on Defendants? web sites establishes =
that they
are fully aware that, in posting or ?linking? to the DeCSS program=
, they
are wrongfully appropriating proprietary trade secrets. For examp=
le:
(a) Defendant McLaughlin explains to visitors of his sit=
e: "Mark
of the scofflaw! Here's my local copy of the CSS decryp=
tion
software, enjoy[;]"
(b) Defendant Baugh acknowledges that ?I may ver=
y well be
sued?.?
(c) Doe defendant 14 challenges: ?I have the money=
to go to
court. Your call[;]?
(d) in response to the MPA and DVD CCA?s anti-piracy=
efforts,
including cease and desist letters, defendants Vogt, B=
lank, and
Doe defendants 4, 9, 23 and 37 provide a ?Note to the la=
wyers and
other scum ? It was the DVD consortium that f***up, ?[;]=
?
(e) similarly, defendant Jones explains ?Listen, law=
yers, and
those you represent: This is none of your concern. =
The horse
has been let out[;]? mocking the ?trained weasels=
you call
lawyers[;]?
(f) Doe defendant 35 states: ?F[_ _ _] da feds! =
? ?[h]uh?
Aren?t these files legal? Oh, well, I didn?t know that!=
?
50. DVD encryption technology was (and is) critical to the adopt=
ion and
utilization of the DVD format. Without such copy protection, the =
motion
=
picture companies would not have allowed their copyrighted motion p=
ictures
to be available in this new digital video format. Without motion =
picture
content, there would be no viable market for computer DVD drives a=
nd DVD
players, as well as the related computer chips and software necess=
ary to
run these devices. Accordingly, the Defendants? continued misappr=
opriation
of proprietary CSS technology will have a devastating effect on DV=
D CCA and
many other California businesses in the motion picture, computer, =
and
consumer electronics industries, who have invested substantial amo=
unts of
money and resources in the development of the DVD video format.
51. The sole business purpose and reason for the existence of DV=
D CCA, a
trade association headquartered in Morgan Hill, California, is to =
be the
tri-industry licensing entity and administrator of the CSS technol=
ogy.
Defendants? continued misappropriation and dissemination of propri=
etary CSS
technology threatens the existence of the DVD format and, thus, th=
e very
existence of DVD CCA. If the proprietary nature of the CSS techno=
logy is
compromised, it will likely mean the end of this California busine=
ss.
52. The effect of the unlawful activities of the Defendants on t=
he motion
picture industry, centered in California -- as well as on the nume=
rous
California computer and consumer electronics businesses, including=
73
companies in California of which there are 42 in Santa Clara Count=
y and an
additional 17 in other Bay area locations -- is immeasurable. Apa=
rt from
the substantial resources that these industries have invested in t=
he
adoption of the DVD format, the wholesale copying and distribution=
of
copyrighted motion pictures destroys the motion picture industry?s=
ability
to protect its intellectual property and destroys the market for t=
he
computer and consumer electronics industries? DVD-based products.
53. In addition to the immediate consequence that copyrighted mo=
tion
pictures have been pirated, the ?hack? and disclosure of the CSS
proprietary information has already had a very serious adverse eff=
ect on
consumers, in California and elsewhere, in that the introduction o=
f a
related product -- DVD audio -- has been delayed. The major music=
companies have indicated that they are not prepared to use a ?comp=
romised?
system to protect their content and have insisted on the creation =
of a new
technology and system. The launch of DVD audio products, planned =
for
December 1999, has, thus, been postponed for at least six months w=
hile new
copy protection technology is developed, agreed upon, and implemen=
ted.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Misappropriation of Trade Secrets)
54. DVD CCA repeats and realleges the allegations of paragraphs =
1 through
54 of this Complaint and incorporates them herein by reference.
55. DVD CCA and its predecessors-in-interest have adopted reason=
able
measures as described herein to maintain the secrecy of the CSS in=
formation
at issue.
56. DVD CCA and its predecessors-in-interest, as well as compani=
es in the
motion picture, computer, and consumer electronics industry have i=
nvested
substantial amounts of money and resources in the development of
safeguards, such as the CSS licensing mechanism, to protect copyri=
ghted
material contained on DVD discs. The CSS license and, in particul=
ar, how
it protects the DVD technology, is of great commercial importance =
to DVD
CCA and the motion picture, computer, and consumer electronics ind=
ustries.
57. The proprietary algorithms and/or ?master keys? of the CSS a=
re
valuable proprietary property and trade secrets currently licensed=
by DVD
CCA.
58. Defendants knew or should have known when they posted the De=
CSS
program on their web sites or provided ?links? to other sites post=
ing this
program, that such program was created through the unauthorized us=
e of
proprietary CSS information, which was illegally ?hacked.?
59. Defendants knew or should have known when they posted or ?li=
nked? to
the DeCSS program that they were misusing confidential, proprietar=
y
information belonging to DVD CCA or one of its predecessors-in-int=
erest
and/or that their activities were improper because such program wa=
s
designed specifically to enable users to defeat CSS encryption in =
order to
illegally pirate DVD videos and, thus, was specifically aimed at i=
nfringing
motion picture industry copyrights in the DVD contents.
60. Defendants? posting or ?linking? to the DeCSS program on the=
ir web
sites, with full knowledge of its unlawful purpose and despite not=
ice of
its infringing nature and demands to remove the same, constitutes =
the
willful misappropriation of the CSS trade secrets at issue.
61. As a result of Defendants? misappropriation of its trade sec=
rets, DVD
CCA has suffered and continues to suffer irreparable injury, for w=
hich
there is no adequate remedy at law.
62. Defendants? misappropriation of the CSS trade secrets was ca=
rried out
in a willful, wanton and reckless manner in disregard of the right=
s of DVD
CCA.
63. Unless enjoined by the Court, Defendants will continue their=
misappropriation of the CSS trade secrets by continuing to post an=
d ?link?
to the proprietary information on their web sites and plaintiff wi=
ll
continue to suffer irreparable harm.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, DVD CCA prays for judgment:
1. that Defendants have willfully misappropriate=
d the CSS
technology trade secrets;
2. entering a temporary restraining order and prelim=
inary and
permanent injunctions, enjoining and restraining Defendant=
s, their
officers, directors, principals, agents, servants, employees, a=
ttorneys,
successors and assigns, and all those acting in concert, combi=
nation or
participation with any of them either directly or indirectly, =
singly or
together, from making any further use or otherwise discl=
osing or
distributing, on their web sites or elsewhere, or ?linking? to =
other web
sites which disclose, distribute, or ?link? to any proprietary pr=
operty or
trade secrets relating to the CSS technology and specifically =
enjoining
Defendants, its officers, directors, principals, agents, =
servants,
employees, attorneys, successors and assigns, and all those =
acting in
concert, combination or participation with any of them either di=
rectly or
indirectly, singly or together, from copying, duplicating, l=
icensing,
selling, distributing, publishing, leasing, renting or otherwise =
marketing
the DeCSS computer program and all other products containing, usin=
g, and/or
substantially derived from CSS proprietary property or trade secre=
ts;
3. awarding to DVD CCA the costs of this action, r=
easonable
attorneys fees, and such further and other relief as is found=
just and
proper.
|----------------------------------------->
| |
| Dated: December 28, 1999 |
| |
|----------------------------------------->
>-----------------------------------------|
| |
| WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP |
| |
>-----------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------->
| |
| |
| |
|----------------------------------------->
>-----------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| By: |
| JARED B. BOBROW |
| (State Bar. No.133712) |
| |
| Attorneys for Plaintiff |
| DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. |
| |
>-----------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------->
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|----------------------------------------->
>-----------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| OF COUNSEL: |
| |
>-----------------------------------------|
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
ROBERT G. SUGARMAN** Pro hac vice applications being submitt=
ed to the
Court.
JEFFREY L. KESSLER*
EDWARD J. BURKE
JONATHAN S. SHAPIRO*
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Telephone: (212) 310-8000
Facsimile: (212) 310-8007
=
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