Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 1 of 19 Page ID #:1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 LOEB & LOEB LLP DAVID GROSSMAN (SBN 211326) dgrossman@loeb.com JENNIFER JASON (SBN 274142) jjason@loeb.com 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2200 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Telephone: 310.282.2000 Facsimile: 310.282.2200 LOEB & LOEB LLP JONATHAN ZAVIN (pro hac vice pending) jzavin@loeb.com 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 Telephone: 212.407.4000 Facsimile: 212.407.4990 Attorneys for Plaintiffs PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION and CBS STUDIOS INC. 13 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 14 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation; and CBS STUDIOS INC., a Delaware corporation, Plaintiffs, v. AXANAR PRODUCTIONS, INC., a California corporation; ALEC PETERS, an individual, and DOES 1-20, Defendants. 23 Case No.: __________ COMPLAINT FOR: 1. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT; 2. CONTRIBUTORY COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT 3. VICARIOUS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT; AND 4. DECLARATORY JUDGMENT DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 2 of 19 Page ID #:2 1 Plaintiffs Paramount Pictures Corporation (“Paramount”) and CBS Studios 2 Inc. (“CBS”) (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), by their attorneys, hereby bring this 3 complaint against Axanar Productions, Inc. (“AP”), Alec Peters (“Peters”), and 4 Does 1-20 (collectively, “Defendants”), and allege as follows: NATURE OF THE ACTION 5 6 1. This is an action for copyright infringement arising out of Defendants’ 7 unauthorized exploitation of Star Trek, one of the most successful entertainment 8 franchises of all time. Since its inception, Star Trek has become a cultural 9 phenomenon that is eagerly followed by millions of fans throughout the world. 10 Unlike virtually any other television series or motion picture, the fictional Star Trek 11 races and characters, their technology, personality traits, and even their makeup, 12 have been documented and given a historical texture by Plaintiffs that extends far 13 beyond the action on the screen. Plaintiffs own the copyrights in this treasured 14 franchise—which includes six television series and twelve motion pictures spanning 15 nearly fifty years—and they continue to produce new original content for the legion 16 of Star Trek fans. 17 2. Defendants have made a short film entitled Star Trek: Prelude to 18 Axanar (“Prelude to Axanar”), and are in the process of producing a film called 19 Axanar (the “Axanar Motion Picture”) (collectively, the “Axanar Works”). The 20 Axanar Works infringe Plaintiffs’ works by using innumerable copyrighted 21 elements of Star Trek, including its settings, characters, species, and themes. The 22 Axanar Works are intended to be professional quality productions that, by 23 Defendants’ own admission, unabashedly take Paramount’s and CBS’s intellectual 24 property and aim to “look and feel like a true Star Trek movie.” On information and 25 belief, Defendants have raised over $1 million so far to produce these works, 26 including building out a studio and hiring actors, set designers, and costume 27 designers. The Axanar Works are substantially similar to, and unauthorized 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 1 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 3 of 19 Page ID #:3 1 derivative works of, Plaintiffs’ Star Trek television series and movies, in 2 contravention of the copyright laws of the United States. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 3 4 3. This is a civil action seeking damages and declaratory and injunctive 5 relief for copyright infringement, arising under 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq. This Court 6 has original subject matter jurisdiction over the action under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 7 1338(a), as this action asserts copyright claims arising under the laws of the United 8 States. 9 4. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because some or 10 all of them reside in this state, and because all Defendants conduct continuous, 11 systematic, and routine business within this state and this District. 12 5. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1391(b),(c), 13 (d), and 1400(a) because Plaintiffs’ claims arose in this district and because 14 Defendants reside or may be found in this District. 15 THE PARTIES 16 6. Plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation (“Paramount”) is a 17 corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal 18 place of business in Los Angeles, California. 19 20 21 7. Plaintiff CBS Studios Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal place of business in New York, New York. 8. Defendant Axanar Productions, Inc. (“AP”) is a corporation organized 22 under the laws of the State of California. On information and belief, AP is a motion 23 picture, television, and/or video production company. 24 9. On information and belief, defendant Alec Peters is, and at all relevant 25 times was, a citizen of California, residing in Los Angeles, California. On 26 information and belief, Peters is the controlling principal of AP, and Peters wrote 27 and produced the Axanar Works, and continues to write the script for and produce 28 the Axanar Motion Picture. Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 2 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 4 of 19 Page ID #:4 1 10. The Doe Defendants include, among others, those persons who aided in 2 the writing of the scripts for the Axanar Works or producing or directing the films, 3 and those persons who designed or caused to be designed the infringing sets, 4 costumes, props and other elements in the Axanar Works that infringe copyrighted 5 Star Trek elements. 6 11. The true names and capacities of the defendants named herein as Does 7 1 through 20, inclusive, are unknown to Plaintiffs, who therefore sue said 8 defendants by such fictitious names. Plaintiffs will amend this Complaint to allege 9 their true names and capacities when such have been ascertained. On information 10 and belief, each of the fictitiously named defendants herein is responsible in some 11 manner for the occurrences alleged herein and Plaintiffs’ injuries as alleged herein 12 were proximately caused by such defendants’ acts or omissions. 13 12. On information and belief, each defendant acted in concert with, as 14 agent or representative for, or at the request or on behalf of the other defendants, and 15 all of the acts alleged herein to have been done by each defendant were authorized, 16 approved, and/or ratified by each of the other defendants. ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS 17 18 I. Plaintiffs’ Copyrighted Star Trek Works 19 13. Star Trek is a science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene 20 Roddenberry. The original Star Trek television series (“The Original Series”) 21 debuted in 1966, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley, 22 and ran for three seasons, until 1969. The series chronicled the adventures of the 23 U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew as they traveled through space during the twenty-third 24 century, and featured numerous original and copyrightable elements, including but 25 not limited to elements such as the plots of the episodes, the Starship Enterprise, its 26 bridge and other interior construction, other original spacecraft, numerous original 27 and fictitious races and species, including the Vulcan race and the Klingon race, the 28 United Federation of Planets (the “Federation”), the history of the Federation, and Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 3 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 5 of 19 Page ID #:5 1 original weapons and technology. The Original Series focused on the officers of the 2 Federation and their adventures and battles. The Original Series was broadcast 3 nationwide, and since that time has been almost continuously in syndication on 4 television stations throughout the United States. 5 14. In one of the episodes of The Original Series, James T. Kirk, the 6 Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, meets his hero, Garth of Izar, a former Starship 7 captain. Kirk and Garth discuss Garth’s victory in a battle at Axanar. 8 9 10 15. In addition to The Original Series, there have been five further Star Trek television series totaling thousands of episodes (collectively with The Original Series, the “Star Trek Television Series”): 11 a. The Animated Series (1973-1974) 12 b. The Next Generation (1987-1994) 13 c. Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) 14 d. Voyager (1995-2001) 15 e. Enterprise (2001-2005). 16 17 16. There have been twelve Star Trek motion pictures (the “Star Trek Motion Pictures”): 18 a. Star Trek – The Motion Picture (1979) 19 b. Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan (1982) 20 c. Star Trek III The Search for Spock (1984) 21 d. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) 22 e. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) 23 f. Star Trek VI – The Undiscovered Country (1991) 24 g. Star Trek Generations (1994) 25 h. Star Trek: First Contact (1996) 26 i. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) 27 j. Star Trek Nemesis (2002) 28 k. Star Trek (2009) Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 4 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 6 of 19 Page ID #:6 l. 1 17. 2 Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). Plaintiffs continue to produce and develop Star Trek motion pictures 3 and television series and have announced plans to release a new Star Trek motion 4 picture in 2016 (“Star Trek Beyond”), and a new Star Trek television series in 5 January 2017. 18. 6 Plaintiffs own United States copyrights in the Star Trek Television 7 Series and the Star Trek Motion Pictures (collectively, the “Star Trek Copyrighted 8 Works”). Plaintiffs have duly registered copyrights in and to the Star Trek 9 Copyrighted Works with the United States Copyright Office and have complied 10 with all applicable statutory registration and renewal requirements. The United 11 States Copyright Office has issued Certificates of Registration for the Star Trek 12 Copyrighted Works that bear the numbers identified in Appendix A. 19. 13 The Star Trek Copyrighted Works are original works of authorship and 14 constitute copyrightable subject matter under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 15 et seq. 16 20. Plaintiffs own the exclusive right to develop, create, and/or produce 17 motion pictures and television shows based on the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, 18 including but not limited to the characters, themes, plots, dialogue, settings, 19 sequences, situations, and incidents therein, and also the props, character makeup, 20 costumes, sets, fictional language, events, and fictional history. Plaintiffs are 21 entitled to all of the protections and remedies for the Star Trek Copyrighted Works 22 accorded to a copyright owner. 23 II. A. 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations Defendants’ Axanar Works 21. Prelude to Axanar Prelude to Axanar is a short film that was funded on Kickstarter, a crowdsourcing website where parties can raise money for future projects. 22. On information and belief, defendant Peters (possibly with the aid of certain of the Doe Defendants) wrote the Prelude to Axanar screenplay. LA2466220.9 202828-10048 5 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 7 of 19 Page ID #:7 1 23. On information and belief, defendant AP produced Prelude to Axanar. 2 24. On information and belief, certain Doe Defendants directed, created the 3 4 5 6 sets, and designed the costumes for Prelude to Axanar. 25. When they wrote and produced Prelude to Axanar, and at all times relevant to this action, Defendants had access to the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 26. On information and belief, Defendants are currently distributing and 7 publicly performing Prelude to Axanar online via Youtube.com, and by other means 8 not yet known to Plaintiffs. 9 27. Prelude to Axanar is directly and unabashedly intended to be a 10 derivative work of Star Trek, or a Star Trek work, and uses numerous copyrighted 11 elements from the Star Trek works. Prelude to Axanar tells the story of Captain 12 Kirk’s hero, Garth of Izar, during the war between the Federation and the Klingon 13 Empire. According to Defendants’ Kickstarter campaign: 14 28. 15 20 Prelude to Axanar is a short film that will give viewers a historical look at the events leading up to the Battle of Axanar, the central event of the film Axanar, to be filmed later this year. Shot like a History Channel special, Prelude to Axanar will be Star Trek like you have never seen it before, showing the central characters of Axanar giving both a historical and personal account of the war. How did Starfleet build its fleet? How did they hold off a Klingon fleet that had been conquering star systems for centuries? What role did the various founding planets play in Starfleet? Why were the Constitution class ships so important to Starfleet? How did Garth of Izar come to be regarded as the greatest Starfleet Captain of his time? 21 29. 16 17 18 19 Defendants incorporated numerous elements of the Star Trek 22 Copyrighted Works into Prelude to Axanar, including but not limited to the concept 23 of the Battle of Axanar itself, the Klingons, the Starfleet, and characters such as 24 Garth of Izar. B. 25 26 30. Star Trek: Axanar The Axanar Motion Picture is a motion picture that was funded on 27 Kickstarter and is being funded on Indiegogo, a crowdsourcing website where 28 parties can raise funds for future projects. Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 6 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 8 of 19 Page ID #:8 1 31. On information and belief, Defendants have created a script for the 2 Axanar Motion Picture. Although Defendants have announced that filming will 3 begin in January 2016, they have already released the first scene from the Axanar 4 Motion Picture, which they call the “Vulcan Scene.” 5 6 7 8 9 32. On information and belief, defendant Peters (possibly with the aid of certain Doe Defendants) wrote the screenplay for the Axanar Motion Picture. 33. On information and belief, defendant AP has produced and is in production for the Axanar Motion Picture. 34. On information and belief, certain Doe Defendants aided in the writing 10 of the screenplay for the Axanar Motion Picture, as well as produced, directed, 11 created the sets, and designed the costumes for the Axanar Motion Picture. On 12 information and belief, certain Doe Defendants continue to write the screenplay and 13 are in the process of producing, directing, creating the sets, and designing the 14 costumes for the Axanar Motion Picture. 15 16 17 35. When they wrote the Axanar Motion Picture, and at all times relevant to this action, Defendants had access to the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 36. According to defendant AP’s website, the Axanar Motion Picture is a 18 feature film that will be broken down into four episodes following the four acts of 19 the script. 20 37. The Vulcan Scene from the Axanar Motion Picture is currently being 21 disseminated online via AP’s website (www.AxanarProductions.com), as well as on 22 Youtube.com. 23 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations 38. According to defendant AP’s website, the plot of the Axanar Motion Picture is as follows: Axanar takes place 21 years before the events of ‘Where no Man Has Gone Before’, the first Kirk episode of the original Star Trek. Axanar is the story of Garth of Izar, the legendary Starfleet captain who is Captain Kirk’s hero. We met Garth in the third season TOS [The Original Series] episode Whom Gods Destroy. Kirk called Garth the role model for all future Starfleet Officers. Garth charted more planets than any other Captain and was the hero of the Battle of Axanar, the LA2466220.9 202828-10048 7 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 9 of 19 Page ID #:9 1 2 3 4 5 story of which is required reading at the academy. This is that story. Axanar tells the story of Garth and his crew during the Four Years War, the war with the Klingon Empire that almost tore the Federation apart. Garth’s victory at Axanar solidified the Federation and allowed it to become the entity we know in Kirk’s time. It is the year 2245 and the war with the Klingons ends here. 39. On information and belief, Defendants incorporated numerous elements 6 of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works into the Axanar screenplay and the Vulcan 7 Scene, and will incorporate those elements into the Axanar Motion Picture, 8 including but not limited to the concept of the Battle of Axanar itself, the characters, 9 the species, the costumes, the makeup, weapons (and other props), and the starships. 10 III. 11 Copyrighted Works 12 40. 13 14 The Axanar Works Are Substantially Similar to the Star Trek The Axanar Works are substantially similar to the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including but not limited to the similarities set forth below. 41. The Axanar Works’ story centers around a character from The Original 15 Series named Garth of Izar. In The Original Series as well as in the Axanar Works, 16 Garth is Captain Kirk’s hero and prevailed in the Battle of Axanar. 17 18 42. The Axanar Works use many of the other characters found in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including: a. 19 Captain Robert April. In one of the Star Trek Copyrighted 20 Works, April was a commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise when it was launched in 21 2245 for its initial five-year mission. In the Axanar Works, April is the “Captain of 22 the USS Enterprise during its shakedown. One of Starfleet’s most respected 23 officers. A close friend of Garth’s and his mentor.” b. 24 Soval. In the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, Soval is the Vulcan 25 ambassador to Earth. In the Axanar Works, Soval is “Vulcan Ambassador to the 26 Federation. Vulcan’s most senior diplomat. A friend of Earth since before the 27 founding of the Federation.” 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 8 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 10 of 19 Page ID #:10 c. 1 Sarek. In the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, Sarek is a legendary 2 Vulcan Ambassador for the Federation. In the Axanar Works, Sarek is “Deputy 3 Ambassador [.] Soval’s aide. Soval has been grooming Sarek to take over for him 4 as Federation Ambassador.” 5 d. Richard Robau. In the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, Robau is 6 the Starfleet captain of the U.S.S. Kelvin. He is intelligent and curious yet cautious. 7 In the Axanar Works, Robau is “Captain, USS Hornet, Commanding 3rd Squadron[.] 8 The former captain of the Kelvin. 12 years later Robau is one of the most respected 9 captain’s [sic] in Starfleet. A friend of Garth’s.” 10 11 43. Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including: a. 12 13 The Axanar Works also take many of the races and species from the Vulcans, which are a humanoid race with pointy ears from the planet Vulcan that are responsible in a large part for the founding of the Federation. 14 b. Klingons, which are a warrior race from the planet Q’onoS. 15 c. Andorians, which are humanoid Federation members from the 16 planet Andoria. 17 44. The Axanar Works use various other elements from the Star Trek 18 Copyrighted Works, such as the Federation, which is an interstellar alliance of 19 several planetary governments. 20 45. The Axanar Works take the sets of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, 21 including using a Federation starship bridge that copies the bridge from The 22 Original Series. They also incorporate Federation starships and planets. 23 46. The Axanar Works appropriate props and logos from the Star Trek 24 Copyrighted Works, such as the weapons, technology, and the insignia used on 25 uniforms. 26 47. The Axanar Works use costumes substantially similar to those of the 27 Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including the uniforms of the Starfleet, which are 28 bright solid-colored sweaters with black pants. Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 9 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 11 of 19 Page ID #:11 1 48. In the Vulcan Scene from the Axanar Motion Picture, Defendants 2 replicate the Planet of Vulcan from the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including the 3 look and feel of the planet, the characters’ costumes, their pointy ears, and their 4 distinctive hairstyle. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 49. The Axanar Works take place in 2245, which is twenty-one years before the first episode from The Original Series. 50. The feel and the mood of the Axanar Works are the same as that of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 51. The Axanar Works are intended to be a prequel to the events chronicled in The Original Series; in other words, an unauthorized derivative work. 52. The Axanar Works are not a parody, nor do they constitute fair use of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 53. As the website of defendant AP concedes, the Axanar Works are not 14 licensed by CBS or Paramount, but rather, “Axanar is an independent project that 15 uses the intellectual property of CBS.” 16 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 17 Copyright Infringement 18 (Against All Defendants) 19 20 21 54. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 53 as though fully set forth herein. 55. The Star Trek Copyrighted Works constitute copyrightable subject 22 matter under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq. Plaintiffs have recorded 23 the copyrights in and to the Star Trek Copyrighted Works with the United States 24 Copyright Office and have complied with all applicable statutory registration and 25 renewal requirements. 26 56. Plaintiffs own the United States copyrights in the Star Trek 27 Copyrighted Works, and the exclusive right to develop, create, and/or produce 28 motion pictures and television shows based on the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 10 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 12 of 19 Page ID #:12 1 including but not limited to the characters, themes, plots, dialogue, settings, 2 sequences, situations, and incidents therein, and also the props, character makeup, 3 costumes, sets, fictional language, events, and fictional history. Plaintiffs are 4 entitled to all of the protections and remedies for the Star Trek Copyrighted Works 5 accorded to a copyright owner. 6 57. On information and belief, in direct violation of Plaintiffs’ exclusive 7 rights, Defendants have directly infringed, and unless enjoined by this Court, will 8 continue to infringe the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works by, among 9 other things: a. 10 11 Preparing unauthorized derivative works of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works in the form of the Axanar Works; 12 b. 13 Works in the Axanar Works; 14 c. 15 Reproducing copyrighted elements of the Star Trek Copyrighted Distributing copies of the Axanar Works, which contain copyrighted elements of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works; and d. 16 Publicly performing the Axanar Works, which contain 17 copyrighted elements of the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 18 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 19 Contributory Copyright Infringement 20 (Against All Defendants) 21 22 23 58. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 57 as though fully set forth herein. 59. On information and belief, Defendants knew or had reason to know that 24 the Axanar Works are unauthorized derivative works based on the Star Trek 25 Copyrighted Works that are, at least in part, substantially similar to the copyrighted 26 elements in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 11 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 13 of 19 Page ID #:13 1 60. On information and belief, Defendants induced, caused, and materially 2 contributed to the unauthorized preparation, duplication, distribution, and public 3 performance of the infringing Axanar Works, and are continuing to do so. 4 61. In violation of Plaintiffs’ exclusive rights, Defendants have contributed 5 to the infringement and, unless enjoined by this Court, will continue to contribute to 6 the infringement of the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 7 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 8 Vicarious Copyright Infringement 9 (Against All Defendants) 10 11 12 62. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 61 as though fully set forth herein. 63. On information and belief, Defendants have the right and ability to 13 supervise the other Defendants, and on information and belief, did supervise them in 14 their unlawful preparation, duplication, and distribution of the Axanar Works. 15 16 17 64. On information and belief, Defendants enjoy a direct financial benefit from the preparation, duplication, and distribution of the infringing Axanar Works. 65. In direct violation of Plaintiffs’ exclusive rights and as a consequence 18 of the foregoing, Defendants have vicariously infringed the copyrights in the Star 19 Trek Copyrighted Works. 20 FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF 21 Declaratory Judgment 22 (Against All Defendants) 23 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations 66. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 65 as though fully set forth herein. 67. Defendants are in the process of producing the Axanar Motion Picture, without obtaining Plaintiffs’ authorization. 68. An actual controversy has arisen and now exists relating to the rights and duties of Plaintiffs and Defendants under the United States copyright laws in LA2466220.9 202828-10048 12 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 14 of 19 Page ID #:14 1 that Plaintiffs contend that they are the sole owners of the Star Trek Copyrighted 2 Works and that the Axanar Works infringe Plaintiffs’ rights in the Star Trek 3 Copyrighted Works. Defendants apparently contend that they are entitled to create, 4 distribute, market, advertise, promote, sell, or offer for sale derivative works of the 5 Star Trek Copyrighted Works, which contain elements that are substantially similar 6 to the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 7 69. Pursuant to the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 8 2202, and Rule 57 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiffs request a 9 judicial determination of their rights, and a declaration that Defendants’ continued 10 production the Axanar Motion Picture constitutes infringement of the Star Trek 11 Copyrighted Works. 12 13 70. A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate at this time in order that Plaintiffs may ascertain the parties’ rights. PRAYER FOR RELIEF 14 15 16 17 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully requests that this Court enter judgment against Defendants as follows: 1. a. 18 19 b. 24 Defendants have contributed to the infringement of the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works; c. 22 23 Defendants have infringed the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works; 20 21 That the Court find that: Defendants have vicariously infringed the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works. 2. That the Court enter a declaration that Defendants’ continued 25 production the Axanar Motion Picture constitutes infringement of the Star Trek 26 Copyrighted Works. 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations 3. That the Court find that as a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ foregoing acts, Plaintiffs are entitled to the following damages: LA2466220.9 202828-10048 13 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 15 of 19 Page ID #:15 a. 1 At Plaintiffs’ election, statutory damages of up to $150,000 for 2 each separate Star Trek Copyrighted Work infringed, for willful infringement 3 pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), or Plaintiffs’ actual damages sustained as a result of 4 Defendants’ acts of copyright infringement according to proof and Defendants’ 5 profits obtained as a result of their acts of copyright infringement according to 6 proof; and b. 7 8 9 Plaintiffs’ reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq., and 17 U.S.C. § 505. 4. That the Court find that the threat of irreparable harm to Plaintiffs as a 10 result of Defendants’ conduct leaves Plaintiffs without adequate remedy at law, and 11 therefore that Plaintiffs are entitled to an injunction restraining Defendants, their 12 agents, servants, employees, attorneys, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, and all 13 persons, firms, and corporations acting in concert with them, from directly or 14 indirectly infringing the copyrights in the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including 15 but not limited to continuing to distribute, market, advertise, promote, produce, sell, 16 or offer for sale the Axanar Works or any works derived or copied from the Star 17 Trek Copyrighted Works, and from participating or assisting in any such activity 18 whether or not it occurs in the United States. 19 5. That the Court enjoin Defendants, their agents, servants, employees, 20 attorneys, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, and all persons, firms, and corporations 21 acting in concert with them, from directly or indirectly infringing the copyrights in 22 the Star Trek Copyrighted Works, including but not limited to continuing to 23 distribute, copy, publicly perform, market, advertise, promote, produce, sell, or offer 24 for sale the Axanar Works or any works derived or copied from the Star Trek 25 Copyrighted Works, and from participating or assisting in any such activity whether 26 or not it occurs in the United States. 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations 6. That the Court grant such other, further relief as it deems just and proper. LA2466220.9 202828-10048 14 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 16 of 19 Page ID #:16 1 Dated: December 29, 2015 2 3 LOEB & LOEB LLP JONATHAN ZAVIN DAVID GROSSMAN JENNIFER JASON By: /s/ David Grossman David Grossman Attorneys for Plaintiffs PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION and CBS STUDIOS INC. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 15 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 17 of 19 Page ID #:17 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL 1 2 3 Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury as provided by Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 4 5 Dated: December 29, 2015 6 7 8 LOEB & LOEB LLP JONATHAN ZAVIN DAVID GROSSMAN JENNIFER JASON By: /s/ David Grossman David Grossman Attorneys for Plaintiffs PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION and CBS STUDIOS INC. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 16 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 18 of 19 Page ID #:18 APPENDIX A: COPYRIGHTED STAR TREK WORKS 1 2 A. Motion Pictures 3 1. Star Trek – The Motion Picture (PA 58-633) 4 2. Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan (PA 147-513) 5 3. Star Trek III The Search for Spock (PA 214-571) 6 4. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (PA 313-406) 7 5. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (PA 436-660) 8 6. Star Trek VI – The Undiscovered Country (PA 558-359) 9 7. Star Trek Generations (PA 735-978) 10 8. Star Trek: First Contact (PA 832-616) 11 9. Star Trek: Insurrection (PA 949-613) 12 10. Star Trek Nemesis (PA 1-113-097) 13 11. Star Trek (PA 1-626-900) 14 12. Star Trek Into Darkness (PA 1-837-943) 15 16 B. Television Series1 1. The Original Series i. Episode 1: The Man Trap (PA 58-307) 17 18 2. The Next Generation i. Encounter at Farpoint (Pilot) (PA 348 301) 19 20 3. Deep Space Nine i. The Emissary, Part I (PA 661-369) 21 22 4. The Voyager i. Caretaker (PA 775-677 and PAu 1-801-831) 23 24 5. The Enterprise i. Enterprise – Episode #001 and #002 “Broken Bow” (PA 1-072-515) 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations 1 Plaintiffs own the copyrights for all episodes of each Star Trek television series, and have identified the copyright registrations for the first episode of each television series. LA2466220.9 202828-10048 17 COMPLAINT Case 2:15-cv-09938-RGK-E Document 1 Filed 12/29/15 Page 19 of 19 Page ID #:19 1 6. Copyright Assignment from Paramount Pictures Corporation to CBS Studios Inc. (V3542 D684- V3542 D690) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Loeb & Loeb A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations LA2466220.9 202828-10048 18 COMPLAINT