Elawyers Elawyers
Ohio| Change

MALIBU MEDIA, LLC v. ABO-ALHOL, 14-cv-00256-WYD-MEH. (2015)

Court: District Court, D. Colorado Number: infdco20150527a45 Visitors: 4
Filed: May 26, 2015
Latest Update: May 26, 2015
Summary: ORDER AFFIRMING AND ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUGDE WILEY Y. DANIEL , Senior District Judge . THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Motion for Entry of Default Judgment against Defendant Tariq Abo-Alhol (ECF No. 25), filed December 5, 2014. This motion was referred to Magistrate Judge Hegarty, who issued a Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge (ECF No. 29), filed February 2, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference. See 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1); Fed
More

ORDER AFFIRMING AND ADOPTING RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUGDE

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Motion for Entry of Default Judgment against Defendant Tariq Abo-Alhol (ECF No. 25), filed December 5, 2014. This motion was referred to Magistrate Judge Hegarty, who issued a Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge (ECF No. 29), filed February 2, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b); D.C.COLO.LCivR. 72.1.

Magistrate Judge Hegarty recommended therein that Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default Judgment be granted in part and denied in part. (ECF No. 29 at 1, 16.) He notes that Abo-Alhol did not answer or respond to the Amended Complaint before the deadline, and that an entry of Default was issued on September 24, 2014. (Id. at 7.) He further notes that Abo-Alhol did not respond to the motion for default judgment. (Id.)

It is then recommended that default judgment be entered in Plaintiff's favor against Abo-Alhol pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). (Id. at 9.) In support of this, Magistrate Judge Hegarty finds that the Court has jurisdiction and that "taking its allegations as true, the Plaintiff has established violations of its copyrights by Abo-Alhol, in that a computer at Abo-Alhol's residence participated in an illegal download of fifteen (15) of Plaintiff's copyrighted works." (Id. at 9-10.) Thus, he "finds that Plaintiff has established Defendant Abo-Alhol copied Plaintiff's copyright protected works and recommends that the District Court find Abo-Alhol has committed fifteen (15) direct infringements of the Copyright Act against Plaintiff." (Id. at 13.) As to damages, it is recommended that Abo-Alhol be ordered to pay Plaintiff $33,750.00 ($2,250.00 per infringement) in statutory damages, as authorized by 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(1), and $1,627.00 for attorney's fees and costs as authorized by 17 U.S.C. § 505. (Id. at 13-15.)

Finally, Magistrate Judge Hegarty recommends that the Court grant in part and deny in part Plaintiff's request for injunctive relief. (Id. at 16.) Thus, it is recommended that Plaintiff's request for an order directing Abo-Alhol to "destroy all copies of Plaintiff's works that Defendant has downloaded onto any computer hard drive or server without Plaintiff's authorization, and [ ] destroy all copies of the Works transferred onto any physical medium or device in Defendant's possession, custody or control" be granted. (Id. at 15.) On the other hand, Magistrate Judge Hegarty recommends that the Court "deny Plaintiff's request for an order, if sought, enjoining Abo-Alhol from `continuing' to infringe on Plaintiff's copyrighted works." (Id.)

Magistrate Judge Hegarty advised the parties that written objections were due within fourteen (14) days after service of a copy of the Recommendation. Despite this advisement, no objections were filed to the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation. No objections having been filed, I am vested with discretion to review the Recommendation "under any standard [I] deem[] appropriate." Summers v. Utah, 927 F.2d 1165, 1167 (10th Cir. 1991); see also Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985) (stating that "[i]t does not appear that Congress intended to require district court review of a magistrate's factual or legal conclusions, under a de novo or any other standard, when neither party objects to those findings"). Nonetheless, though not required to do so, I review the Recommendation to "satisfy [my]self that there is no clear error on the face of the record."2 See FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b) Advisory Committee Notes.

Having reviewed the Recommendation (ECF No. 29), I am satisfied that there is no clear error on the face of the record. The Recommendation is well reasoned and persuasive. I agree that Plaintiff should be granted default judgment against Defendant Abo-Alhol for direct infringement of Plaintiff's copyrighted works. I further agree with the Recommendation on damages and attorney's fees and costs. Finally, I agree that Plaintiff's request for injunctive relief should be granted in part and denied in part as set forth in the Recommendation. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Hegarty's Recommendation (ECF No. 29) is AFFIRMED and ADOPTED. In accordance therewith, it is

ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default Judgment against Defendant Tariq Abo-Alhol (ECF No. 25) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. It is granted as to the request for a default judgment and for damages, and granted in part and denied in part as to the request for injunctive relief. Therefore, it is

ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment in Plaintiff's favor against Defendant Abo-Alhol for direct copyright infringement of the Plaintiff's copyrighted works, as set forth in Count I of the Amended Complaint. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Abo-Alhol shall pay to Plaintiff the sum of $33,750.00 in statutory damages, as authorized by 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(1), and $1,627.00 for attorney's fees and costs as authorized by 17 U.S.C. § 505. It is

FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Abo-Alhol shall permanently destroy all of the digital media files relating to, and copies of, Plaintiff's copyrighted works made or used by him in violation of Plaintiff's exclusive rights, as well as all masters in his possession, custody or control from which such copies may be reproduced. Finally, it is

ORDERED that Plaintiff's request, if sought, to permanently enjoin Defendant and all other persons who are in active concert or participation with Defendant from continuing to infringe Plaintiff's copyrighted works is DENIED.

FootNotes


2. Note, this standard of review is something less than a "clearly erroneous or contrary to law" standard of review, Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a), which in turn is less than a de novo review, Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).
Source:  Leagle

Can't find what you're looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.
Ask a Question
Search for lawyers by practice areas.
Find a Lawyer