AUG 212002 9:44 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.

09

IN mE UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA

)
rnRE: )
)
VERIZON llIorrERNET SERVICES. INC. )
SubpoenaEnforcement Matter )
)

)
RECORDINGINDUSTRY )
ASSOCIATIONOF AMERICA )
1330ConnecticutAvenue,N.W. Ste.300 )
Washington,D.C. 20036 )
) MiscellaneousAction
v. ) CaseNo.1 :O2MSOO323
)
VERIZON ~TERNET SERVICES,INC. )
1880CampusCommonsDrive )
Reston,VA 20191 )

MOTION TO ENFORCE JULY 24, 2002SUBPOENAISSUED

BY THIS COURT TO VERIZON INTERNET SERVICES, INC.
AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORTTHEREOF

The Recording Industry Association of America ("RIM 'j, as authorized representativefor

its member companies,respectfully submits this motion to enforce the subpoenaissuedto Venzon

Internet Services,Inc. ("Verizon") on July 24~2002 by this Court under 17 U.S.C. § 512(h) of the

Digital Millemlium Copyright Act ("DMCA "). The subpoenaseekslimited infoxmation relating to

a computer connectedto the Verizon network that is a hub for significant music piracy. Verizon is

the only entity that can identify the infringer behind this computer.

The specialsubpoenaauthorityof the DMCA. 17 U.S.C. § 512(h).imposesa.mandatory,

unconditional duty on mtemet service providers such as Verlzon to provide "expeditiously," upon
AUG 21 2002 9:44 AM FR UERJZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.10

receiptof a subpoena,infOmlationsufficientto identify usersof their networkswho arepirating

copyrighted works. RIM complied with all of the requirementsof the statuteand obtaineda validly

issuedsubpoenafrom this Court. Verizonhasrefusedto comply. Thus,RIM requeststhat this

Court enteran ordercompellingVerizonto comply. Given the urgentneedofRIAA's copyright

holders to stop the piracy of their intellectual property, RIM further requests,by a separateMotion

to Expedite, that the Court expedite briefing and decide the issue as soon as possible.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK
This is a straightforward subpoenaenforcementaction. The Digital Millennium Copyright

Act of 1998 ("DMCA'j, Pub. L. No.l0S-304, 112 Stat. 2860, createsa special subpoenaauthority

that requires "service providers," such as Verizon, to respondto subpoenasissuedby United States

District Courts at the request of copyright owners seekinginformation sufficient to identify those

committing copyright infringement. See17 U.S.C. § S12(h). The tcnns of the statuteand its

requirements are clear and require little further analysis. Because,however, Verizon seeksto graft

conditions and limitations on the subpoenaauthority that do not appearin the text of Section 512(h)

and are inconsistentwith the purposeof the DMCA, additional backgroundon the statutory scheme

maybe of assistance
to the Court.

Congressenactedthe DMCA becausethe Internet has revolutionizedthe~way that

copyrighted works are disseminated,both lawfully and unlawfully. Virtually any cop)lTightedwork

cannow be put in a digital format) andthus canbe copied anddistnouted worldwide instantaneously.

This can be a greatbenefit,but also leavescopyrightedworks susceptibleto "massivepiracy."

S. Rep. No.1 05-190, at 8 (1998). Congresswas concernedthat, unlesscopyright owners have the

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AUG 212002 9:44 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.

"hesitateto maketheir works readilyavailableon the Internet..' ld.

Title n of the DMCA seeksto ensurethat cop.)Tightowners are able to protect their

intellectual property andto give them enhancedability to quickly and effectively deal with copyright

infringement on the Internet. It does so in two ways:

SubpoenaAuthority under Section 512(h). The DMCA createsa specialsubpoena

provision that allows copyright ownersto obtain infonnation quickly concerningthe identity of those

who are irifringing their copyrights on the Internet. Pursuantto 17 U.S.C. § S12(h), District Courts

are authorized, at the requestof copyright owners, to issue subpoenasto Internet or on-line service

providers ("service providers") where the copyright owner has a good faith belief that infringement

is occurring and needsadditional infonnanon to identify the alleged infringer. § 512(h). The logic

behindthis provision is obvious. On the mtemet.identities can be hidden. Often the service

provider through whom an individual engagingin infringement obtains network accessis the only

entity that can identifj the individual. Without this critical information, the copyright owner cannot

deal directly with the person trafficking in pirated worlcs.

Under Section512(h), CC[

a] copyright owner or personauthorizedto act on the owner's behalf

may requestthe clerk of any United Statesdistrict court to issuea subpoenato a serviceprovider for

identificationof an allegedinfringer in accordance

with this subsection,"§ 512(h)(l). To obtain

a subpoena.under Section 512(h). the copyright owner or its agentmust supply a "swom declaration

to the effect that the purpose for which the subpoenais sought is to obtain the identity of an alleged

infringer and that such information will only be used for the purposeof protecting rights under this

title." § 512(h)(2)(C). The copyright owner must also file ocacopy of the notification describedin

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subsection[512] (c)(3)(A).t' § 5 12(h)(1)(H). Subsection(c)(3)(A) is a freestandingprovision of the

DMCA that is referencedin several different subsectionsof the statute. It provides the elementsof

an effective notification to a service provider that itS network is being usedby others for cop}Tight

infringementandtriggersthe serviceprovider'sobligationsunderthe various subsectionsof the

statute. The notice provisions require, among other things, that the copyright owner, or its agent,

identify the material being infringed, attestto its ownershipof the material, stateits good faith belief

that the complained-ofuse is unauthorized,and provide infonnation sufficient to allow the service

provider to locate the material and, if appropriate,removeor disableaccessto the material

§ S12(c)(3)(A). By substantially complying with the elementsof subsection(c)(3)(A), the copyright

owner or its agent has establishedthe bona fides of its ownership and claim of infringement. See

§ 512(c)(2)(B)(i).

Upon receipt of the appropriatedocumentation,the DMCA requires that the clerk issue the

subpoena"expeditiously," § 512(hX4) {"If the notification filed satisfies the provisions of

subsection(cX3)(A), the proposed subpoenais in proper Conn,and the accompanying declaration

is properly executed.the clerk shall expeditiously issueand sign the proposedsubpoenaand return

it to the requesterfor deliveryto the SelViceprovider."). Onceissued.the subpoenacompelsthe

service provider to disclose '4information sufficient to identify the alleged infringer of the material

describedin the notification to the extentsuchinfoImationis availableto the serviceprovider."

§ S12(h)(3).

To achieveits PUIPOse,
Section5 12(h)subpoenasmust bearfruit quickly. A copyright holder

basno recourseagainsta copyriiht pirate if it cannotidentify and locatethe individual. A pirate who

is able to avoid identificationcan continueinfringing, thusimpairingthe value of the copyright

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AUG 212002 9:45 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.lO

holder's intellectual property. Given the natureof the Internet, an individual user can causeliterally

tens of thousandsof infringing copies to be distributed in a single day. Thus, Congressemphasized

the needfor expedition. Section 512(h) makesclear that the District Court clerk shall "expeditiously

issue" the requestedsubpoenaif all of the requirements are met and that, upon receipt, the service

provider "shall expeditiously disclose to the copyright owner or personauthorizedby the copyright

owner the information required by the subpoena,notWithstanding any other provision of law and

regardlessof whetherthe serviceprovider respondsto the notification." § 512(hX5). The legislative

history of Section 512(h) describesissuanceof the subpoenaas a "ministerial" act, and emphasizes

that it mustbe"perfonnedquickly for this provisionto haveits intendedeffect" S. Rep. 105-190

at 51.

The Safe Harbor Provisions. In addition to the subpoenaprovisions under Section 5 12(h),

Title II of the DMCA '~reservesstrongincentivesfor serviceprovidersandcopyrightownersto

cooperateto detectanddealwith copyrightinfringementsthat takeplacein the digital networked

environment.»S.Rep. 105-190at 40. To that end,Congressestablisheda varietyof safeharbors

for service providers to limit their own liability for copyright infringement "for 'passive,' automatic

actions in which the service provider's systemengagesthrough a technological processinitiated by

anotherwithout theknowledgeof the serviceprovider." ALSScan,Inc. v. RemarqCommunities,

Inc., 239 F.3d 619, 625 (4~ Cir. 2001).1

lEachsafeharborappliesnarrowlyto situationswhereserviceprovidersareengagingin
specificfunctions,suchasrouting or transmittingdigital networkcommunications (subsection
(a)); systemcaching(subsection(b); infomlation storing(subsection(c»; andprovidingsearch
tools for infonnationon the Intemet(subsection(d». S. Rep. 105-190at 19-20. Whenengaging
in oneof thosespecificfunctionsandcomplyingwith the preciserequirements of the relevant
subsection,the serviceprovidercannotbe held liable (asa resultof engagingin the specified

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The safe harbor provisions do not alter the substantiveroles of copyright infringement or

contrary, the safeharbor provisions are designedto induce service providers to work together with

copyright owners to identify infringers by providing somemeasureof certainty to innocent service

providers that they-.will not .be-heldfinancially responsiblefor infringement that occurs over their

networks,so long astheycomply with the specificconditionsof the safeharbors. In orderto fall

within several of the safe harbors, service providers must assistcopyright owners by, for example,

removing or disabling accessto infringing materialoncethey arenotified of cop)orightinfringement.2

See,e.g.§ 512(b)(2)(E);§ 512(c)(lXC); § 512(d)(3).To qualifyforanyofthesafebarbors,a service

provider must also have in place a policy "for the tenninationin appropriatecircumstances
of

subscribersand accountholders of the serviceproviders' systemor network who are repeat

inftingers." 17U.S.C. § 5 12(i)(1XA). But the "DMCA's protection ofan innocent service provider

disappearsat the momentthe serviceproviderlosesits innocence,i.e., at the momentit becomes

aware that a third party is using its systemto infringe." ALS Scan, 239 F .3d at 625.

-
The scopeof the various DMCA safeharborsis not at issue in this case only the subpoena

authorityin SectionS12(h)is relevant. The safe harbor provisions, however, work together with

the subpoenaauthorityin Section512(h) and all of the provisionsof the DMCA to promotethe

developmentof the Internet and to ensureeffective protection for intellectual property in the digital

function) for monetary relief for copyright infringement and can be subjectedto injunctive relief
only as specified in Section 5120).

2Serviceproviders must comply with their obligations under several of the safe harbors
any time they have actual knowledge that infringement is occurring, regardlessof whether they
have ~eived a formal notification from the cop.vnghtowner. See,e.g., § 512(d)(lXA).

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AUG 212002 9:46 AM FR VERI20N 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.1S

world. Nothingin theDMCA createsa shieldfor thosedirectly involvedin disseminatingpirated

works or other violations of the copyrightlaws. That was not who Congresssoughtto protect;

ind~d, the entiretyof the DMCA is designedto ensurethat suchinfringerscanbe identifiedand

forced to face appropriate penalties.

THE VERIZON SUBPOENA

On July 24, 2002, RIAA obtained a subpoena,issued by this Comt pursuant to 17 U.S.C.

§ 512(h), ordering Verizon to disclose infolmation sufficient to Pemlit identification of an alleged

copyright infringer operating from a specified IP (Internet Protocol) address. SeeJuly 24, 2002,

Subpoenato Verizon h1temetService, Inc. ("Subpoena.')(Attachment A). The Subpoenarequests

on!y information sufficient to identify the individual subscriberwho is trafficking in pirated material

- that is, the subscriber'sname.address,andtelephonenumber.RIM deliveredthe Subpoenato

Verlzon in conjunctionwith the documentationrequiredby § S12(h)(2)(C),including a letter

notifying Verizon that lUAA believed a computer on V erizon' s internet servicewas distributing to

thepublic for downloadunauthorizedcopiesof hundredsof copyrightedsoundrecordingsowned

by RIM member companies. SeeLetter from JonathanWhitehead, Vice Presidentand Anti-Piracy

CO1.UlSel
ofRiAA, to Lauren K. Crowder, ContractsManager ofVerizon Internet Services,Inc., of

July 24, 2002.at 1 ("Notification Letter") (AttachmentB). The letterspecifiedthe computer'sIF

addressand attacheddocumentation including a list of the recordings available for download from

that computer. RIAA also provided a declarationindicating the basisfor the issuanceof the

Subpoenaand a statement,underpenaltyof peljury. that the infolmation obtainOO

ftom Venzon

would only be usedfor '~rotecting the [intellectualproperty]rights" of RlAA's members. See

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AUG 2 2002 9:46 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 p 6

Declarationof JonathanWhiteheadat 1 ("WhiteheadDeclaration")(AttachmentC). RIAA

requestedVerlzon's ""immediateassistancein stopping this unauthorized activity." Id.

V won refusedto comply with the Subpoena.SeeLetter sentby ThomasM: Dailey,

GeneralCounsel ofVerizon mtemet ServicesInc., to JonathanWhiteheadof Aug. 6, 2002 ("Verizon

Letter") (Attachment D). Verizon assertedthat because"[0]0 files of the Customerare hosted,

storedor cachedby [Verizon]," it neednot respondto the Subpoena.ld. at 2. RIM respondedby

letter, explaining that V erizon' s argumentsprovided no basisfor ignoring a subpoenaissuedunder

Section 5 12(h). SeeLetter from Cary Sherman,GeneralCounselofRIAA, to Thomas M. Dailey of

Aug. 9, 2002 (AttachmentE). Subsequent

conversations
betweenofficials at RIM andVerizon

have failed to resolvethis matter, and RIAA hasinfonned Verizon that it would be filing this

motion.

AccordinglYt RIAA invokes this Court's jurisdiction pursuantto 17 U.S.C. § 512(h)(6) and

Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(c)(2)(B) to obtain an order to compel the productionof the subpoenaed

infonnation within 24 hours of the issuanceof an order from this Court.

ARGUMENT
Section512(h)of the Digital Millennium CopyrightAct is crystalclear. Wherea service

provider receivesa subpoenavalidly issuedunderSection512(h),"the serviceprovider shall

expeditiouslydiscloseto the copyrightowner or personauthorizedby the copyright owner the

informationrequiredby the subpoena,notwithstandinganyotherprovisionof law." § S12(h){5)

(emphasisadded). The Subpoenaat issuein this casewas validly issuedby this Court, and RIAA

compliedwith all of the requirementsof the statute.

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AUG 212992 9:46 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.l?

Venzon hasnot raisedany issuewith respectto the form or validity of the Subpoenaor

alleged that compliance with the Subpoenais burdensome. Rather, Verizon has arguedthat it can

never be required to provide information in a casesuch as this because,in its view, the DMCA does

not allow a subpoenato be issuedunlessthe Verizon subscribercommitting copyright infringement

using V erizon' snetwork is actuallystonng.iUegatmaterialon serversownedor operatedby Verizon.

That claim ignoresthe plain languageof the statute.as well as its legislativehistory and

purpose, and would gut an important tool that Congressgave to copyright owners to protect their

intellectualproperty. Indeed,Verlzon's responseto the Subpoenaconfusestwo totally different

things: its duty as a seIvice provider to remove or disable accessto infringing matmal upon notice

(which is required in order to maintain limitations on its own liability under the safe harbor

provisions)and its obligationto respondto a validly issuedsubpoena(undersubsection(h» to

providethe informationthat copyrightownersneedto addressinfringementbeingcommittedby

others. The latter obligation is the only one at issuehere. It is straightfo~ and entirely

ind~dent of whetherVerizonis eligtole for a safeharborfor itself. Uponreceiptof a subpoena

underSection512(h),the serviceprovidermustprovide the identifying information. This Court

shouldcompelVenzonto do exactlythat.

L THE DMCA REQUIRES THAT INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS

VERIZON EXPEDffiOUSL Y PRODUCETHE INFORMA nON REQUESTEDBY
A SUBPOENAISSUED UNDER SECTION 512(h).

Statutoryanalysisbeginswith the text. United Statesv. Braxtonbrown-Smith, 278 F.3d 1348,

1352(D.C. Cir. 2002)(citati,onsomitted); Ullit~ Slaw v. Wilson.290 F.3d 347.352 (D.C. Cir.

2002). "Wh~ the languageis clear, that is the end of judicial inquiry iI1 all but the most

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JG 21 2002 9:47 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.18

extraordinary circumstances." Braxtonbrown-.)mith, 278 F .3d at 1352(quotation marks and citation

omitted). The plain languageof the DMCA (reinforcedby its legislativehistory and purpose)

compelsVerizon to producethe infonnationrequested

in this Court'sSubpoena.

A. Section512(h) of the DMCA Applies to ServiceProviders,Like Verizon.

Section 512(h) of the DMCA provides that a copyright owner may ask any district court "to

issue a subpoenato a service provider for identification of an alleged infringer in accordancewith

this subsection."§ 512(h)(1)(emphasisadded).A "serviceprovider,"for purposesof§ 512(h).is

broadly defmedas "a provider of online servicesor networkaccesstor the operatorof facilities

therefor." § 512(k)(1)(B); see alsoALS Scan,239 F.3d at 623 ("The Act defines a service provider

broadly.'); H. Rep. No.1 OS-551(fl) at S4(1998) (definition or"service provider" includes thosewho

'~rovide Internet access,e-mail," etc.). Section512(h) appliesto all "service providers" regardless

of what functionsthe serviceprovider may be performing. Here,Verizon concedesthat it is a

"service provider," V enzon Letter at 2.3 Venzon is unquestionablyproviding "network access"to

the subscriberreferencedin the Subpoena. It thus is subject to the subpoenaprovisions of Section

512(h).

~e term "serviceprovider" is definedin 17U.S.C.§ 512(k). Section512(k)defines

"serviceprovider" in two ways:onedefinitionwhich is applicableonly to Section512(a)'ssafe
harbor,see17U.S.C.§ 512(kXIXA), anda broaderdefinitionwhich is applicableto the
remainderof Section512,includingSection512(h),see17U.S.C.§ 512(k)(1)(B). The latter
definition expresslyencompasses all entitiesthat fall within the fomler. See17U.S.C.§
512(k)(1)(B);H. Rep.No. lOS-551(ll)at 54. In seekingto claim it falls within the safeharbor
definedin § 512(a),Venzonnecessarilymustadmitit is a "serviceprovider." V erizonLetter at
2. That concessionmeansthat it is a "serviceprovider"for purposesof therestof Section512,
includingthe subpoenaprovisionsof Section512(h).

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AUG 212902 9:47 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.lS

B. The DMCA's Procedure$For Issuing A SubpoenaTo Verizon Were Met In

This Case.

Under the DMCA, a copyright owner, or its agent, must provide three things in order for a

subpoenato issue:a notification describedin subsection(c)(3)(A), a proposedsubpoenain the

proper fonn, and "a sworn declarationto the effect that the purpose for which the subpoenais sought

is to obtain the identity of an allegedinfringer andthat suchinfonnarionwill only be usedfor the

pmposeof protectingrightsunderthis title," § 512(h)(2Xc).RIAA met all threerequirements.

RIAA provideda proposedsubpoenain the properform, which wasissuedby the District

Court clerk, aswell as a declaration addressingthe issuesdiscussedin the statute. SeeAttaclunents

A & C. RIM alsoprovideda notificationincluding all of the elementsof § 512(cX3)(A). See

AttachmentB. RIAA's notification included,amongother things, a list of literally hundredsof

infringing works that were being offered for download by Verizon's subscriberand the identification

of the specific location from which the alleged infringer was operating - anIP addressof a Verlzon

subscriber. From that.IP address,the alleged infringer is using accessobtained through Verlzon' s

networkto sendandreceiveunauthorizedcopiesof copyrightedmaterial.The infornlationRIAA

provided tells Verizon exactly whereto find this computerand identifies preciselywhere the

infringing material is located.4Verizon needsno additional information to identify this subscriber.

The Subpoenaseeksonly a minimum amountof infonnation. It merely requiresthat Verizon

provide identifying information.suchas a name,address,and telephonenumber. Verizon can

comply with the subpoenain a matter of seconds. But unless it does so, RIAA memberswill have

4RlAA alsoprovidedthe dateandtime of its evidenceof infringing activity so that there

canbe no mistakeasto who the infringeractuallyis (suchas.if a differentusersubsequently
obtainedtheIF addressthat hadbeenusedfor infringement).

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 AUG 212002 9:47 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.20
.

no ability to seekredressfor the infringing activity that Verizondoesnot - andcannot- deny is

occurringover its netWork.

c. The DMCA RequiresVerizon ExpeditiouslyTo ProduceThe Information

Requested
In The Subpoena.
Upon receipt of a subpoenaand theno.tification.undersubsection(c)(3)(A), disclosureof the

requestedinfonnation is not optional. Under the DMCA, the serviceprovider "shall expeditiously

disclose to the copyright owner or personauthorizedby the copyright owner the infonnation required

by the subpoena.notwithstanding any other provision of law and regardless of whether the service

provider respondsto the notification." § S12(h)(S)(emphasisadded). The words of the statute

could not be more explicit. Thus, regardlessof whether Verizon could itselfbe liable for copyright

infringementor regardlessof whetherVerizon must take other stepsin order to maintain the

limitations on liability in the safeharbor provisions of theDMCA. V erizonmust nonethelesscomply

with the Subpoena. Moreover. pursuant to Rule 45(c)(2)(B) and Section 512(h)(6), this Court has

the authorityto enforcethe termsof the SubpoenaandcompelVcnzon to producethe requested

infomlation. Compliancewith the subpoenawill requireonly a simple and ministerial act by

Verizon,puttingvirtually no burdenon them. The Court should order Verizon to comply

immediatelyin orderto allow the rightful cop}rlght ownersthe opportunityto bring a halt to the

unlawful disseminationof their copyrightedworks.

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AUG 2 2002 9:47 AM FR UERIZOH 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.21

u. NONE OF THE ARGUMENTS RAISED BY VERIZON .roS'1'l.II'~ REFUSING TO

COMPLY WITH A SUBPOENAVALIDL Y ISSUED BY THIS COURT.

In its letter to RIM, Verizon raisesa number of issuesthat it claimsjustify ignoring a validly

issuedsubpoena.SeeAttachmentD. All ofVerizon's argumentsstemfrom its interpretationof the

-
various safeharbor provisions in the DMCA, but thoseprovisions all of which relateto Verizon's

own liability for copyright infringement - have nothing to do with Verizon's obligation to respond

to a subpoenaissuedpursuantto Section S12(h). Moreover, all ofVerizon's argumentslack merit.

Limitation of Liability under Section512(a).Verizonarguesthat,becauseit believesthat

it qualifies for a safe harbor under Section 512(a),5it is entitled to ignore a subpoenaissuedunder

Section 512(h). Verizon Letter at 2. That c!aim finds no support in the text 0f the statuteand makes

no sense.A selViceprovideris plainly obligatedto complywith a subpoenaevenif it canvalidly

claim the protectionof a DMCA safeharbor.

" .
Whether a serviceprovider qualifies for the safeharbor in Section S12(a) has nothing to do

with whethera providermust comply with a subpoenaissuedby a court under Section512(h).

Thoseprovisionsare completelyunrelated.SectionS12(a),in conjunctionwith §§ Sl2(b) - (d),

defines the activitie$ orfunctions of service providers which may qualify such service providers for

potential safe harbof$from being held .'liable for monetaryrelief. Of, exceptas provided in

subsection(j), for injunctiveor otherequitablerelief,for infringementof copyright." ~ 512(a); S

Rep.105-190at 55. Section512(a)th~on1yprotectsa serviceproviderftom liability for its own

'RlAA takes issuewith Verizon's claim that it falls within the tcrms of the safe harbor
defined in Section S12(a). That issue,however, is for another day becauseit is wholly irrelevant
to Verizon's obligation to respond to a subpoenaissued under Section S12(b).

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AUG 212992 9:48 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.22

actionsthat may constitute cop)Tight infringement, notfrom respondingto a valid subpoenaseeking

information about another party's alleged copyright infringement.

In contrasttSection S12(h) appliesto all serviceproviders. whether or not they fall within the

safe harbor provisions of subsection (a)-(d), and fCiardless of what functions the service provider

is perfOllning. The safeharborprovisionsof subsections(aHd) and the subpoenaauthority of

subsection(h) eachcreatetools to combatpiracy- the folmer by encouragingservice providers to

cooperatewith copyright owners by disabling accessto infringing material in exchangefor receiving

liabilitypl'Otection and the latter by giving copyright ownersthe ability to uncover information from

serviceprovidCli that will allow them to pursueappropriateaction againstdirect infringers. To read

the safeharbors as restricting the scopeof the subpoenaprovision would make hashof the statutory

design.

SubsectionS12(c)(3)(A)NoticeProvision. Verizon also contendsthat it need not comply

with SectionS12(h)becausethat provision is limited to situationsin which a serviceprovideris

-
storing infringing material on its network. In Verizon .s view, where asis believedto be the case

here - the allegedinfringer maintainsfiles on his or her own computer.rather tlw1 on servers

owned and controlled by the service provider. and usesthe serviceprovidats network to distn"bute

the inftinging material, a subpoenaunder Section 512(h) can never issue. Verizon Letter at 2. That

argument- which seeksto transfonn the notice provisions ofsubsectiOD(c)(3XA) into a substantive

limitation that would evisceratethe subpoenaauthority createdunder Section 512(11)- has no basis

in the statutory text and is antithetical to the policies Congresssought to advancein the DMCA.

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AUG 2 2002 9:48 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.23

As an initial matter.Verizon erroneouslyassumesmat a copyrightownercan detennine

whether the infringing material that is being offered fur download resides on a computer or server

owned andoperatedby Verizon. SeeVerizon Letter at 2-3. But only Verizon knows what computer

and what subscriberis at the IP addressthat is offering unauthorizedmaterial fur download; indeed,

only VerizonknowswhetherVerlzonitself ownsor controlsthatcomputez:-RIAAknowsonly the

unique IP addressof the computer; it provided that information in its Notification Letter to Verizon.

Verizon's suggestionthat RIM should provide more specific infonnation ignoresthe fact that only

Verlzon is in possession
of the infomlationthat is soughtby the Subpoenaandthat it unilaterally

claimsit shouldnot haveto provide.

More importantly,however,the text of the DMCA refutesVerizon's statutoryarguments.

Section 5 12(h) does not limit subpoenasonly to situations where the allegedly infringing material

physicallyresideson the serviceproviderstnetwork. SectionS12(h)authorizessubpoenas""for

identification of an alleged infringer" and saysnothing about where the alleged infringing material

resides.§ 512(h)(1).In~ disclosureis mandatory"notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflaw."

§ S12(hX5). This broadreadingis confumedby the legislativehistory, which makesclearthat

Section 512(h) was designedto permit "identification of allegedinfringers who areusersof a service

providers'systemor network." H. Rep.No. 105-551(D) at 60. That is exactlywhat RIAA seeks

here.

Further, nothing in subsection512(c)(3)(A) suggeststhat the notification provisions create

substantivelimitations on the scopeof any other section.Congressexplainedthat subsection

(c)(3)(A) establishes "proced~," not substantivelimitations. H. Rep.No.1 OS-S51(II) at 55. The

contours of the safeharbors and any limitations on the subpoenaauthority are to be fouud in those

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AUG 212002 9:48 AM FR UERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.24

subsections,not in the notification provisionsto which they all refer. Moreover,Congressmade

clear that strict compliance with the notification provisionswas not required; substantialcompliance

was sufficient to trigger all of dle setViceproviders' obligations under the DMCA. See

§ S12(c)(3)(A). CongTCSs
expected serviceproviders and copyright owners "will comply with the

functional requirementsof the notification provisions." H. Rep. No.1 OS-551(ll) at 56. So long as

copyrightownersfurnish infonnation that would assistserviceproviders"in understandingthe

natureand scopeof the infringement"and in taking appropriateaction,suchas identifying the

infringing user or disabling accessto infringing material,the copyrightowner bas fulfilled its

obligations./d.

Finally t the two snippetsof statutorylanguagethat Verizon cites for its claim do not remotely

support its argument Verizon suggeststhat subsectionS12(c)(3XA) appliesonly to situations where

the allegedinfringementinvolves "material that resideson a systemor network controlled or

operatedby or for fa] serviceprovider," VerizonLetterat 2 (emphasisandbracketin original).

That language,quoted and cmphasizedin Verlzon's letter, does not appearin subsection

512(c)(3)(A) or in Section 512(h). Rather.that languageappearsin subsectionS12(cXl) and defines

the terDlSof one of the safeharbor provisions. Thus unmasked,Verizon' s argumentis truly bizane

- in essence,V crizon arguesthat becauseboth Section S12(h) and subsectionS12(c)(l) refermce

the notificationprovisionsof(c)(3)(A), the limitationsof subsection512(cXl) shouldbe readinto

Section512(h). Thatmakesno sense.

V enzon'8 attemptto graft one of the limitationsof the safeharborprovisionsonto the

8Ubpoenaauthority ignores that the DMCA createsseparateand distinct obliptions on service

providers - they must respondto valid subpoenasan~ if they wish to Im13in within the safe harbor

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AUG 212002 9:49 AM FR VERIZON 7033513670 TO 914154369993 P.25

to the notification").
Verizon also seeksto dressup the samepoint in different clothing by claiming that, because

..

VenzonLetterat 3.
As an initial matter, Verlzon's claim that it cannot locate the material rings hollow.

of."the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activitY and that is

to be removed or accessto which is to be disabled, and information reasonablysufficient to pel'IIlit

the service provider to locate the material"} (emphasisadded). That Verizonunquestionably

can

do, oncea copyrightownerprovides- asRIAA has- the IP addressof the inftinger.

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AUG 212002 9:49 AM FR VERIZON 7933513679 TO 914154369993 P.26

Moreover, the DMCA expresslyprovides that subsection512(cX3)(A)"snotification

provisionsapply in myriad situations,includingthosein which the infringing material doesnot

resideon the serviceprovider'snetwork. Subsection512(c)(3)(A)providesthe generai-elements

of notice that are required for three of the safeharbors- subsections(b), (c). and (d), as well as the

safeharbor for educationalinstitutions (subsection(g» - and for the subpoena..provisionof Section

Sl2(h). Under subsection(d), a copyright owner may give notice pursuant to s.ubsection(c)(3)(A)

where infringing material is not on the provider'snetworkbut is accessiblethrough use of an

infomlation location tool or searchengine. See§ 512(d)(3). Similarly, subsection(c)(3)(A) notice

is applicablewherethe cop)right owneris notifyina a serviceprovider that it has or is caching

infringing material, whether or not that material is still being stored by the provider. See

§ 512(b)(2)(E).The draftersof the DMCA wouldnot havereferencedthe notification provisions

of subsection(c)(3) in eachof thesesubsections(aswell asthe subpoenaprovision found at Section

S12(h» if they were not a freestandingprovision defining the elementsof effective notice, applying

with equal force to situations where the seIViceprovider was not storing infringing files (as alleged

necessary
by Vcrizon).6

6verizon'sletterraisesoneadditionalafglDIlentthat is not an objectionto the subpoena.

See Verizon Letter at 3. ft 4-5. V~n arguesthat it is not required to tenninate the subscriber's
accessto the hltemct underS~tion 512(i).Id. at 3. Onceagain.whetheror not that obligation
existsis irrelevantto whetherVerizonis obligedto revealto thecopyrightownerthe nameof a
personpursuantto a valid subpoena.

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AUG 212992 9:49 AM FR VERIZON 7933513670 TO 914154369993 P.27

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons.RIAA respectfully ~uests that the Court enteranorder requiring

Verizonto complywith the subpoenaissuedby this Courton July 24, 2002,andgrantsuchother

relief as is just and appropriate

Respectfully 8ubmitted,

BY:-+~ ~B ~.f4A-;,;"p
Of Counsel: DonaldB. Vem11i.Jr., D.C. BarNo. 420434
ThomasJ. Perrelli,D.C. BarNo. 438929
MatthewJ- Oppenheim CynthiaJ. Robertson,D.C. BarNo. 472981
StanleyPierre-Louis JENNER& BLOCK, u..c
RECORDINGINDUSTRY 601Thirteenth StI'cet,NW, Suite 1200
ASSOCIAnON OF AMERICA Washington,D.C. 20005
1330 Connecticut Ave., N. W. Phone: (202) 639-6000
Ste.300 Fax: (202)639-6066
Washington.
D.C. 20036
Attorneysfor the RecordinghldustryAssociationof
America

Dated:August20, 2002

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