Barbara Leonard reports:
A movie distributor can subpoena Internet service providers to identify 2,177 people who allegedly pirated the company’s film “Cornered!,” a federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled.
“Courts have broad discretion in discovery matters and, pursuant to that discretion, may allow parties to conduct expedited discovery where ‘good cause’ is shown,” U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote. “Because defendants must be identified before this suit can progress further, the court finds that good cause exists for plaintiff’s requested discovery.”
Under the ruling, Cornered Inc. can give Internet service providers the IP addresses that it has linked to pirated copies of its film, and the ISPs must turn over the names, addresses and phone numbers of the as-yet-unnamed defendants.
Read more on Courthouse News.
Related: Complaint. Memorandum opinion in pre-discovery motion.