`
`
`
`Dale M. Cendali
`Joshua L. Simmons
`Shanti Sadtler Conway
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`601 Lexington Avenue
`New York, NY 10022
`Telephone: (212) 446-4800
`Facsimile: (212) 446-6460
`dale.cendali@kirkland.com
`joshua.simmons@kirkland.com
`shanti.conway@kirkland.com
`
`Megan L. McKeown
`KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
`609 Main Street
`Houston, TX 77002
`Telephone: (713) 836-3600
`Facsimile: (713) 836-3601
`megan.mckeown@kirkland.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff Epic Games, Inc.
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
`
`
`EPIC GAMES, INC.,
`
`
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`Case No. 19-cv-11215
`
`
`ECF Case
`
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`
`SICK PICNIC MEDIA, LLC and MATTHEW F.
`GEILER,
`
`
`- against -
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT OF NON-INFRINGEMENT
`
`Plaintiff Epic Games, Inc. (“Epic Games”), by and through its attorneys, Kirkland & Ellis
`
`LLP, for its Complaint, hereby alleges against Defendants Sick Picnic Media, LLC (“Sick
`
`Picnic”) and Matthew F. Geiler (“Geiler”) (collectively, “Defendants”) as follows:
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 2 of 34
`
`
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`Epic Games has been forced to bring this action seeking a declaration that,
`
`1.
`
`contrary to infringement claims asserted by Defendants, the Pump It Up Emote in Epic Games’
`
`fantastical, multiplayer video game, Fortnite, does not infringe their copyright or trademark
`
`rights.
`
`2.
`
`Fortnite is set in a fictional world in which players, represented by original
`
`characters of various genders, ethnicities, and species, compete in a battle royale with a variety
`
`of accessories and weapons. The players choose how their in-game characters look and move,
`
`including by selecting short, pre-programmed movements that allow the player to express his or
`
`her emotions in the game or to taunt other players. These are known as emotes.
`
`3.
`
`This case concerns one of those emotes: a Halloween-themed emote called “Pump
`
`It Up” that Epic Games made available for a single day shortly before Halloween in the fall of
`
`2019 as part of its annual Fortnitemares event (the “Pump It Up Emote”). In the Pump It Up
`
`Emote, the avatar performs a brief dance to a Halloween-themed song developed by Epic Games
`
`while the head of whatever avatar the player has selected is transformed into a jack-o’-lantern
`
`face designed by Epic Games. The jack-o’-lantern face has moving green flames pouring from
`
`the eyes, nose and mouth, a broad, grinning mouth, a long, prominent stem that curves, and dark
`
`striations delineating the segments of the pumpkin giving it a yellow-and-orange design. The
`
`Pump It Up Emote can be performed by any avatar in the game, including fantastically dressed
`
`male avatars, female avatars, and avatars of other species.
`
`4.
`
`Defendants have alleged that the Pump It Up Emote infringes their copyright to a
`
`“character,” which they refer to as the “Dancing Pumpkin Man,” that appeared in a video in
`
`which Defendant Geiler is dressed in a plain black unitard he did not make, wearing as a mask a
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 3 of 34
`
`
`
`jack-o’-lantern decoration he did not create, dancing to a song he did not write in front of a static,
`
`generic graveyard image (the “Video”). A true and correct copy of the Video is attached hereto
`
`as Exhibit 1. There is no infringement here, however, as Defendants do not own a protectable
`
`character and the jack-o’-lantern-headed figures are in any case not substantially similar as a
`
`matter of law. Defendants’ alleged “character” is not protectable as it is not “sufficiently
`
`delineated” as a matter of law. Rather, it is simply the idea of an ordinary jack-o’-lantern head
`
`on a non-descript, plain black unitard body. This does not rise to the level of specificity needed,
`
`as a matter of law, to create a copyrightable character.
`
`5.
`
`Moreover, Defendants did not create the attributes of that alleged “character,” and
`
`thus they cannot own a copyright to them. Defendants have admitted that Geiler did not create
`
`the face of the jack-o’-lantern—rather he took a preexisting, third-party Halloween jack-o’-
`
`lantern decoration from his company’s holiday lobby display and fashioned it into a mask. Nor
`
`did Geiler create the simple black unitard.
`
`6.
`
`In any case, these preexisting materials are not substantially similar to Fortnite’s
`
`Pump It Up Emote. In contrast to Fortnite’s Pump It Up Emote, the Defendants’ alleged
`
`character’s jack-o’-lantern face has a narrower mouth and a smaller aperture to the eyes and
`
`nose, there are no moving green flames shining through the holes, its jack-o’-lantern head is
`
`smaller than Fortnite’s Pump It Up Emote and is a uniform orange color, as opposed to a
`
`striated, yellow-and-orange-toned design. The stem on Defendants’ jack-o’-lantern is smaller
`
`than the stem in the Pump It Up Emote. The bodies and costumes of the figures are also not
`
`substantially similar. The body of Defendants’ alleged “character” is an ordinary man in a plain
`
`black unitard. Fortnite has over 200 avatars (including female avatars and avatars of other
`
`species) whose heads can be briefly replaced by the Pump It Up Emote—none of these avatars’
`
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 4 of 34
`
`
`
`bodies wear a plain black unitard. Nor is the music used in the Video the same music as used in
`
`the Pump It Up Emote. A comparison of the Defendants’ alleged “character” with multiple
`
`examples of Fortnite avatars performing the Pump It Up Emote is shown below:
`
`The Video
`
`The Pump It Up Emote
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7.
`
`Defendants’ trademark claims similarly fail because symbols may serve as
`
`trademarks only where used in commerce to identify the source or origin of a product or service.
`
`They also must be distinctive for such product or service—the Dancing Pumpkin Man is none of
`
`these things. Moreover, the First Amendment protects expressive works like Fortnite’s Pump It
`
`Up Emote, as Epic Games’ use is artistically relevant because it allows Fortnite players to
`
`express themselves during gameplay using a culturally-relevant reference to Halloween, as part
`
`of Fortnite’s Halloween-themed Fortnitemares event, and the use is not explicitly misleading.
`
`Nor does the Pump It Up Emote create a likelihood of confusion as to source, affiliation, or
`
`sponsorship with Defendants or their claimed trademark.
`
`8.
`
`Moreover, as discussed
`
`in detail below, Defendants’ claims also are
`
`fundamentally flawed as no protectable elements of the Video, or any “character,” have been
`
`used in Fortnite without Defendants’ authorization. This is because Defendants already granted
`
`Epic Games a license to the “character,” the Video and the content therein.
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 5 of 34
`
`
`
`9.
`
`As Defendants have refused to accept these fundamental intellectual property
`
`principles, Epic Games brings this action to clarify the parties’ rights and seeks a declaratory
`
`judgment that the Pump It Up Emote does not infringe any copyright or trademark rights held by
`
`Defendants.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`Plaintiff Epic Games, Inc. is a Maryland corporation having its principal place of
`
`10.
`
`business in North Carolina. It is a multinational publisher, developer, and distributor of video
`
`games and software, including Fortnite.
`
`11.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendant Sick Picnic Media, LLC is a Nebraska
`
`limited liability company registered to do business and having offices in Omaha, Nebraska.
`
`12.
`
`Upon information and belief, Sick Picnic serves as Geiler’s agency for
`
`professional contracting and licensing of Geiler’s live entertainment performances.
`
`13.
`
`Defendant Matthew F. Geiler is an individual who, upon information and belief,
`
`is the CEO and owner of Sick Picnic and resides in the State of Nebraska.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`This is an action arising under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201
`
`14.
`
`and 2202, the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., and the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et
`
`seq.
`
`15.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 and 2202
`
`because there is a substantial and concrete controversy between the parties of sufficient
`
`immediacy that warrants a declaratory judgment. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter
`
`pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1121, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338 in that this matter involves an action
`
`arising under the Copyright Act and the Lanham Act.
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 6 of 34
`
`
`
`16.
`
`The Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants and venue is proper in this
`
`District because Defendants consented to personal jurisdiction and venue in New York via the
`
`forum selection clause contained in the agreement that they entered into with Epic Games
`
`concerning the Video and the Pump It Up Emote (the “License”), which provides that the
`
`“parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of general jurisdiction
`
`located within New York County, New York for the resolution of disputes arising out of or
`
`relating to this agreement.” This dispute arises out of or relates to the License, a true and correct
`
`copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. Moreover, numerous consumers in New York
`
`have downloaded and played Fortnite, including the Pump It Up Emote. Epic Games also has
`
`held Fortnite tournaments in New York, New York, including the Fortnite World Cup.
`
`ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO ALL CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
`
`
`Plaintiff and Its Fortnite Video Game Series
`
`17.
`
`Fortnite was released in the United States on July 25, 2017 for Windows and on
`
`September 26, 2017 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A true and correct copy of Fortnite is
`
`attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1
`
`18.
`
`19.
`
`Fortnite is a creative work.
`
`Fortnite reflects creative choices in, among other things, its characters, setting,
`
`plot, graphics, animations, music, dialogue, and other expressive elements.
`
`20.
`
`Fortnite is composed of a single-player or cooperative “Save the World” mode, a
`
`multiplayer “Battle Royale” mode, and a “Creative” sandbox mode.
`
`21.
`
`Epic Games periodically releases updates to Fortnite, including releases of new
`
`“Seasons” of the game, as well as limited availability features within the game. The release of a
`
`1 Epic Games has attached the Xbox One version of Fortnite to this Complaint. For the convenience of the
`Court, Epic Games also will make an Xbox One console available to the Court upon request.
`
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 7 of 34
`
`
`
`new “Season” and its content often reflect the time of year and holidays occurring
`
`simultaneously in real life. For example, Chapter 1 Season 7 of Fortnite, which was available
`
`between December 2018 and February 2019, was winter themed and included snow, a large
`
`iceberg dubbed “Polar Peak,” and features in the game map that celebrated the “Festivus”
`
`holiday. Each Season contains new items and game rewards that players may be able to obtain.
`
`22.
`
`Fortnite is a game where up to 100 players—alone, in pairs, or groups—compete
`
`to be the last player or group alive. Fortnite features an extensive world in which players
`
`explore, build, and destroy, and also battle against each other via player-to-player combat. At
`
`the beginning of each round of Fortnite’s “battle royale,” each player is dropped onto Fortnite’s
`
`sprawling map by a purple flying school bus called the “Battle Bus” after which they float down
`
`to earth with the help of a hang glider or a large metal umbrella. Once aground, the players’
`
`avatars explore the map’s various areas—which may include a megamall, a volcano, and floating
`
`sky platforms—while scavenging for weapons and supplies, building fortifications, setting traps,
`
`and using launch pads to soar through the air and move quickly from one location to another. As
`
`the round progresses, the map shrinks down in size due to an incoming storm, forcing the players
`
`to move closer together and accelerating the confrontations between them. The winner is the last
`
`player or team standing in each game.
`
`Fortnite’s Avatar Customizations
`
`23.
`
`Before a game begins, players may select an avatar or “skin.” Fortnite’s avatars,
`
`or “skins,” are all fanciful, fictional characters: some have non-human features (such as a tomato
`
`head or a giant banana with arms, legs, and a face); others are more human and follow certain
`
`fictional tropes (such as a soldier or gunslinger). There are over 200 player skins.
`
`24.
`
`Examples of player “skins” are shown below.
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 8 of 34
`
`
`
`
`
`25.
`
`There is no avatar “skin” in Fortnite that consists of a man (woman or other
`
`figure) wearing a plain black unitard.
`
`26.
`
`Players cannot alter the “skin” of their avatars. Accordingly, an avatar’s
`
`appearance cannot be modified to look like any particular person.
`
`Fortnite’s Emotes
`
`27.
`
`A Fortnite player also can customize his or her game experience with a variety of
`
`“emotes,” which are movements or short dance steps that a player may choose to have his or her
`
`avatar perform during gameplay to express emotions or interact with other players, such as
`
`celebrating a victory on the battlefield or taunting an opponent.
`
`28.
`
`Emotes in Fortnite are triggered by the players of the game with a button press or
`
`keyboard shortcut. Upon triggering an emote, an avatar will perform a short movement or
`
`combination of dance steps. Emotes are often accompanied by a brief piece of music that lasts
`
`for the duration of the emote.
`
`29.
`
`There have been over 200 emotes available to players since Fortnite was released
`
`in 2017, including the “Snap” emote, the “Golf Clap” emote, the “Time Out” emote, and, at issue
`
`in this lawsuit, the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`30.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote, as with all emotes in Fortnite, can be used with any
`
`avatar, without regard to the avatar’s appearance.
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 9 of 34
`
`
`
`31.
`
`Emotes in general, and the Pump It Up Emote in particular, are a tiny aspect of
`
`Fortnite and incidental to overall game play.
`
`32.
`
`A player may play Fortnite without downloading or using any emotes, including
`
`the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote
`
`33.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote was available to download for a single day between
`
`October 29, 2019 and October 30, 2019 during Chapter 2, Season 1 of Fortnite.
`
`34.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote was released as part of Fortnite’s annual Fortnitemares
`
`2019 event, which included limited-time game features that relate to Halloween.
`
`35.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote causes an avatar to perform a set of movements, which are
`
`not at issue in this dispute. It is accompanied by original music developed by Epic Games,
`
`which also is not at issue here.
`
`36.
`
`As shown below, the Pump It Up Emote causes a jack-o’-lantern to appear in
`
`place of the avatar’s head while the player’s avatar performs certain movements:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`9
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 10 of 34
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`37.
`
`The jack-o’-lantern head in the Pump It Up Emote has triangles for the eyes and
`
`nose, and a broad, grinning smile.
`
`38.
`
`Through the carved openings of the Pump It Up Emote’s jack-o’-lantern, moving
`
`green flames appear.
`
`39.
`
`The jack-o’-lantern head in the Pump It Up Emote has darkened striations giving
`
`it a yellow-and-orange-toned design.
`
`40.
`
`The jack-o’-lantern head in the Pump It Up Emote has a long, pronounced stem
`
`that curves.
`
`41.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote’s jack-o’-lantern is an original design created by Epic
`
`Games.
`
`42.
`
`Performing the Pump It Up Emote does not change the avatar’s appearance aside
`
`from the addition of a jack-o’-lantern head.
`
`43.
`
`Performing the Pump It Up Emote does not cause the avatar to wear a black
`
`unitard.
`
`44.
`
`No avatar in Fortnite wears a plain black unitard.
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 11 of 34
`
`
`
`45.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote can be used with any avatar, without regard to appearance
`
`or any particular likeness.
`
`The Marketing for Fortnite
`
`46.
`
`The marketing and promotion of Fortnite indicates that the source of the video
`
`game is Epic Games.
`
`47.
`
`For example, Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game displays Epic
`
`Games’ trademarks and logos, as shown below.
`
`48.
`
`Similarly, Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store states that Epic Games
`
`is the developer and publisher of Fortnite and displays Epic Games’ trademarks and logos. A
`
`true and correct copy of Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store is attached hereto as
`
`
`
`Exhibit 4.
`
`49.
`
`The Fortnite product page in the PlayStation Games Store indicates that Epic
`
`Games is the source of Fortnite. A true and correct copy of the Fortnite product page in the
`
`PlayStation Games Store is attached hereto as Exhibit 5.
`
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 12 of 34
`
`
`
`50.
`
`The Fortnite product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One indicates that
`
`Epic Games is the source of Fortnite. A true and correct copy of the Fortnite product page in the
`
`Microsoft Store for Xbox One is attached hereto as Exhibit 6.
`
`51.
`
`Epic Games has released a variety of trailers for Fortnite. In particular, Fortnite
`
`has a cinematic “launch” trailer to promote the recent release of “Chapter 2” of the game (the
`
`“Launch Trailer”). The Launch Trailer prominently displays Epic Games’ trademarks and logos,
`
`as shown in the screenshot below. A true and correct copy of the Launch Trailer is attached
`
`hereto as Exhibit 7.
`
`52.
`
`Fortnite also has a trailer to promote the Battle Pass for Chapter 2, Season 1 of
`
`the game (the “Battle Pass Trailer”). The Battle Pass Trailer prominently displays Epic Games’
`
`trademarks and logos, as shown in the screenshot below. A true and correct copy of the Battle
`
`Pass Trailer is attached hereto as Exhibit 8.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 13 of 34
`
`
`
`
`
`53.
`
`Fortnite also has a trailer to promote its seasonal Fortnitemares event for
`
`Halloween, which launched on October 29, 2019 (the “Fortnitemares Trailer”). The
`
`Fortnitemares Trailer depicts Halloween-themed characters and prominently displays Epic
`
`Games’ trademarks and logos. It does not include the Pump It Up Emote. A true and correct
`
`copy of the Fortnitemares Trailer is attached hereto as Exhibit 9.
`
`Defendants and Their Claimed “Dancing Pumpkin Man” Character
`
`54.
`
`Upon information and belief, from approximately September 2006 to August
`
`2008, Geiler was an anchor for a 10 o’clock nightly newscast at the Omaha, Nebraska CW
`
`affiliate, KXVO. In this role, Geiler was responsible for filling airtime with content, which in
`
`various instances went beyond providing news updates.
`
`55.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendants’ alleged “character” first appeared in the
`
`Video, which was posted on the KXVO 10:00 News’ YouTube channel on November 2, 2006
`
`under the title “KXVO Pumpkin Dance.”
`
`56.
`
`Upon information and belief, Geiler is the performer who appears in the Video.
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 14 of 34
`
`
`
`57.
`
`Upon information and belief, and as shown in the screenshot below, Geiler dances
`
`in the Video in front of a static cemetery image while wearing a generic jack-o’-lantern mask and
`
`a plain black unitard. Geiler dances to The Music Makers’ song “Cazafantasmas” from the film
`
`Ghostbusters.
`
`
`
`58.
`
`Upon information and belief, the jack-o’-lantern mask in the Video is a
`
`preexisting Halloween decoration that Geiler found among the holiday decorations in the lobby
`
`of his news station and that he fashioned into a makeshift mask. A true and correct copy of a
`
`transcript from a radio interview in which Geiler discusses the origin of the jack-o’-lantern mask
`
`is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.
`
`59.
`
`Upon information and belief, the jack-o’-lantern decoration that Geiler wears as a
`
`mask in the Video differs from the jack-o’-lantern head in the Pump It Up Emote because it has a
`
`narrower mouth and a smaller aperture to the eyes and nose, there are no moving green flames
`
`shining through the holes, its jack-o’-lantern head is smaller, and the mask is a uniform orange
`
`color.
`
`60.
`
`Upon information and belief, Geiler did not create the jack-o’-lantern decoration
`
`or black unitard that he wears in the Video.
`
`
`
`
`14
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 15 of 34
`
`
`
`61.
`
`Upon information and belief, Defendants do not use the jack-o’-lantern mask,
`
`black unitard, or the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character as a trademark.
`
`There Are Numerous Jack-o’-Lantern Head Characters That Pre-Date Defendants’
`Alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man Character
`
`
`62.
`
`The idea of a figure with a jack-o’-lantern head is not unique or original to
`
`Defendants.
`
`63.
`
`64.
`
`Jack-o’-lanterns are commonly associated with Halloween.
`
`There are numerous examples of works that incorporate a character with a jack-
`
`o’-lantern head that pre-date Defendants’ alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the 2006
`
`Video. Examples of such third party uses are listed below.
`
`65.
`
`The 1904 children’s novel The Marvelous Land of Oz featured the character Jack
`
`Pumpkinhead, which also subsequently appeared in the 1994 Oz comic book series. An image of
`
`the Jack Pumpkinhead character is shown below:
`
`
`
`66.
`
`In 1949, Disney released an animated adaptation of the classic, The Legend of
`
`Sleepy Hollow, which depicted the iconic Headless Horseman holding a jack-o’-lantern to
`
`represent his head. An image of the Headless Horseman character is shown below:
`
`
`
`
`15
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 16 of 34
`
`
`
`67.
`
`Jack O’Lantern from Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man and Civil War series first
`
`appeared in 1981. An image of the Jack O’Lantern character is shown below:
`
`
`
`68. Merv Pumpkinhead, a recurring character in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman comic
`
`book series, first appeared in 1989. An image of the Merv Pumpkinhead character is shown
`
`
`
`below:
`
`
`
`
`16
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 17 of 34
`
`
`
`69.
`
`Lord Pumpkin from the Ultraverse line of superhero comics from Malibu Comics
`
`first appeared in 1993. An image of the Lord Pumpkin character is shown below:
`
`
`
`70.
`
`The Nightmare Before Christmas, which included The Pumpkin King character,
`
`was released in 1993. An image of The Pumpkin King character is shown below:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 18 of 34
`
`
`
`71.
`
`The book Attack of the Jack-O’-Lanterns, a novel in the Goosebumps series, was
`
`published in 1996 and includes characters known as the “Pumpkin Heads.” An image of these
`
`characters is shown below:
`
`
`
`
`
`72.
`
`Stingy Jack from Irish folklore, which is regarded as one of the origins of
`
`decorating jack-o’-lanterns, also has featured a figure with a jack-o’-lantern for a head and long
`
`pre-dates Defendants’ character. Although Stingy Jack has been depicted over time by different
`
`artists in different ways, the character frequently has a jack-o’-lantern head, as shown below:
`
`
`
`
`18
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 19 of 34
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Fortnite and Its Marketing Do Not Depict the Alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man Character or
`Reference Defendants
`
`73.
`
`Defendants’ only basis for claiming that Fortnite infringes his intellectual
`
`property rights is Fortnite’s use of a jack-o’-lantern head with the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`74.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not depict the same jack-o’-lantern mask worn in the
`
`Video.
`
`75.
`
`76.
`
`77.
`
`78.
`
`the Video.
`
`79.
`
`80.
`
`81.
`
`82.
`
`Man.”
`
`Fortnite does not depict the same jack-o’-lantern mask worn in the Video.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not depict the black unitard worn in the Video.
`
`Fortnite does not depict the black unitard worn in the Video.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not depict the same cemetery scene that appears in
`
`Fortnite does not depict the same cemetery scene that appears in the Video.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not depict Geiler.
`
`Fortnite does not depict Geiler.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not reference Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin
`
`83.
`
`Fortnite does not reference Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin Man.”
`
`
`
`
`19
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 20 of 34
`
`
`
`84.
`
`The Pump It Up Emote does not include the song “Cazafantasmas” by The Music
`
`Makers.
`
`85.
`
`86.
`
`87.
`
`Fortnite does not include the song “Cazafantasmas” by The Music Makers.
`
`The License allows Epic Games to use the choreography in the Video in Fortnite.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not depict the jack-o’-
`
`lantern mask worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`88.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not depict the Pump It
`
`Up Emote.
`
`89.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not depict the black
`
`unitard worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`90.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not depict the
`
`cemetery scene that appears in the Video.
`
`91.
`
`92.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not depict Geiler.
`
`Fortnite’s product packaging for the Xbox One game does not reference
`
`Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin Man.”
`
`93.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not depict the Pump It Up
`
`Emote.
`
`94.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not depict the jack-o’-
`
`lantern mask worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`95.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not depict the black unitard
`
`worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`96.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not include the song
`
`“Cazafantasmas” by The Music Makers.
`
`
`
`
`20
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 21 of 34
`
`
`
`97.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not depict the cemetery
`
`scene that appears in the Video.
`
`98.
`
`99.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not depict Geiler.
`
`Fortnite’s product page in the Epic Games Store does not reference Defendants or
`
`“Dancing Pumpkin Man.”
`
`100. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not depict the Pump
`
`It Up Emote.
`
`101. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not depict the jack-
`
`o’-lantern mask worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`102. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not depict the black
`
`unitard worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`103. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not include the song
`
`“Cazafantasmas” by The Music Makers.
`
`104. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not depict the
`
`cemetery scene that appears in the Video.
`
`105. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not depict Geiler.
`
`106. Fortnite’s product page in the PlayStation Games Store does not reference
`
`Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin Man.”
`
`107. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not depict the
`
`Pump It Up Emote.
`
`108. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not depict the
`
`jack-o’-lantern mask worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`
`
`
`21
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 22 of 34
`
`
`
`109. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not depict the
`
`black unitard worn by the alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`110. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not include the
`
`song “Cazafantasmas” by The Music Makers.
`
`111. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not depict the
`
`cemetery scene that appears in the Video.
`
`112. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not depict
`
`Geiler.
`
`113. Fortnite’s product page in the Microsoft Store for Xbox One does not reference
`
`Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin Man.”
`
`114. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not depict the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`115. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not depict the jack-o’-lantern mask worn by the
`
`alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`116. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not depict the black unitard worn by the alleged
`
`Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`117. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not include the song “Cazafantasmas” by The
`
`Music Makers.
`
`118. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not depict the cemetery scene that appears in the
`
`Video.
`
`119. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not depict Geiler.
`
`120. Fortnite’s Launch Trailer does not reference Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin
`
`Man.”
`
`121. The Battle Pass Trailer does not depict the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`
`
`
`22
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 23 of 34
`
`
`
`122. The Battle Pass Trailer does not depict the jack-o’-lantern mask worn by the
`
`alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`123. The Battle Pass Trailer does not depict the black unitard worn by the alleged
`
`Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`124. The Battle Pass Trailer does not include the song “Cazafantasmas” by The Music
`
`Makers.
`
`125. The Battle Pass Trailer does not depict the cemetery scene that appears in the
`
`Video.
`
`126. The Battle Pass Trailer does not depict Geiler.
`
`127. The Battle Pass Trailer does not reference Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin
`
`Man.”
`
`128. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not depict the Pump It Up Emote.
`
`129. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not depict the jack-o’-lantern mask worn by the
`
`alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`130. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not depict the black unitard worn by the alleged
`
`Dancing Pumpkin Man character in the Video.
`
`131. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not include the song “Cazafantasmas” by The
`
`Music Makers.
`
`132. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not depict the cemetery scene that appears in the
`
`Video.
`
`133. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not depict Geiler.
`
`134. The Fortnitemares Trailer does not reference Defendants or “Dancing Pumpkin
`
`Man.”
`
`
`
`
`23
`
`
`
`Case 1:19-cv-11215-PGG Document 1 Filed 12/06/19 Page 24 of 34
`
`
`
`The Video and Defendants’ Alleged Dancing Pumpkin Man Character Is Different From
`Fortnite
`
`135. Fortnite’s plot is a battle royale game where players compete to be the last player
`
`alive.
`
`136. The setting of Fortnite is a game map with various areas for game players to
`
`battle, including but not limited to a neighborhood of houses, a swamp, a lake, retail stores, a
`
`shipyard, a farm, and a beach.
`
`137. Fortnite’s mood changes depending on the Season of the game, the game mode,
`
`and the player’s location on the game map.
`
`138. Fortnite’s pace is relatively fast.
`
`139. Fortnite’s themes are fantasy and warfare.
`
`140. Fortnite’s sequence of events involves air dropping from the flying “Battle Bus,”
`
`floating down to earth with the help of a hang glider or a large metal umbrella, a search for
`
`weapons and resources using tools called “pickaxes,” and a game arena with an incoming storm
`
`which causes the map to shrink in size and bring players closer together to battle. The winner is
`
`the last player or team standing in each game.
`
`141. Fortnite has over 200 fanciful avatar characters.
`
`142. Fortnite does not include The Music Makers’ song “Cazafantasmas” from the
`
`film Ghostbusters.
`
`143. Fortnite does not include a static cemetery backdrop.
`
`144. The Pump It Up Emote does not include a static cemetery backdrop.
`
`145. The Pump It Up Emote can be used with male avatars that are wear