`
`DISH NETWORK L.L.C.,
`Plaintiff,
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`HOUSTON DIVISION
` §
` §
` §
` §
` §
`v.
` §
` §
`DOES 1-5, individually and together
` §
`d/b/a Universe IPTV; Universe TV;
`World-Universeiptv.com; Uni-Update.com; §
`and Uni-Web.online,
` §
`§
`Defendants.
` §
`
`Civil Action No.
`
`4:20-cv-2958
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`COMPLAINT
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`Plaintiff DISH Network L.L.C. (“DISH”) brings this suit against Does 1-5 individually and
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`together d/b/a Universe IPTV; Universe TV; World-Universeiptv.com; Uni-Update.com; and Uni-
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`Web.online, and states as follows:
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`Nature of the Action
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`1.
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`DISH brings this suit for direct copyright infringement because Defendants are
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`taking television channels exclusively licensed to DISH and are unlawfully retransmitting these
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`channels over the Internet throughout the United States on Defendants’ Universe IPTV service (the
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`“Universe Service”) to customers who purchase Defendants’ Universe Service subscriptions
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`(“Universe Subscriptions”). Defendants demonstrated the willfulness of their copyright
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`infringement by continuing to transmit channels exclusively licensed to DISH despite receiving
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`numerous demands to cease.
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`Parties
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`2.
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`Plaintiff DISH Network L.L.C. is a limited liability company organized under the
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`laws of the State of Colorado, with its principal place of business located at 9601 South Meridian
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`Blvd., Englewood, Colorado 80112.
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`3.
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`Defendants Does 1-5 are individuals or entities doing business as Universe IPTV;
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`Universe TV; World-Universeiptv.com; Uni-Update.com; and Uni-Web.online. Defendants
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`transmit television channels to users of the Universe Service and distribute, sell, and promote
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`Universe Subscriptions. Defendants own and operate the World-Universeiptv.com; Uni-
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`Update.com; Uni-Web.online; Universe-ip.com; Universepro9.vip; Universeiptv.com; Universe-
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`ip.world; Olink1.rocks; Olink2.rocks; Olink3.rocks; Olink4.rocks; Olink5.rocks; and Olink7.rocks
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`domains and websites (collectively, the “Universe Domains”). Defendants are concealing their
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`identities through the use of domain proxy services for the Universe Domains. Defendants claim
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`they reside in Austria and they use a WhatsApp phone number including the +43 country code for
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`Austria. DISH believes discovery will identify Does 1-5 and enable DISH to amend the complaint
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`to list them by name.
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`Jurisdiction and Venue
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`4.
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`DISH asserts claims under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. This Court
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`has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338.
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`5.
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`Personal jurisdiction is proper against Defendants under Rule 4(k)(2) of the Federal
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`Rules of Civil Procedure. Does 1-5 transmit channels exclusively licensed to DISH to at least 1,000
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`Universe Service users located in the United States (“Service Users”), including in the State of
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`Texas. Does 1-5 also have a reseller located in the United States, and offer to sell Universe
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`Subscriptions to prospective resellers located in the United States. This Court’s exercise of
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`jurisdiction over Defendants is consistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States,
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`DISH’s claims arise under federal law, and Defendants are not subject to the jurisdiction of the
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`courts of general jurisdiction of any state.
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`2
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`6.
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`Venue is proper in this Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(3) because Defendants are
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`subject to personal jurisdiction in this district and under § 1391(c)(3) because Defendants are
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`nonresidents that may be sued in any judicial district. Venue is also proper in this Court under 28
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`U.S.C. § 1400(a) because the case involves violations of the Copyright Act.
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`DISH’s Copyrights
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`7.
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`DISH is the fourth largest pay-television provider in the United States providing
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`copyrighted programming to millions of subscribers nationwide. DISH is one of the largest
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`providers of international television channels in the United States offering more than 400 channels
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`in 27 different languages.
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`8.
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`DISH contracts for and licenses rights for the international channels distributed on
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`its platform from channel owners and their agents, including ARY Digital USA LLC; Asia TV USA
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`Ltd.; B4U U.S.; Geo USA Holdings, Inc. d/b/a Geo USA LLC; Hum Network Limited; Impress
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`Telefilm, Inc.; MBC FZ LLC; International Media Distribution (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L.; MSM
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`Asia Limited; National Communications Services (SMC-PVT.) Limited; Soundview ATN LLC;
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`Soundview Broadcasting LLC; Television Media Network (Pvt) Ltd; TV Today Network Ltd.; and
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`World Span Media Consulting, Inc. (collectively, the “Networks”).
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`9.
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`The Networks’ channels include Aaj Tak; Al Hayah 1; ART Cima; ARY Digital;
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`ARY News; ATN Bangla; ATN News; B4U Movies; CBC; CBC Drama; Channel-i; Dunya TV;
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`Express Entertainment; Express News; Future TV, Geo News; Geo TV; Hekayat; Hum Masala;
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`Hum Sitaray; Hum TV; Hum World; India Today; LBC; LBCI (a/k/a LDC); MBC1; MBC Drama;
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`MBC Kids (a/k/a MBC3); MBC Masr; Melody Aflam; Melody Classic; NTV Bangla; SAB; SET
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`(a/k/a Sony SET); SET MAX; Zee Aflam; and Zee Alwan (collectively, the “Protected Channels”).
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`3
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`The Networks acquire copyrights in the works that air on their respective channels, including by
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`producing the works and by assignment.
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`10.
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`DISH entered into signed, written licensing agreements with the Networks granting
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`DISH the exclusive right to distribute and publicly perform the Protected Channels and works that
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`air on the Protected Channels in the United States by means including satellite, over-the-top
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`(“OTT”), Internet protocol television (“IPTV”), and Internet. DISH’s exclusive rights were in
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`effect at all relevant times and are currently in effect. Many of the works that aired on the Protected
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`Channels and for which DISH holds exclusive distribution and public performance rights are
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`registered with the United States Copyright Office. (See Exhibit 1.) A vast number of additional,
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`unregistered copyrighted works in which DISH holds exclusive distribution and public performance
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`rights also aired on the Protected Channels. (See Exhibit 2.)
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`11.
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`Defendants are not authorized by DISH to transmit, distribute, or publicly perform
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`the Protected Channels or works that air on those channels in the United States, and DISH has
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`received no compensation from Defendants to do so.
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`Defendants’ Wrongful Conduct
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`12.
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`Defendants distribute, sell, and promote Universe Subscriptions to consumers,
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`including Service Users, and to resellers, including Universeonlinetv.co; Universeiptv.stream;
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`Universeiptvs.com; Iptvuniverse.net; and Universe2iptv.com, with knowledge that these and other
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`resellers distribute, sell, and promote Universe Subscriptions to Service Users.
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`13.
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`Defendants promoted the Universe Service on their World-Universeiptv.com
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`website, instructing consumers that “[t]here are more than 40,000 channels, films and series in every
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`country in the world,” “we are constantly expanding the number of channels,” they have “[a]ll
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`channels,” and “we continuously update our service.”
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`14. World-Universeiptv.com referred consumers and resellers of the Universe Service
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`to Defendants’ Uni-update.com website.
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`15.
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`Defendants’ Uni-Update.com website serves as a communication portal between
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`Defendants, resellers of Universe Subscriptions, and Service Users. Uni-Update.com provides
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`news and updates about the Universe Service. For example, Uni-Update.com states, “To see real-
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`time updates to the server You can know it from the following link, and it appears automatically
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`Any update or addition to the server Whether adding channels, movies, series, or series episodes it
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`appears on the site automatically and instantly.” Universe IPTV apps and channel lists are also
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`available for download at Uni-Update.com.
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`5
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`16.
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`Defendants also use Uni-Update.com to instruct Service Users to go to Defendants’
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`Uni-Web.online website and “check user and password for your subscription,” and “[i]f you are
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`able to make a login, this means that you have a 100% original subscription to Universe IPTV
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`Servers.” Service Users can also “know the expiration date of your Subscri[p]tion from the same
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`link.”
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`17.
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`Uni-Update.com includes marks of MBC1, MBC Drama, MBC Kids/MBC3 and
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`MBC Masr.
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`18.
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`Defendants promote the Universe Service to consumers and resellers through posts
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`on their Facebook page located at https://www.facebook.com/unitvplus/ (“Unitvplus”). For
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`example, the Unitvplus Facebook page describes the Universe Service as “[t]he best platform to
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`watch open and encrypted Arabic and foreign channels with the largest library of Arab and foreign
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`films and series.”
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`19.
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`The Unitvplus Facebook page includes marks of CBC, CBC Drama, MBC1, and
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`
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`MBC Masr.
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`20.
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`Defendants also promoted the Universe Service to consumers and resellers through
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`their
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`page
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`located
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`at
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`https://www.facebook.com/worlduniverseiptv/
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`(“Worlduniverseiptv”) and Instagram page located at https://www.instagram.com/universe.i.p.t.v/
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`(“Universe.i.p.t.v”). For example, Defendants’ Worlduniverseiptv Facebook page described the
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`Universe Service as allowing users to “[w]atch all live TV from the World and films on all your
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`devices.”
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`21.
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`Defendants’ Worlduniverseiptv Facebook page and Universe.i.p.t.v Instagram page
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`posted the following image that contains marks of CBC, CBC Drama, Future TV, LBC, MBC1,
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`MBC Drama, MBC Masr, and Melody Aflam.
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`22.
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`Facebook, Inc. removed Defendants’ Worlduniverseiptv Facebook page and
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`Universe.i.p.t.v Instagram page, on information and belief, for violations of Facebook’s terms of
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`service related to copyright infringement. As a result, Defendants made a post on May 5, 2020 to
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`their Unitvplus Facebook page directing consumers and retailers to their Twitter page located at
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`8
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`https://twitter.com/telfazhd; Instagram page located at https://www.instagram.com/telfazhd; and
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`Telegram page located at https://t.me/s/telfazhd (each “Telfazhd”).
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`23.
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`Defendants’ Telfazhd Instagram page promotes the Universe Service with the
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`following images with one including marks of CBC, CBC Drama, MBC1, MBC Drama, MBC
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`Kids/MBC3, and MBC Masr.
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`24.
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`Defendants Telfazhd Twitter page promotes the Universe Service by directing
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`consumers and resellers to contact them by WhatsApp “[f]or subscriptions and distribution,” and
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`includes the same image from their Unitvplus Facebook page that includes marks of CBC, CBC
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`Drama, MBC1, and MBC Masr.
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`25.
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`Defendants use their Universe Service to transmit the Protected Channels over the
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`Internet to Service Users soon after the original authorized transmission. Defendants take
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`broadcasts or streams of the Protected Channels, transfer them to one or more computer servers
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`provided, controlled, and maintained by Defendants, and then transmit the Protected Channels to
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`Service Users through OTT delivery.
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`26.
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`As set forth in paragraphs 13 and 15, Defendants are directly responsible for the
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`transmission of the channels on the Universe Service, including the Protected Channels, as shown
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`by their claims that they are constantly expanding the number of channels, constantly updating their
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`Universe Service, and updating the server transmitting the Protected Channels.
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`27.
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`Defendants’ transmission of the channels on the Universe Service, including the
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`Protected Channels, is shown by a post on Defendants’ Telfazhd Telegram page stating, “We are
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`in the process of amending and developing a huge . . . American package and adding many channels
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`to the packages . . . and we are currently working on these channels and we will add them to the
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`server in the next few days.”
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`28.
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`Defendants transmit the Protected Channels to Service Users with the Universe-
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`ip.com domain and its assigned computer server. Defendants previously transmitted the Protected
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`Channels to Service Users with the Olink1.rocks; Olink2.rocks; Olink3.rocks; Olink4.rocks;
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`Olink5.rocks; Olink7.rocks; Universepro9.vip; Universeiptv.com, and Universe-ip.world domains
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`and their assigned computer servers.
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`29.
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`Any member of the public with Internet access, including Service Users, can receive
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`the Protected Channels from Defendants by simply: (1) purchasing a Universe Subscription; (2) (i)
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`downloading a Universe IPTV app from Uni-Update.com to a compatible device such as a Smart
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`TV, computer with a Windows or Mac operating system, Apple or Android device, or (ii) using an
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`Internet browser at Uni-Web.online; (3) inserting the Universe Subscription user name and
`11
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`password into the Universe IPTV app or at Uni-Web.online; and (4) selecting the Protected
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`Channels.
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`30.
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`Defendants’ World-Universeiptv.com included a “BUY NOW” link that directed
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`consumers to a shopping cart, where Defendants sold Universe Subscriptions for approximately
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`$70 for twelve months, $40 for six months, and $22 for three months of access to the channels.
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`Defendants’ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram pages also invited consumers and
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`resellers to contact them through WhatsApp to purchase Universe Subscriptions.
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`31.
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`In July 2020, DISH’s investigator contacted Defendants through WhatsApp at +43
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`676 5815048 to inquire about becoming a reseller of Universe Subscriptions. Defendants
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`responded that the price for one three month Universe Subscription was 20 Euro (approximately
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`$22) and the price for ten three month Universe Subscriptions was 200 Euro (approximately $220)
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`with payments to be made to their PayPal account h16am87@gmail.com. Defendants confirmed
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`the Universe Service works in the United States, Defendants have more than 1,000 subscribers in
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`the United States, and Defendants have one reseller in the United States. Defendants also stated
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`they live in Austria.
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`32.
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`Defendants have actual knowledge that the transmission of the Protected Channels
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`on the Universe Service infringes DISH’s copyrights. DISH and Networks sent at least 10 notices
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`of infringement between August 27, 2019 and the filing of this Complaint, demanding that
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`Defendants cease transmitting the Protected Channels identified in the notices. Defendants failed
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`to respond to these notices.
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`33.
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`DISH and Networks sent at least 14 additional notices to CDNs associated with the
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`Universe Service from August 28, 2019 to the filing of this Complaint, requesting the removal of
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`the Protected Channels. Upon information and belief, at least some of these notices were forwarded
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`12
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`to Defendants. Even when these CDNs removed the unauthorized content based on Defendants’
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`copyright infringement, Defendants intentionally interfered with the takedown efforts by, for
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`example, transmitting the Protected Channels from different CDNs or locations.
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`CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
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`Count I
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`Direct Copyright Infringement Under 17 U.S.C. § 501
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`DISH repeats and realleges the allegations in paragraphs 1-33.
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`DISH is a copyright owner under 17 U.S.C. § 106 because DISH holds the exclusive
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`34.
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`35.
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`rights to distribute and publicly perform in the United States, by means including satellite, OTT,
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`IPTV, and Internet, the programs that make up the Protected Channels.
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`36.
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`The programs that make up the Protected Channels are original audiovisual works
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`fixed in a tangible medium of expression, and are therefore copyrightable subject matter. DISH’s
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`copyrights in programs that aired on the Protected Channels arise under laws of nations other than
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`the United States that are parties to copyright treaties with the United States, including the United
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`Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh where the programs were
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`authored and first published. Under 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 411, the programs that make up the Protected
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`Channels are non-United States works and, therefore, registration with the United States Copyright
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`Office is not a prerequisite to filing a copyright infringement action with respect to these works.
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`37.
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`Defendants directly infringe DISH’s copyrights in violation of 17 U.S.C. § 501 by
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`distributing and publicly performing programs that make up the Protected Channels to Service
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`Users, including the works identified in Exhibits 1-2. The copyrighted programs were transmitted
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`from computer servers controlled by Defendants to Service Users who accessed the programs using
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`the Universe Service.
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`13
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`38.
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`DISH has not authorized Defendants to distribute or publicly perform the programs
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`that make up the Protected Channels in any manner.
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`39.
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`The infringement of DISH’s rights in each program constitutes a separate and
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`distinct act of copyright infringement.
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`40.
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`Defendants’ actions are willful, malicious, intentional, purposeful, and in disregard
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`of and with indifference to the rights of DISH.
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`41.
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`Unless enjoined by the Court, Defendants will continue to engage in acts causing
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`substantial and irreparable injury to DISH that includes damage to its reputation, loss of goodwill,
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`and lost sales, for which there is no adequate remedy at law.
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`PRAYER FOR RELIEF
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`
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`WHEREFORE, DISH prays for judgment against Defendants as follows:
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`A.
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`For a grant of permanent injunctive relief under 17 U.S.C. § 502 restraining and
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`enjoining Defendants, and any of their agents, servants, employees, attorneys, or other persons
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`acting in active concert or participation with any of the foregoing that receives actual notice of the
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`order (including, without limitation, resellers of the Universe Service), from:
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` 1.
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`transmitting, streaming, distributing, or publicly performing in the United
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`States, with any Universe Subscription, Universe IPTV app, or any other device, application,
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`service, or process, any of the Protected Channels or any of the programming that comprises any
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`of the Protected Channels;
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`2.
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`distributing, selling, providing, or promoting any product or service in the
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`United States, including any Universe Subscription or Universe IPTV app, that comprises the
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`whole or part of a network or service for the distribution or public performance of any of the
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`Protected Channels or any of the programming that comprises any of the Protected Channels;
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`3.
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`advertising, displaying, or marketing any Universe Subscription, Universe
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`IPTV app, or other service in connection with the Protected Channels or the programming that
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`comprises the Protected Channels; and
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`4.
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`inducing or contributing to another’s conduct that falls within 1, 2, or 3
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`above.
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`
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`B.
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`For 37 or more registered works, statutory damages as awarded by the Court up to
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`$150,000 per registered work infringed under 17 U.S.C. § 504(c), or the Defendants’ profits
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`attributable to the infringement of those registered works under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b).
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`
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`C.
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`For unregistered works, an award of Defendants’ profits attributable to the
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`infringement of each unregistered work under 17 U.S.C. § 504(b).
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`D.
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`E.
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`F.
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`For DISH’s attorneys’ fees and costs under 17 U.S.C. § 505.
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`For impoundment and disposition of all infringing articles under 17 U.S.C. § 503.
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`For an order permanently transferring each domain name that Defendants used in
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`connection with the infringement to DISH.
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`
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`G.
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`For pre- and post-judgment interest on all monetary relief, from the earliest date
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`permitted by law at the maximum rate permitted by law.
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`
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`H.
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`For such additional relief as the Court deems just and equitable.
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`Dated: August 24, 2020
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`Respectfully submitted,
`HAGAN NOLL & BOYLE LLC
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`By: /s/ Stephen M. Ferguson
`
`Stephen M. Ferguson (attorney-in-charge)
`Texas Bar No. 24035248
`Southern District of Texas Bar No. 614706
`Two Memorial City Plaza
`820 Gessner, Suite 940
`Houston, Texas 77024
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`Telephone: (713) 343-0478
`Facsimile: (713) 758-0146
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`Joseph H. Boyle (of counsel)
`Texas Bar No. 24031757
`Southern District of Texas Bar No. 30740
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`Counsel for Plaintiff DISH Network L.L.C.
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