{"cached_at":"2026-11-12T10:53:41.694114+00:00","cl_docket_id":"16373700","docket":{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","id":16373700,"court":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/courts/txwd/","court_id":"txwd","original_court_info":null,"idb_data":{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/fjc-integrated-database/25698343/","date_created":"2020-08-27T02:55:43.239201-07:00","date_modified":"2022-01-28T10:28:24.277884-08:00","dataset_source":9,"office":"1","docket_number":"1901037","origin":1,"date_filed":"2019-10-23","jurisdiction":3,"nature_of_suit":820,"title":"17","section":"0101","subsection":"","diversity_of_residence":null,"class_action":null,"monetary_demand":0,"county_of_residence":88888,"arbitration_at_filing":"","arbitration_at_termination":"","multidistrict_litigation_docket_number":"","plaintiff":"HIRSCH","defendant":"OWEN, ET AL","date_transfer":null,"transfer_office":"","transfer_docket_number":"","transfer_origin":"","date_terminated":"2020-01-09","termination_class_action_status":null,"procedural_progress":10,"disposition":17,"nature_of_judgement":0,"amount_received":0,"judgment":3,"pro_se":2,"year_of_tape":2020,"nature_of_offense":"","version":null,"circuit":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/courts/ca5/","district":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/courts/txwd/"},"clusters":[],"audio_files":[],"assigned_to":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/people/2573/","referred_to":null,"bankruptcy_information":null,"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.689999-07:00","date_modified":"2021-11-16T14:45:14.010608-08:00","source":9,"appeal_from_str":"","assigned_to_str":"Robert Pitman","referred_to_str":"","panel_str":"","date_last_index":"2021-11-16T14:45:14.010616-08:00","date_cert_granted":null,"date_cert_denied":null,"date_argued":null,"date_reargued":null,"date_reargument_denied":null,"date_filed":"2019-10-23","date_terminated":"2020-01-09","date_last_filing":"2020-01-10","case_name_short":"Hirsch","case_name":"Hirsch v. Owen","case_name_full":"","slug":"hirsch-v-owen","docket_number":"1:19-cv-01037","docket_number_core":"1901037","docket_number_raw":"1:19-cv-01037","docket_number_source":0,"federal_dn_office_code":"","federal_dn_case_type":"","federal_dn_judge_initials_assigned":"","federal_dn_judge_initials_referred":"","federal_defendant_number":null,"pacer_case_id":"1064628","cause":"","nature_of_suit":"820 Copyright","jury_demand":"","jurisdiction_type":"Federal question","appellate_fee_status":"","appellate_case_type_information":"","mdl_status":"","filepath_ia":"","filepath_ia_json":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"ia_needs_upload":true,"ia_date_first_change":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.685870-07:00","date_blocked":null,"blocked":false,"appeal_from":null,"parent_docket":null,"tags":[],"panel":[]},"parties":[],"entries":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/115414967/","id":115414967,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/119780386/","id":119780386,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/13/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-01-10T08:14:33.328265-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-03T06:40:40.026239-08:00","sha1":"20d0f8e8398c7b1a029af80e27edac515b5882ee","page_count":1,"file_size":143099,"filepath_local":"recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.13.0.pdf","filepath_ia":"https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.13.0.pdf","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 13 Filed 01/09/20 Page 1 of 1\n\n\n\n                             IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT\n                              FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS\n                                       AUSTIN DIVISION\n\nSTEVEN HIRSCH,                                       \u00a7\n                                                     \u00a7\n                Plaintiff,                           \u00a7\n                                                     \u00a7\nv.                                                   \u00a7                    1:19-CV-1037-RP\n                                                     \u00a7\nDOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN, OWEN                           \u00a7\nMEDIA GROUP LLC, and DOES 1 through                  \u00a7\n10 inclusive,                                        \u00a7\n                                                     \u00a7\n                                                     \u00a7\n                Defendants.                          \u00a7\n\n                                         FINAL JUDGMENT\n\n        On January 8, 2020, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal agreeing to dismiss this case\n\nwith prejudice. (Dkt. 12). \u201cStipulated dismissals under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) . . . require no judicial\n\naction or approval and are effective automatically upon filing.\u201d Yesh Music v. Lakewood Church, 727\n\nF.3d 356, 362 (5th Cir. 2013). As nothing remains to resolve, the Court renders final judgment\n\npursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58.\n\n        IT IS ORDERED that the case is CLOSED.\n\n        All pending motions in this case are DISMISSED AS MOOT.\n\n        IT IS ORDERED that each party bear its own costs.\n\n        SIGNED on January 9, 2020.\n\n\n\n\n                                               ROBERT PITMAN\n                                               UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE\n\f","ocr_status":2,"date_upload":"2020-11-02T19:09:15.966799-08:00","document_number":"13","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023819663","is_available":true,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Judgment","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2020-01-10T08:14:33.321342-08:00","date_modified":"2020-01-10T08:14:33.322247-08:00","date_filed":"2020-01-10","time_filed":null,"entry_number":13,"recap_sequence_number":"2020-01-10.001","pacer_sequence_number":45,"description":"","tags":[]},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/115414959/","id":115414959,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/119780378/","id":119780378,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/14/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-01-10T08:14:33.004313-08:00","date_modified":"2020-01-10T08:14:33.007885-08:00","sha1":"","page_count":null,"file_size":null,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"14","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023819718","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Report on Copyright (AO-121)","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2020-01-10T08:14:32.997512-08:00","date_modified":"2020-01-10T08:14:32.998103-08:00","date_filed":"2020-01-10","time_filed":null,"entry_number":14,"recap_sequence_number":"2020-01-10.001","pacer_sequence_number":47,"description":"","tags":[]},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/115130920/","id":115130920,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/119494509/","id":119494509,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/12/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-01-08T13:06:58.386591-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-03T06:40:34.778976-08:00","sha1":"e318eb287b9c3d106b09680e9ae7dbb42c902c42","page_count":3,"file_size":197902,"filepath_local":"recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.12.0.pdf","filepath_ia":"https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.12.0.pdf","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"              5:18-cv-01146-XR Document 12\n         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP          25 Filed 01/08/20\n                                                 01/03/20 Page 1 of 3\n                                                                    4\n\n\n\nMathew K. Higbee, Esq., SBN #24076924\nmhigbee@higbeeassociates.com\nHIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\nSanta Ana, CA 92705-5418\n(714) 617-8350\n(714) 597-6729 facsimile\nCounsel for Plaintiff\n\nDouglas William Owen, Pro Se\nOWEN MEDIA GROUP LLC\n2400 Willow Way\nRound Rock, TX 786644\nDefendant\n\n\n\n                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT\n                      WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS\n\nSTEVEN HIRSCH,                                Case No. 1:19-cv-1037-RP\n\n                         Plaintiff,\n                                              STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL\nv.\n\nDOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN; OWEN\nMEDIA GROUP LLC; and DOES 1\nthrough 10 inclusive,\n\n                         Defendants.\n\n\n\n\n      The parties, having settled this action, hereby agree to dismiss this case with\n\nprejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). The parties further stipulate\n\nthat each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys\u2019 fees.\n\n\n                                          1\n\f              5:18-cv-01146-XR Document 12\n         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP          25 Filed 01/08/20\n                                                 01/03/20 Page 2 of 3\n                                                                    4\n\n\n\n\n      The undersigned filer also hereby attests that all signatories listed, and on\n\nwhose behalf the filing is submitted, concur in the filing\u2019s content and have\n\nauthorized the filing.\n\n\n\nDated: January 3, 2020                      Respectfully submitted,\n\n                                            /s/ Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                            Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                            Texas Bar No. 24076924\n                                            HIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n                                            1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\n                                            Santa Ana, CA 92705-5418\n                                            (714) 617-8350\n                                            (714) 597-6729 facsimile\n                                            Counsel for Plaintiff\n\n\nDated: January 3, 2020                      Respectfully submitted,\n\n                                            /s/ Douglas William Owen\n                                            Douglas William Owen\n                                            Owen Media Group LLC\n                                            2400 Willow Way\n                                            Round Rock, TX 78664\n                                            Defendant\n\n\n\n\n                                        2\n\f              5:18-cv-01146-XR Document 12\n         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP          25 Filed 01/08/20\n                                                 01/03/20 Page 3 of 3\n                                                                    4\n\n\n\n\n                       CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE\n\n      I am, and was at the time the herein mentioned service took place, a citizen\nof the United States, over the age of eighteen (18) years and not a party to the\nabove-entitled case.\n      I am employed in Higbee & Associates\u2019 Copyright Division.\n      My business address is Higbee & Associates, 1504 Brookhollow Dr. #112,\nSanta Ana, CA 92705.\n       On the date that this declaration was executed, as shown below, I served the\nforegoing\n                        STIPULATION OF DISMISSAL\n\nvia regular mail and electronic mail to the following:\n\n\n                   Doug Owen\n                   Owen Media Group, LLC\n                   2460 Willow Way\n                   Round Rock, TX 78664\n                   doug@blacklistednews.com\n\n\n      I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.\nExecuted on January 3, 2020 at Santa Ana, CA.\n\n\n                                              /s/ Saba A. Basria\n                                              Saba A. Basria\n\n\n\n\n                                          3\n\f","ocr_status":2,"date_upload":"2020-11-02T19:09:37.994976-08:00","document_number":"12","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023796483","is_available":true,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Stipulation of 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         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 1 of 9\n\n\n\nMathew K. Higbee, Esq., SBN #24076924\nmhigbee@higbeeassociates.com\nHIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\nSanta Ana, CA 92705-5418\n(714) 617-8350\n(714) 597-6729 facsimile\nCounsel for Plaintiff\n\n\n\n                    UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT\n                     WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS\n\n STEVEN HIRSCH,                             Case No. 1:19-cv-01037-RP\n\n                        Plaintiff,\n                                            MOTION TO STRIKE\n                                            DEFENDANT\u2019S ANSWER\n v.\n\n DOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN; OWEN\n MEDIA GROUP LLC; and DOES 1\n through 10 inclusive,\n\n                        Defendants.\n\n\n\n             MOTION TO STRIKE DEFENDANT\u2019S ANSWER\n\n      Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f) and 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1654,\n\nPlaintiff Steven Hirsch (\u201cPlaintiff\u201d or \u201cHirsch\u201d) by and through his undersigned\n\ncounsel moves to strike Defendants Douglas William Owen (\u201cOwen\u201d) and Owen\n\nMedia Group LLC (\u201cOMG LLC\u201d) (collectively \u201cDefendants\u201d) Answer on the\n\ngrounds that the affirmative defenses raised therein are insufficiently pled and\n\n\n\n                                        1\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 2 of 9\n\n\n\n\nDefendant OMG LLC as a corporation must be represented by counsel. The parties\n\nconferred between November 10, 2019 and November 20, 2019, but were unable to\n\nreach a consensus about the matter.\n\nI.     INTRODUCTION\n\n       Plaintiff Steven Hirsch is a professional photographer by trade whose work\n\nhas appeared in a number of prominent publications. (Doc. No. 1 at \u00b6 14.) Plaintiff\n\nis the sole author and exclusive rights holder to a photograph of a man in court (the\n\n\u201cImage\u201d). (Id. at \u00b6 15.) The Image was registered with the United States Copyright\n\nOffice under registration number VA 2-109-219. (Id. at \u00b6 16.) The Image was\n\noriginally published in an article by the New York Post on June 12, 2018, with credit\n\ngiven to Hirsch. (Id. at \u00b6 17.) On or about December 6, 2018, Plaintiff discovered\n\nthat   Defendant   had    used   the   Image    in   an   article   on   his   website,\n\nwww.blacklistednews.com, without a license and without any prior authorization.\n\n(Id. at \u00b6 19.) On or about October 23, 2019, Plaintiff commenced this action by\n\nfiling a complaint for copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 101, et seq., and\n\nremoval of copyright management information pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1202. (Doc.\n\nNo. 1.) Defendants were served on or about October 31, 2019. (Doc. No. 7.)\n\nDefendant filed his Answer on or about November 4, 2019. (Doc. No. 8.) The\n\nparties have been in contact with one another in an effort to resolve this matter. The\n\nDefendants are aware of Plaintiff\u2019s contentions with respect to the affirmative\n\n\n\n                                           2\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 3 of 9\n\n\n\n\ndefenses raised, but still believe they are entitled to safe harbor protection. The\n\nparties have been unable to come to an agreement; therefore, Plaintiff moves to\n\nstrike Defendants\u2019 Answer as it is both factually and legally insufficient. Plaintiff\n\nalso moves to strike on the grounds that Defendant Owen Media Group LLC must\n\nbe represented by counsel because it is a corporation.\n\nII.    LEGAL STANDARD\n\n       Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), a \u201ccourt may strike from a\n\npleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or\n\nscandalous matter.\u201d Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(c) requires a defendant to\n\n\u201cplead an affirmative defense with enough specificity or factual particularity to give\n\nthe plaintiff \u2018fair notice\u2019 of the defense that is being advanced.\u201d Rogers v.\n\nMcDorman, 521 F.3d 381, 385 (5th Cir.2008); Woodfield v. Bowman, 193 F.3d 354,\n\n362 (5th Cir.1999).      \u201cFair notice\u201d is satisfied if the defense is \u201csufficiently\n\narticulated ... so that the plaintiff is not a victim of unfair surprise.\u201d See Woodfield at\n\n362.\n\n       Rule 12(f)\u2019s purpose is to \u201cavoid the expenditure of time and money that must\n\narise from litigating spurious issues by dispensing with those issues prior to trial.\u201d\n\nFantasy, Inc. v. Fogerty, 984 F.2d 1524, 1527. Rule 12(f) is also designed to\n\n\u201creinforce the requirement in Rule 8(e) that pleadings be simple, concise, and\n\ndirect.\u201d 5C Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure\n\n\n\n                                             3\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 4 of 9\n\n\n\n\n\u00a7 1380 (3d. ed. 2014). Although not generally favored, motions to strike should\n\nnonetheless be granted if the asserted defenses are insufficient as a matter of law,\n\nwill confuse the issues in the case, or will otherwise prejudice the moving party. See,\n\ne.g., Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Sales, Inc. v. Avondale Shipyards, Inc., 677 F.2d\n\n1045, 1057\u201361 (5th Cir. 1982); Waste Mgmt. Holdings, Inc. v. Gilmore, 252 F.3d\n\n316, 347 (4th Cir. 2001); Rodriguez v. Physician Lab. Servs., LLC, No. 7:13-cv-622,\n\n2014 WL 847126, at *2\u20133 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 4, 2014); Rice v. Reliastar Life Ins. Co.,\n\nNo. 11-cv-44-BAJ-M2, 2011 WL 1168520, at *2\u20134 (M.D. La. Mar. 29, 2011). See\n\ngenerally 5C Wright & Miller, supra, \u00a7 1381.\n\n      A defense is insufficient under Rule 12(f) when, assuming the truth of all facts\n\nalleged, the defense remains facially invalid as a matter of law. Kaiser Aluminum,\n\n677 F.2d at 1057; see also EEOC v. First Nat\u2019l Bank of Jackson, 614 F.2d 1004,\n\n1008 (5th Cir. 1980) (\u201cAn affirmative Case 2:13-cv-00193 Document 456 Filed in\n\nTXSD on 08/07/14 Page 2 of 10 3 defense is not valid if it appears to a certainty that\n\nthe plaintiff would succeed despite any set of facts which could be proved in support\n\nof the defense.\u201d).\n\n      \u201c\u2018Immaterial\u2019 matter is that which has no essential or important relationship to\n\nthe claim for relief or the defenses being pleaded.\u201d 5C Wright & Miller, supra, \u00a7\n\n1382; see also Marceaux v. Lafayette Consol. Gov\u2019t, No. 6:12-cv-01532, 2012 WL\n\n5197667, at *1 (W.D. La. Oct. 18, 2012); Adm\u2019rs of the Tulane Educ. Fund v.\n\n\n\n                                           4\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 5 of 9\n\n\n\n\nBiomeasure, Inc., No. 08-cv-5096, 2011 WL 3268108, at *4 (E.D. La. July 28,\n\n2011). Striking immaterial allegations ensures that later proceedings will focus only\n\non claims that are actually relevant to the litigation. See Corley v. Louisiana, No. 06-\n\n882-SCR, 2010 WL 3259376, at *2 (M.D. La. Aug. 16, 2010).\n\n       Similarly, \u201c\u2018impertinent\u2019 matter consists of statements that do not pertain, and\n\nare not necessary, to the issues in question.\u201d 5C Wright & Miller, supra, \u00a7 1382; see\n\nalso Marceaux, 2012 WL 5197667, at *1.\n\n       Plaintiff also moves to strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1654, which states that\n\nparties may plead and conduct their cases personally or by counsel.            When a\n\ncorporation declines to hire counsel to represent it, the court may dismiss its claims\n\nif it is a plaintiff, or strike its defenses if it is a defendant. See Donovan v. Rd.\n\nRangers Country Junction, Inc., 736 F.2d 1004, 1005 (5th Cir. 1984).\n\nIII.   ARGUMENT\n\n       A. Defendants\u2019 DMCA Defense Is Factually and Legally Insufficient.\n\n        Defendants raise one potential affirmative defense, namely that they have\n\nacted in accordance with 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 512, or the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,\n\nand are therefore entitled to safe harbor protection. However, in order to receive the\n\nbenefit of this defense, Defendants must comply with the statutory formalities of\n\nSafe Harbor, which includes the designation of a registered agent for receiving\n\ntakedown notices. See 17 U.S.C. 512(c)(2).\n\n\n\n                                            5\n\f            Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 6 of 9\n\n\n\n\n         In fact, Section 512(c)(2) \u201cplainly specifies that a registered agent is a\n\npredicate, express condition\u201d that must be met and that \u201cthe safe harbor will apply\n\n\u2018only if\u2019 in the directory of agents.\u2019\u201d Perfect 10, Inc. v. Yandex, N.V., C 12-01521\n\nWHA, 2013 WL 1899851, at *8 (N.D. Cal. May 7, 2013). Typically, designating a\n\nDMCA-related agent after the fact does not retroactively protect a service provider\n\nfrom infringing activity that occurred before the designation. Nat\u2019l Photo Group,\n\nLLC v. Allvoices, Inc., C-13-03627, JSC, 2014 WL 280391, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 24,\n\n2014); see also Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A. v. Akanoc Solutions, Inc., C 07-03952\n\nJW, 2010 WL 5598337, at *7 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2010) (\u201cAt a minimum,\n\nDefendants would not be able to claim the protection of the safe harbor provisions\n\nprior to designating an agent.\u201d); see also Oppenheimer v. Allvoices, Inc., C 14-00499\n\nLB 2014 WL 2604033 at *5 (N.D. Cal. June 10, 2014).\n\n         Here, Defendants have failed to allege any facts supporting that they have\n\ncomplied with the statutory formalities of 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 512(c) by designating a\n\nregistered agent with the United States Copyright Office.           Nor is any such\n\ninformation available for Defendants\u2019 Website through the DMCA Designated\n\nAgent Directory. Proof of compliance remains the Defendants\u2019 burden to prove, and\n\nas alleged this defense remains both factually and legally insufficient. Therefore, the\n\nCourt should strike this defense.\n\n /////\n\n\n\n                                           6\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 7 of 9\n\n\n\n\n      B. Defendant OMG LLC Must Be Represented By Counsel.\n\n        Supreme Court precedent provides that \u201c[i]t has been the law for the better\n\npart of two centuries, for example, that a corporation may appear in the federal\n\ncourts only through local counsel.\u201d Rowland v. California Men\u2019s Colony, Unit II\n\nMen\u2019s Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 201 (1993) (internal citations omitted).\n\n        It is also well established in the Fifth Circuit that \u201ca corporation can appear\n\nin a court of record only by an attorney at law.\u201d Sw. Exp. Co. v. I.C.C., 670 F.2d 53,\n\n55\u201356 (5th Cir. 1982) (finding that \u201c[c]orporations and partnerships, both of which\n\nare fictional legal persons, obviously cannot appear for themselves personally[,] and\n\nthat this contention has been \u201cconsistently rejected when raised.\u201d); Memon v. Allied\n\nDomecq QSR, 385 F.3d 871, 873 (5th Cir. 2004) (\u201cHowever, \u2018a corporation can\n\nappear in a court of record only by an attorney at law.\u2019\u201d); Donovan, 736 F.2d at\n\n1005 (noting that \u201cthe \u2018clear\u2019 rule is \u2018that a corporation as a fictional legal person\n\ncan only be represented by counsel.\u2019\u201d). This not only appears to be established\n\nfederal precedent, but also a state law. See In re Cash Media Sys., Inc., 326 B.R.\n\n655, 673 (S.D. Tex. 2005) (noting that state law controls and that \u201cTexas law does\n\nnot permit a corporation to represent itself in court.\u201d). The rule applies \u201c \u2018even when\n\nthe person seeking to represent the corporation is its president and major\n\nstockholder.\u2019\u201d United States v. Estate of Goehring, No. 17-cv-1092-XR, 2018 WL\n\n1530995, at *1 (W.D. Tex. Feb. 13, 2018) (quoting In re K.M.A., Inc., 652 F.2d 398,\n\n\n\n                                           7\n\f             Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 8 of 9\n\n\n\n\n399 (5th Cir. 1981)). The Court may, in its discretion, determine the appropriate\n\nmeasure to be taken when a corporation fails to hire counsel by striking its pleadings\n\nor entering default. Hamilton v. EnerSafe, Inc., No. 1:15-cv-965-DAE, 2018 WL\n\n7822066, at *1 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 6, 2018); Mont Vernon Fire Ins. Co. v.\n\nObodoechina, 1:08-cv-3258, 2009 WL 242326, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 19, 2009)\n\n(\u201cWhen a business is without counsel, it is appropriate to instruct the business that it\n\nmust retain counsel. If after sufficient time to obtain counsel, there is no appearance\n\nby counsel, judgment may be entered against the business entity by default.\u201d).\n\n          Here, Defendant Owen appears to answer on behalf of himself and\n\nDefendant OMG LLC. This is improper as Defendant OMG LLC is a corporate\n\nentity, and must retain legal counsel for representation. Plaintiff therefore requests\n\nthat the Court strike Defendants\u2019 Answer and instruct that it retain counsel in this\n\nmatter.\n\nIV.   CONCLUSION\n\n          For the reasons stated above, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court\n\nstrike Defendants\u2019 Answer as its affirmative defenses are insufficiently pled and\n\nDefendant OMG LLC cannot appear in pro per.\n\n\n\n\n                                            8\n\f        Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 9 Filed 11/25/19 Page 9 of 9\n\n\n\n\nDated: November 25, 2019                      Respectfully submitted,\n\n                                        /s/ Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                        Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                        Texas Bar No. 24076924\n                                        HIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n                                        1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\n                                        Santa Ana, CA 92705-5418\n                                        (714) 617-8350\n                                        (714) 597-6729 facsimile\n                                        Counsel for Plaintiff\n\n\n\n\n                                    9\n\f","ocr_status":2,"date_upload":"2020-11-02T19:13:29.301640-08:00","document_number":"9","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023542234","is_available":true,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Strike","acms_document_guid":""},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/150724141/","id":150724141,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/9/1/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-11-02T19:13:22.863176-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-02T19:13:22.866334-08:00","sha1":"","page_count":2,"file_size":73728,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"9","attachment_number":1,"pacer_doc_id":"181023542235","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":2,"description":"Proposed Order Proposed Order","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2019-11-25T22:15:16.832200-08:00","date_modified":"2019-11-25T22:15:16.833673-08:00","date_filed":"2019-11-26","time_filed":null,"entry_number":9,"recap_sequence_number":"2019-11-26.001","pacer_sequence_number":31,"description":"","tags":[]},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/108278093/","id":108278093,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/112589073/","id":112589073,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/8/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2019-11-04T12:04:39.937380-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-03T06:40:29.629800-08:00","sha1":"6f584c120d73c725776fb9609dda3c84150cba37","page_count":3,"file_size":87836,"filepath_local":"recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.8.0.pdf","filepath_ia":"https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628/gov.uscourts.txwd.1064628.8.0.pdf","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"            Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 8 Filed 11/04/19 Page 1 of 3\n\nCase t.19-cv-1037-RP Document       I Fed 11/4/2019      Page   1   of 3\n\n\n                        UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT\n                                                                                  2019 NOy\n                                              For the.                                            H tO: 27\n                           WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS\n\nSTEVEN HIRSCH\n     Plaintiff,\n\nV.\n\n                                                   Civil Action No, 1:1 9-cv-1 037-RP\n DOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN; OWEN MEDIA\n GROUP LLC\n     DEFENDANT(s)\n\n\n\n\n       DEFENDANTS' ANSWER IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT FOR\n        DAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FROM COPYRIGHT\n                        INFRINGEMENT\n\n\n\nPlaintiff Steven Hirsch, for his complaint against Douglas William Owen and Owen Media Group\n                  LLC, Defendants (collectively \"defendants\") answer as follows:\n\n1-3.     Admit.\n4.       Admit that Plaintiff alleges that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction as provided by\n28 USC \u00a7 1331, and 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1338(a)\n5.       Admit that Plaintiff alleges that this Court has jurisdiction over the Defendant because the\nDefendants principal place of business is in the state of Texas.\n6.       Deny the Plaintiff's claim that a substantial part of these events occurred in this ludicial\ndistrict. Admit that the Plaintiff alleges that the venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.0 \u00a7 1319(b)\n7.       Admit plaintiff alleges he is a professional photographer.\n8.       Admit plaintiff alleges he is \"copyright owner\" who holds \"exclusive rights\" to his\ncopyrighted works.\n9.        Admit.\n10.       Defendant denies that he published the Plaintiff's copyrighted work. Admit that the\nDefendant's work did appear on the Plaintiff's website.\n11.       Admit.\n12.       Admit.\n13-19. Deny knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth.\n20.    Deny.\n\f               Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 8 Filed 11/04/19 Page 2 of 3\n\nCase 1:19-cv-1037-RP Document          I   Filed 11/4/2019   Page 2 of 3\n\n\n21.    Defendant denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth.\n22.    Deny.\n23.    Deny.\n24.    Admit.\n25.    Deny knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth.\n26.    Deny.\n27- 31. Defendant denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth.\n32- 35. Defendant denies each and every allegation in paragraphs 32-35 of the Complaint.\n36.    Deny.\n37.    Defendant denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth.\n\n38.    With respect to the prayer contained on pages 8-9 of the Complaint, the Defendant\ndenies that any of the alleged acts or omissions caused Plaintiffs or the putative class members\nany damages and the Defendant denies that Plaintiffs are entitled to recover any damages or\nany other relief from him.\n\n\n\n\n      1.   The Defendants' deny plaintiff has sustained any damage, deny the nature and extent of\n           damage (if any) and deny they caused plaintiff to sustain any damage.\n\n      2. The Defendants' upon notice, acted in accordance with Title II of the 1998 Digital\n         Millennium Copyright Act is known as the Online Copyright Infringement Liability\n         Limitation Act (OCILLA) (17 U.S.C. 512)\n\n           DMCA OCILLA proves safe harbors which effectively protect most telecommunications\n           companies, internet access providers, bulletin board operators, hosts, intermediaries,\n           and \"online service providers\" of all kinds from contributory or vicarious copyright liability\n           based on infringements by hosted subscribers and others whose content is transmitted,\n           stored, etc. by such online service providers. See Costar Group, Inc. v. Loopnet, Inc.,\n           164 F.Supp. 2d 688 (D.Md. 2001); ALS Scan, Inc. V. RemarQ Communities, Inc., 239\n           F.3d 619 (4th Cir. 2001); Hendrickson v. eBay, Inc., 165 F.Supp. 2d 1082 (C. D. Cal.\n           2001); Perfect 10, Inc. v. Cybemet Ventures, Inc., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7333 (Filed\n           April 22, 2002 C. D. Cal.). 3. For leading case on scope of safe harbors in context of\n           Internet peer-to-peer file sharing, see A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc., 239 F.3d 1004\n           (9th Cir.2001); for analysis of Napster cases, see David L. Hayes, \"Advanced Copyright\n           Issues on the Internet,\"\n           http://www.fenwick.com/docstore/355lAdvanced_Copyright_02-29- 04.pdf.\n\n      3. It is the Defendants' policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with\n         the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (found at the U.S. Copyright Office) and other\n\f                  Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 8 Filed 11/04/19 Page 3 of 3\nCase 1:19-cv-1037-RP Document              I   Filed 11/4/2019   Page 3 of 3\n\n\n              applicable intellectual property laws. It is Defendants' policy to remove material from\n              public view that we believe in good faith to be copyrighted material that has been illegally\n              copied and distributed by any of our members or users. It is also the Defendants' policy\n              to terminate the accounts of repeat offenders. If the Defendants' remove or disables\n              access to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act he will make a good-faith\n              attempt to contact the owner, author, or administrator of each affected site so that they\n              may make a counter notification pursuant to sections 51 2(g)(2) and (3) of that Act.\n\nThe Defendants' reserve the right to file an Amended Defendant's Answer with the Court to\nplead additional verified pleas, affirmative defenses and claims, cross-claims or third-party\nclaims, as applicable, after further investigation and discovery.\n\nWHEREFORE, Defendants respectfully request that this Court:\n\ni.    Enter judgment on Defendants' behalf on each of the counts in Plaintiff's complaint;\n\nii.    Dismiss the complaint with prejudice,\n\nlii.   I   also ask for such relief as the court finds equitable and just.\n\n\n\n\nDated November 4, 2019                                                         Respectfully submitted,\n\n\n\n\n                                                                                             Defendants\n                                                                               DOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN;\n                                                                               OWEN MEDIA GROUP LLC\n                                                                                        2400 Willow Way\n                                                                                   Round Rock, Tx 78664\n\f","ocr_status":2,"date_upload":"2020-11-02T19:10:07.907364-08:00","document_number":"8","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023399092","is_available":true,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Answer to 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          Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 1 of 10\n\n\n\n\nMathew K. Higbee, Esq., SBN #24076924\nmhigbee@higbeeassociates.com\nHIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\nSanta Ana, CA 92705-5418\n(714) 617-8350\n(714) 597-6729 facsimile\nCounsel for Plaintiff\n\n                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT\n                      WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS\n\nSTEVEN HIRSCH,                              Case No. 1:19-cv-1037\n\n                         Plaintiff,\n                                            COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND\n                                            INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FROM\nv.                                          COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT\n\nDOUGLAS WILLIAM OWEN; OWEN DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL\nMEDIA GROUP LLC; and DOES 1\nthrough 10 inclusive,\n\n                         Defendant.\n\n\n\n      Plaintiff Steven Hirsch, for his Complaint against Douglas William Owen\n\nand Owen Media Group LLC, Defendants, alleges as follows:\n\n                                 INTRODUCTION\n\n      1.      Steven Hirsch (hereinafter \u201cPlaintiff\u201d or \u201cHirsch\u201d), by counsel,\n\nbrings this action to challenge the actions of Douglas William Owen and Owen\n\nMedia Group LLC (hereinafter \u201cDefendants\u201d), with regard to the unlawful use of\n\ncopyrighted image (hereinafter \u201cImage\u201d) owned by Plaintiff, and this conduct\n\n\n                                        1\n\f           Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 2 of 10\n\n\n\n\ncaused Plaintiff damages.\n\n      2.      For the purposes of this Complaint for Damages, unless otherwise\n\nindicated, \u201cDefendant\u201d includes all agents, employees, officers, members,\n\ndirectors, heirs, successors, assigns, principals, trustees, sureties, subrogates,\n\nrepresentatives and insurers of Defendant(s) named in this caption.\n\n                         JURISDICTION AND VENUE\n\n      3.      This is a civil action seeking damages and injunction relief for\n\ncopyright infringement under the Copyright Act of the United States, 17 U.S.C. \u00a7\n\n101, whereby the defendant violated plaintiff\u2019s exclusive rights as copyright\n\nowner pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 106 and 106A.\n\n      4.      This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff\u2019s claims for\n\ncopyright infringement pursuant to 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1331 and 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1338(a).\n\n      5.      This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because\n\nDefendant\u2019s principal place of business is in the State of Texas, Defendant is a\n\nbusiness entity incorporated in the State of Texas, Defendant\u2019s acts of\n\ninfringement complained of herein occurred in the State of Texas, and Defendant\n\nhas caused injury to Plaintiff in his intellectual property within the State of Texas.\n\n      6.      Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1391(b) because the\n\nDefendant resides in this judicial district and a substantial part of the events giving\n\nrise to Plaintiff\u2019s claim occurred in this judicial district. Alternatively, venue is\n\n\n\n                                           2\n\f            Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 3 of 10\n\n\n\n\nalso proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. \u00a7 1400(b) because the Defendant resides,\n\ncommitted the acts of infringement, and has a regular and established place of\n\nbusiness in this judicial district.\n\n                                       PARTIES\n\n       7.      Plaintiff Steven Hirschh (\u201cPlaintiff\u201d or \u201cHirsch\u201d) is a professional\n\nphotographer by trade residing in the City of New York in the State of New York.\n\n       8.      Plaintiff is a \u201ccopyright owner\u201d who holds \u201cexclusive rights\u201d to his\n\n\u201ccopyrighted work[s]\u201d pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a7 101, 106, and 106A.\n\n       9.      Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that\n\nDefendant is a business entity operating from the City of Round Rock, in the State\n\nof Texas, and has conducted business within the City of Round Rock, in the State\n\nof   Texas     at:   1007   Green     Valley,   Round   Rock,   TX   78664.     See\n\nwww.blacklistednews.com for Defendant\u2019s contact information.           A true and\n\ncorrect copy of the proof of ownership documents is attached hereto as Exhibit A\n\n       10.     Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that\n\nDefendant is a business entity that unlawfully published Plaintiff\u2019s copyrighted\n\nworks without Plaintiff\u2019s express or implied authority, by the method of a license.\n\n       11.     Defendant Douglas William Owen is an individual with a principal\n\nplace of business in Round Rock, Texas.\n\n       12.     Defendant Owen Media Group LLC is a Texas limited liability\n\n\n\n                                            3\n\f         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 4 of 10\n\n\n\n\ncompany with a principal place of business in Round Rock, Texas.\n\n      13.   Plaintiff is unaware of the true names and capacities of the\n\nDefendants sued herein as DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, and for that reason, sues\n\nsuch Defendants under such fictitious names. Plaintiff is informed and believes\n\nand on that basis alleges that such fictitiously named Defendants are responsible\n\nin some manner for the occurrences herein alleged, and that Plaintiff\u2019s damages as\n\nherein alleged were proximately caused by the conduct of said Defendants.\n\nPlaintiff will seek to amend the complaint when the names and capacities of such\n\nfictitiously named Defendants are ascertained. As alleged herein, \u201cDefendants\u201d\n\nshall mean all named Defendants and all fictitiously named Defendants.\n\n                         FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS\n\n      14.   Plaintiff Steven Hirsch is a professional photographer by trade based\n\nin New York\u2019s East Village.         Hirsch\u2019s work has appeared in numerous\n\npublications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Paris\n\nReview, New York Review of Books, Paris Match, Time, Wired, Vice, Print, The\n\nHuffington Post, The Atlantic, Stern, 48 Hours, Dateline, Inside Edition, and\n\nGood Morning America.          He has taught at the International Center of\n\nPhotography, The New School, Parsons School of Design, The School of Visual\n\nArts, New York University, and Pratt Institute.\n\n      15.   Plaintiff is the sole author and exclusive rights holder to a photograph\n\n\n\n                                         4\n\f         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 5 of 10\n\n\n\n\nof a man in court (the \u201cImage\u201d). A true and correct copy of the original Image is\n\nattached hereto as Exhibit B.\n\n      16.    Plaintiff has registered the Image with the United States Copyright\n\nOffice under registration number VA 2-109-219.\n\n      17.    The Image originally appeared in an article by the New York Post\n\n(the \u201cPost\u201d) on June 12, 2018, titled Trio of crooks busted in $1.8M\n\ncryptocurrency heist (the \u201cPost Article\u201d). A true and correct copy of the Post\n\nArticle is attached hereto as Exhibit C.\n\n      18.    The Post Article included a credit below the bottom left corner\n\nattributing the Image to Hirsch. See Exhibit C.\n\n      19.    On or about December 6, 2018, Hirsch discoved that Defendant had\n\nused the Image in an article on its Website titled Cryptocurrency Millionaire\n\nKidnapped by Biker Gang, Robbed at Gunpoint for $1.8M (the \u201cInfringing\n\nArticle\u201d), excluding the credit given to Hirsch. True and correct screenshots of\n\nthe Infringing Article are attached hereto as Exhibit D.\n\n      20.    On information and belief, Defendants made an unauthorized copy of\n\nHirsch\u2019s Images taken from the Post Article, and uploaded them to the server for\n\nDefendant\u2019s Websites.\n\n      21.    Hirsch never authorized Defendants to use the Images in any manner.\n\n      22.    On information and belief, Defendants knew that it did not have\n\n\n\n                                           5\n\f         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 6 of 10\n\n\n\n\npermission to use the Images on Defendants\u2019 Website and willfully infringed\n\nHirsch\u2019s Images.\n\n      23.    On information and belief, Defendants willfully removed Hirsch\u2019s\n\nphoto attribution because Defendants knew it did not have permission to use the\n\nImages on Defendants\u2019 Website.\n\n                          FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION\n                        COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT\n                        Title 17 of the United States Code\n\n      24.    Plaintiff incorporates by reference all of the above paragraphs of this\n\nComplaint as though fully stated herein.\n\n      25.    Plaintiff did not consent to, authorize, permit, or allow in any manner\n\nthe said use of Plaintiff\u2019s unique and original materials and/or work.\n\n      26.    Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that said\n\nDefendants willfully infringed upon Plaintiff\u2019s copyrighted work in violation of\n\nTitle 17 of the U.S. Code, in that it published, communicated, benefited through,\n\nposted, publicized, and otherwise held out to the public for commercial benefit,\n\nthe original and unique work of the Plaintiff\u2019s consent or authority and acquired\n\nmonetary gain and market benefit as a result.\n\n      27.    As a result of each and every Defendants\u2019 violation of Title 17 of the\n\nU.S. Code, Plaintiff is entitled to actual damages and profits pursuant to 17 U.S.C.\n\n\u00a7504(b), or statutory damages in an amount up to $150,000.00 for each\n\n\n\n                                           6\n\f         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 7 of 10\n\n\n\n\ninfringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 504(c).\n\n      28.    As a result of the Defendants\u2019 violations of Title 17 of the U.S. code,\n\nthe court in its discretion may allow the recovery of full costs as well as\n\nreasonable attorney\u2019s fees and costs pursuant to 17 U.S.C \u00a7 505 from Defendants.\n\n      29.    Plaintiff is also entitled to injunctive relief to prevent or restrain\n\ninfringement of his copyright pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 502\n\n                 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION\n  FALSIFICATION, REMOVAL AND ALTERATION OF COPYRIGHT\n               MANAGEMENT INFORMATION\n                      17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1202\n\n      30.    Plaintiff incorporates by reference all of the above paragraphs of this\n\nComplaint as though fully stated herein.\n\n      31.    On information and belief, Defendants knew that Plaintiff created the\n\nImages because, inter alia, the source of the Images, i.e. the Post Article,\n\nspecifically attributed the Image to Plaintiff.\n\n      32.    Defendants intentionally falsified copyright management information\n\nrelated to the Images with the intent to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal an\n\ninfringement of Plaintiff\u2019s rights under the Copyright Act. Specifically,\n\nDefendants purposefully failed to credit Plaintiff in order to mislead the public\n\ninto believing that Defendants either owned the Images or had legitimately\n\nlicensed it for use in the Infringing Article.\n\n      33.    Defendants\u2019 conduct constitutes a violation of 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1202(a),\n\n                                            7\n\f         Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 8 of 10\n\n\n\n\nand 1202(b).\n\n      34.      Defendants\u2019 falsification, removal and/or alteration of that copyright\n\nmanagement       information    was   done     without   Plaintiff\u2019s   knowledge   or\n\nauthorization.\n\n      35.      Defendants\u2019 falsification of said copyright management information\n\nwas done by Defendants intentionally, knowingly, and with the intent to induce,\n\nenable, facilitate, or conceal Defendants\u2019 infringement of Plaintiff\u2019s copyright in\n\nthe Image. Defendants also knew, or had reason to know, that such removal and/or\n\nalteration of copyright management information would induce, enable, facilitate,\n\nor conceal Defendants\u2019 infringement of Plaintiff\u2019s copyright in the Image.\n\n      36.      Plaintiff has sustained significant injury and monetary damages as a\n\nresult of Defendants\u2019 wrongful acts as hereinabove alleged, and as a result of\n\nbeing involuntarily associated with Defendants in an amount to be proven.\n\n      37.      In the alternative, Plaintiff may elect to recover statutory damages\n\npursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1203(c)(3) in a sum of not more than $25,000 from\n\nDefendants for each violation of 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1202.\n\n                               PRAYER FOR RELIEF\n\n      WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays that judgment be entered against Defendants\n\n   \u2022 For statutory damages against Defendants in an amount up to $150,000.00\n\n      for each infringement pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 504(c);\n\n\n\n                                           8\n\f        Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 9 of 10\n\n\n\n\n   \u2022 For statutory damages against Defendants pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7\n\n      1203(c)(3) in a sum of not more than $25,000 for each violation\n\n      of 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 1202;\n\n   \u2022 For general and special damages against Defendants according to proof\n\n      together with interest thereon at the maximum legal rate;\n\n   \u2022 For costs of litigation and reasonable attorney\u2019s fees against Defendants\n\n      pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 505;\n\n   \u2022 For an injunction preventing Defendants from further infringement of all\n\n      copyrighted works of the Plaintiff pursuant to 17 U.S.C. \u00a7 502; and\n\n   \u2022 For any other relief the Court deems just and proper.\n\n\n\nDated: October 23, 2019                     Respectfully submitted,\n\n\n\n                                            /s/ Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                            Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                            Texas Bar No. 24076924\n                                            HIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n                                            1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\n                                            Santa Ana, CA 92705-5418\n                                            (714) 617-8350\n                                            (714) 597-6729 facsimile\n                                            Counsel for Plaintiff\n\n\n\n\n                                        9\n\f        Case 1:19-cv-01037-RP Document 1 Filed 10/23/19 Page 10 of 10\n\n\n\n\n                          DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL\n\n      Plaintiff Steven Hirsch, hereby demands a trial by jury in the above matter.\n\nDated: October 23, 2019                       Respectfully submitted,\n\n\n\n                                              /s/ Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                              Mathew K. Higbee, Esq.\n                                              Texas Bar No. 24076924\n                                              HIGBEE & ASSOCIATES\n                                              1504 Brookhollow Dr., Ste 112\n                                              Santa Ana, CA 92705-5418\n                                              (714) 617-8350\n                                              (714) 597-6729 facsimile\n                                              Counsel for Plaintiff\n\n\n\n\n                                         10\n\f","ocr_status":2,"date_upload":"2020-11-02T19:11:45.184983-08:00","document_number":"1","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023336322","is_available":true,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Complaint","acms_document_guid":""},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/150724119/","id":150724119,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/1/1/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-11-02T19:11:38.020773-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-02T19:11:38.024655-08:00","sha1":"","page_count":12,"file_size":7340032,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"1","attachment_number":1,"pacer_doc_id":"181023336323","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":2,"description":"Exhibit A","acms_document_guid":""},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/150724120/","id":150724120,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/1/2/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2020-11-02T19:11:38.067619-08:00","date_modified":"2020-11-02T19:11:38.070124-08:00","sha1":"","page_count":1,"file_size":162816,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"1","attachment_number":2,"pacer_doc_id":"181023336324","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":2,"description":"Civil Cover Sheet","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:46.408934-07:00","date_modified":"2019-10-24T06:44:35.505650-07:00","date_filed":"2019-10-23","time_filed":null,"entry_number":1,"recap_sequence_number":"2019-10-23.001","pacer_sequence_number":5,"description":"","tags":[]},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/106918905/","id":106918905,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/111218528/","id":111218528,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/2/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.940948-07:00","date_modified":"2019-10-24T06:44:35.468467-07:00","sha1":"","page_count":null,"file_size":null,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"2","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023336366","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Request for Issuance of Summons","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.934052-07:00","date_modified":"2019-10-24T06:44:35.462350-07:00","date_filed":"2019-10-23","time_filed":null,"entry_number":2,"recap_sequence_number":"2019-10-23.001","pacer_sequence_number":8,"description":"","tags":[]},{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/106918899/","id":106918899,"docket":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/dockets/16373700/","recap_documents":[{"resource_uri":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/recap-documents/111218522/","id":111218522,"tags":[],"absolute_url":"/docket/16373700/3/hirsch-v-owen/","date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.702479-07:00","date_modified":"2019-10-24T06:44:35.433086-07:00","sha1":"","page_count":null,"file_size":null,"filepath_local":null,"filepath_ia":"","ia_upload_failure_count":null,"thumbnail":null,"thumbnail_status":0,"plain_text":"","ocr_status":null,"date_upload":null,"document_number":"3","attachment_number":null,"pacer_doc_id":"181023336385","is_available":false,"is_free_on_pacer":null,"is_sealed":null,"document_type":1,"description":"Certificate of Interested Parties","acms_document_guid":""}],"date_created":"2019-10-23T16:30:45.694158-07:00","date_modified":"2019-10-24T06:44:35.425443-07:00","date_filed":"2019-10-23","time_filed":null,"entry_number":3,"recap_sequence_number":"2019-10-23.001","pacer_sequence_number":10,"description":"","tags":[]}],"entries_total":"https://www.courtlistener.com/api/rest/v4/docket-entries/?count=on&docket=16373700&page_size=40"}