Hawaiian Telecom Users Sued by Venice PI LLC for “Once Upon a Time in Venice” Movie Downloads

Antonelli Law Ltd is my defense law firm. We offer nationwide legal help to those facing federal copyright infringement claims. Many Hawaiians hired us when they found themselves being sued for allegedly downloading a movie without paying for it. Now, another lawsuit is targeting Hawaiian Telecom users by movie company Venice PI, LLC.

The company alleges the Bruce Willis movie “Once Upon a Time in Venice” was obtained for free on the internet without paying its license fee. According to the Venice PI LLC lawsuit, this amounts to copyright infringement and they allege they can prove it pursuant to the US Copyright Act. If you are targeted in the lawsuit, you can expect to see a copy of a Venice PI LLC subpoena in your mailbox soon from Hawaiian Telecom.

If your internet address (“IP address”) is involved, your first notice of the lawsuit will probably be a letter from Hawaiian Telecom, Inc. and a copy of a subpoena from Venice PI LLC. Scroll down for additional information about these lawsuits.

PS – Did you know that Hawaiian Telecom was just purchased by Cincinnati Bell for $650 million?

We Can Help You With Your Hawaiian Telecom Notice

Antonelli Law is competent, confidential, honest, and has fair fees. See our client testimonials on our law firm website.  Antonelli Law has represented nearly 2,000 people targeted in ISP subpoenas and movie download lawsuits nationwide. We have defended clients from copyright infringement claims filed by more than 50 different movie companies from Hawaii to New York involving BitTorrent file-sharing online. We do this through a motion to quash subpoena, or anonymous settlements through an attorney, and through in-court lawsuit defense.

We have a great deal of knowledge (see below, and click here to contact us for a free legal consultation) and our experience has allowed us to develop a high level of proficiency. This highly level of proficiency allows us to defend people with fair legal fees that most people can afford – either by settling anonymously out of court or through vigorous lawsuit defense.

In this case, the Venice PI LLC lawsuit is one of many “free movie” download cases we see. These lawsuits are sometimes called “copyright troll” lawsuits or BitTorrent lawsuits. BitTorrent is a common software protocol people use to illegally obtain movies online. BitTorrent also runs in the background of the streaming app PopCornTime.

Our experience representing so many people and understanding the technology behind these lawsuits allowed us to write a legal article called “Torrent Wars” (see below) explaining these lawsuits to other lawyers. It was published by a prominent state bar Intellectual Property Section.

Here is a copy of the Venice PI LLC lawsuit filed against Hawaiian Telecom users

 

Complaint Venice PI LLC v Does 1-14 17-cv-00420 Hawaii

 

Most of the defendants are in Honolulu County, but several are in Hawaii County and Kauai County.

Attorney Kerry S. Culpepper of Culpepper IP, PLLC represents Venice PI, LLC in the state of Hawaii.

Venice PI LLC Lawsuits – They Are the Same as Other Movie Download Lawsuits We Have Defended Against

Overall, these Venice PI LLC lawsuits are the same as similar lawsuits filed by other movie companies. They all have the same thing in common: The internet user’s IP address associated with their internet account was observed participating in a download of the movie company’s movie.

But too often, the internet accountholder simply did not do it. The IP address could have been “spoofed”, meaning some other computer somewhere in the world pretended to be the IP address associated with an American’s internet account. Its like having a fake driver’s license with your license number on it. Except their computer is pretending to be using your internet account with your internet IP address.

Other times, it could have been a family member, someone stealing your wi-fi signal from your home, or for some other reason that has nothing to do with the copyright infringement alleged. And yes, sometimes the IP address observation is part of an accurate description of the internet account holder illegally downloading the movie. See below for important information about these cases written recently by a law professor, Loyola Law Professor Matthew Sag.

Antonelli Law’s Experience & Local Counsel Provides Competent & Affordable Legal Representation

In the many states where we have retained local counsel, our local counsel (see below for a non-exhaustive list) can immediately appear in court should there be an emergency. Few if any other law firms providing BitTorrent Copyright Defense have any local counsel at all.

Every movie download case involves federal law. And federal courts allow lawyers to electronically file their paperwork through the court’s official website. This key innovation means we can effectively represent clients in district courts in every state of the country.  Federal practice, especially in these kinds of cases, rarely require us to appear in court. When we do need to appear, we will be there. The days of having a law clerk walk printed legal briefs over to the courthouse and file them with the court clerk are long gone.

Want to Talk to Antonelli Law For Free About These Questions Right Away? Start Here

If you want to talk for free with Antonelli Law right away to discuss a Venice PI LLC lawsuit, use our contact form or call us at 312-201-8310 nationwide. We’re the nation’s most experienced BT copyright defense firm. Or scroll down to continue learning more about these lawsuits.

More Information – And Free Explanations

If you are reading this article because you received a letter from your ISP internet company about a Venice PI LLC subpoena, or you have been served a summons, some of the following information will apply to you and some will not. If you have any questions call us for free at 312-201-8310. We excel at explaining the legal process and technology to people who aren’t lawyers or computer programmers!

Have you received a letter from the movie company’s lawyers?

If you received a letter from the movie company’s lawyers about the Venice PI LLC lawsuit? If so, you may have questions regarding your legal options about defending yourself, settlement, and something called “Waiver of Service of Summons“.

Caution – Don’t Sign a Waiver of Service of Summons Form Before Speaking with an Attorney

As defense attorneys, we are concerned that people receiving a Waiver of Service of Summons form in the mail from the movie company’s lawyer will lead to an unfair default or consent judgment against them. Please speak with an attorney experienced in movie download federal copyright lawsuits.

Call us for a free consultation at 312-201-8310. or use the contact form if you initially wish to use email.

What Are These Lawsuits About?

Venice PI LLC. accuses defendants of copyright infringement by using software such as BitTorrent and the internet to obtain the film “Once Upon a Time in Venice” without paying the appropriate license fee.

Critics of these lawsuits say its about the movie company generating more revenue. The movie company says it is filing these lawsuits to stop piracy of its intellectual property.

What Are Movie Downloading Cases in General About? What Are “Copyright Troll” Lawsuits?

If you want to read more, consider reading the article I wrote about “copyright troll” litigation which was published by the Illinois State Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Section:

Torrent Wars

Copyright Trolls, Legitimate IP rights, and the Need for New Rules Vetting Evidence and to Amend the Copyright Act

by Jeffrey J. Antonelli

 

What Can Antonelli Law Do For Me?

Antonelli Law will help you decide what to do about the Venice PI LLC letters, subpoenas, and summons. We have helped many people accused of downloading movies over the internet in these types of lawsuits.

Remember, don’t panic. Learn the facts and your legal options by speaking for free to an Antonelli Law attorney confidentially nationwide at 312-201-8310 or use the contact form.

Our clients say Antonelli Law is very good at:

• Reducing your anxiety about the problem
• Giving clear information to help you decide what to do
• Responsive and accessible via phone and email
• Tenacious and effective lawyers in lawsuit litigation

We understand the shock you may be feeling from receiving a notice of this action, and have the experience to help you deal with this in the best way possible for you: anonymous settlement, or prepare to fight back.

In Our Free Consultation:

We Will Give You an Individualized, No Pressure, Professional Consultation – For Free.

• Learn about what the notice means.
• Ask every question that concerns you.
• Learn the facts and decide if you want to settle the lawsuit anonymously, wait to see if nothing happens, or plan to fight back.
• File a motion to quash? We’ll help you to decide.
• Have us negotiate a settlement for you, including a proper settlement agreement that is in your interest, and a dismissal order entered by the federal court to protect you and which you keep for your records.

Can I File a Motion to Quash the ISP Subpoena?

Yes, as long as it is not after the deadline to do so as stated in your notice from your internet service provider. If the deadline has not passed we will need to discuss with you the relative strengths and weaknesses of doing so.

How Much Data is Enough for a Legally Sufficient Lawsuit Complaint?

In many free movie lawsuits, the movie company alleges that its agents obtained data from the alleged IP address of the defendant in what is called a BitTorrent “swarm” – which is one way people download large files.

In some cases, these lawsuits can be challenged because the Plaintiff must show:

1. It has ownership of a valid copyright and
2. The defendant violated the copyright owner’s exclusive rights under the Copyright Act.

In one case Antonelli Law defended (a different movie than the one here), we contended that Plaintiff did not allege sufficient evidence to show that any of its copyrighted materials were violated. The movie company submitted a declaration of its agent (not the same as the company in this article) stating that “multiple bits were conveyed over [the] connection.” However, we argued, multiple “bits” of data do not translate to a viewable image close enough to approximate being substantially similar to the movie company’s copyrighted work.

As Law Professor Matthew Sag states in his recent article “Defense Against the Dark Arts of Copyright Trolling”:

“the isolated “bits” of the movie that [Plaintiff] supposedly received from the defendant’s IP address do not meet the standard for copyright infringement. In the cases that we have studied, the plaintiffs have offered declarations that defendant’s IP address was observed transmitting data with a certain hash value. That hash value, it is alleged, is the same as the hash value of a piece that the witness combined with other pieces to create a file identical to the copyright owner’s work… note that these declarations say nothing about the size or contents of the portions of the work actually downloaded from the defendant’s IP address. In essence, the plaintiff can only state truthfully that its software observed the defendant’s IP address transmitting a fraction of the work….”There is nothing in either declaration that would allow the court to conclude that the “bits” and “pieces” captured by [plaintiff’s experts’] technology as allegedly distributed from Doe’s IP address meet the standard of originality justifying a finding that they are protectable elements of the works.

So How Much Data Did Venice PI LLC Allegedly Observe From Defendants?

In at least one Venice PI LLC lawsuit, the movie company’s lawsuit Complaint states that “Each Defendant had copied a piece of the Plaintiff’s Work ”. Look at Paragraphs 41-49 of the lawsuit Complaint embedded above.

Is this all the evidence that they have?

If so, are these allegations in the Venice PI LLC lawsuit enough to withstand a motion to dismiss the Complaint under federal rule 12(b)(6)? A defendant will need to ask the judge to make that determination. It may cost more to do this than to settle, but this could be the right strategy for some who are targeted in Venice PI LLC lawsuits.

 

 

What Are the Steps in a Venice PI LLC Lawsuit?

Each lawsuit is filed in federal court and requests permission to find out the real names of internet users associated with IP addresses suspected of being part of the movie downloading. This is done by sending a subpoena to the internet company (ISP). Most people find out they are involved in the lawsuit when they receive a letter from their internet company (ISP) such as Comcast, COX, Comcast, or Verizon informing them of the copyright infringement allegations. A copy of a Venice PI LLC subpoena will probably be enclosed.

The Venice PI LLC Subpoena – You Can File a Motion to Quash the Subpoena

If you are the account holder for an internet service provider (ISP), your name is linked to an IP address. If you receive an ISP letter or email informing you a subpoena was received to reveal your identity for a copyright infringement lawsuit. You have the right to file something called a motion to quash the subpoena, although the risks and benefits of filing one should be discussed with a qualified attorney.

Received a Subpoena from Your Internet Company? The best thing to do is to talk with an experienced lawyer. 

Antonelli Law has helped nearly 2,000 clients targeted in internet movie download lawsuits across the country, from Hawaii to New York and many states in between. We can do this because the lawsuits are in federal court, where all filings are done electronically. See our local counsel attorney information below.

Attorneys: Don’t risk malpractice in a copyright lawsuit if you don’t do this type of work regularly – the loser pays statutory and attorneys fees. We accept attorney referrals and are very experienced in this specialized litigation.

Antonelli Law’s Local Counsel –  Nationwide Defense Practice

Antonelli Law defense attorneys and local counsel are admitted to the district courts wherever Venice PI LLC. lawsuits are filed from coast to coast. We are able to represent you in your federal case without being more expensive or more difficult to hire than hiring a local law firm in part because federal courts require attorneys to file their papers electronically, and often conduct hearings by telephone. This makes frequent trips to the courthouse unnecessary.

We can defend you and also help protect your anonymity in a Venice PI LLC lawsuit if circumstances allow.

Who Are Our Local Counsel?

Byron L. Ames  Jurisdictions: Nevada & Utah

Byron L Ames Nevada & Utah local counsel BitTorrent Copyright Defense for Antonelli Law

Mark Del Bianco  Jurisdictions: Maryland, Washington DC

Attorney Mark Del Bianco is Antonelli Law’s Maryland local counsel for Maryland and Washington DC

Leslie Farber  Jurisdictions: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Leslie Farber – New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Peter Glazer  Jurisdiction: Virginia

Virginia copyright defense attorney Peter Glazer

Tristan C. Robinson Jurisdiction: Texas

Southern District of Texas

 

Jeffrey Antonelli Jurisdictions: Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, and others through pro hac vice

Jeffrey-Antonelli

Melissa Brabender: Illinois and Nationwide through pro hac vice admission

Attorney Melissa Brabender

Antonelli Law is the most experienced BT copyright defense firm in the country and represents clients nationwide – no more expensively than competent lawyers in your area.

Each lawsuit is filed in federal court and requests permission to find out the real names of internet users associated with IP addresses suspected of being part of the movie downloading. This is done by sending a subpoena to the internet company (ISP). Most people find out they are involved in the lawsuit when they receive a letter from their internet company (ISP) such as Comcast, COX, Comcast, or Verizon informing them of the copyright infringement allegations. A copy of a Venice PI LLC Subpoena will probably be enclosed.

If you are the account holder for an internet service provider (ISP), your name is linked to an IP address. If you receive a Comcast, COX, CenturyLink or similar letter informing you a subpoena was received to reveal your identity call Antonelli Law nationwide at 312-201-8310 or use the contact form to learn your legal options including settling anonymously, filing a motion to quash or vacate the subpoena, or to prepare to fight the lawsuit.

Venice PI LLC subpoenas and summons can be scary or inconvenient, but we can help you manage the risk and the hassle.

Antonelli Law, a national BT Copyright Defense Group has defended nearly 2,000 people accused of online copyright infringement including many accused by Venice PI LLC

List of VENICE PI LLC Cases Filed by State

District of Colorado:

Venice PI, LLC v.

John Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01988

John Does 1-6 1:17-cv-01954

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01917

John Does 1-15 1:17-cv-01870

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01861

John Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01850

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01787

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-01664

District of Hawaii:

Venice PI, LLC v. Does 1-14 1:17-cv-00420

Venice PI, LLC v.Does 1-20 1:17-cv-00335

District of Indiana:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-02328

Doe 1 et al 1:17-cv-02274

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-00285

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-00284

District of New York:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Doe-66.108.113.178 et al 1:17-cv-05594

Doe-24.187.92.79 et al 1:17-cv-04904

Doe-24.44.143.124 et al 1:17-cv-04249

Doe-68.173.101.58 et al 1:17-cv-04076

District of North Carolina:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Does 1-9 1:17-cv-00219

Does 1-12 1:17-cv-00745

Does 1-10 3:17-cv-00445

Does 1-11 5:17-cv-00128

Does 1-14 5:17-cv-00367

Does 1-10 1:17-cv-00671

Does 1-10 1:17-cv-00676

Does1-11 1:17-cv-00611

Does1-18 1:17-cv-00610

Does 1-10 3:17-cv-00409

Doe 1 et al 5:17-cv-00340

Doe 1 et al 5:17-cv-00339

Doe 1 et al 5:17-cv-00337

Does 1-11 5:17-cv-00334

Does 1-12 5:17-cv-00333

Does 1-10 1:17-cv-00170

Doe 1 et al 4:17-cv-00089

District of Pennsylvania:

Venice PI, LLC v.

John Does 1-11 2:17-cv-03324

John Does 1-7 2:17-cv-03323

John Does 1-8 2:17-cv-03326

John Does 1-14 2:17-cv-03325

John Does 1-10 2:17-cv-03322

District of Texas:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Does 1-13 4:17-cv-02395

Does 1-10 4:17-cv-02285

Does 1-16 4:17-cv-02244

Does 1-16 4:17-cv-02203

District of Virginia:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Does 1-15 5:17-cv-00070

District of Washington:

Venice PI, LLC v.

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-01219

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-01211

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-01160

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-01163

Doe 1 et al 2:17-cv-01164

See Also:

SCORE Chicago Highlights Antonelli Law for Drone Law and BitTorrent Copyright Defense

Hawaiian Telecom Users Sued by Movie Company Headhunter LLC for “A Family Man” – Antonelli Law Defense