2025-cv-01001

COMPLAINT filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-23020103.

Exhibit 1

SEALED EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Schedule A regarding complaint[1]

MOTION by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC for leave to file under seal

CIVIL Cover Sheet

NOTIFICATION of Affiliates pursuant to Local Rule 3.2 by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

Notice of Claims Involving Trademarks by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC by Justin R. Gaudio

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC by Amy Crout Ziegler

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC by Rachel S Miller

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC by Lucas Allen Peterson

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Jeffrey Cole. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2).

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's motion for leave to file under seal 3 is granted. Upon review of the complaint, the Court sua sponte raises the propriety of joining 96 defendants and dozens of trademark registrations in a single action. By 2/10/25, plaintiff must file a supplemental memorandum addressing the propriety of joinder in light of the principles described in Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. v. Schedule A, 334 F.R.D. 182 (N.D. Ill. 2020). Plaintiff's memorandum should also address this Court's order in Bug Art Limited v. The Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 24 CV 7777, Dkt. 28 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 8, 2024), and Yi Pu (Tianjin) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. v. Gyroor et al, 25 CV 81, Dkt. 19 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 28, 2025), as well as other orders in this District expressing similar concerns regarding misjoinder in so-called "Schedule A" cases, namely, Zaful (Hong Kong) Limited v. The Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 24 CV 11111, Dkt. 12 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 10, 2025); Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. v. The Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 24 CV 9401, Dkt. 27 (N.D. Ill. Nov. 18, 2024); Viking Arm AS v. The Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 24 C 1566, 2024 WL 2953105, at *3 (N.D. Ill. June 6, 2024); and Bailie v. The Partnerships & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A, 24 CV 02150, 2024 WL 2209698 (N.D. Ill. May 15, 2024). In the alternative, plaintiff has leave to file an amended complaint and Amended Schedule A by 2/10/25 with a smaller subset of defendants along with a memorandum explaining why each defendant is properly joined to the others.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Initial status hearing is set for 3/25/25 at 9:30 a.m. in person in Courtroom 1719. By 3/18/25,the parties shall file a Joint Initial Status Report that complies with the Court's standing order, which can be found on the Court's website. If the defendant(s) have not been served by the initial status hearing date, counsel for Plaintiff must contact the Courtroom Deputy to reschedule the status hearing and the date for filing the Joint Initial Status Report.

MAILED Trademark report to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA.

MAILED to plaintiff(s) counsel Lanham Mediation Program materials.

AMENDED complaint by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC against Weiyufeng, The Individuals and Entities Operating Weiyufeng and terminating The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

Exhibit 1

(Exhibit 2)

EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Amended Schedule A regarding amended complaint, 15

MOTION by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC for discovery Expedited

MOTION by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC for Electronic Service of Process Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3)

MEMORANDUM by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC in support of motion for miscellaneous relief[18]

DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding memorandum in support of motion[19]

NOTICE of Motion by Justin R. Gaudio for presentment of motion for miscellaneous relief[18], motion for discovery[17] before Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 3/13/2025 at 09:30 AM.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's motions for expedited discovery and electronic service of process [17, 18] are granted. No appearance is required on 3/13/25. The Court finds that expedited discovery is warranted to identify defendants. The Court also finds that electronic service does not violate any treaty and is consistent with due process because it is an effective way to communicate with the online marketplace defendants. The Court decides these issues, however, without the benefit of adversarial presentation. If any defendant were to appear and object, the Court will take a fresh look at the issues of electronic service and expedited discovery as well as any issues related to personal jurisdiction. Enter Order.

ORDER Signed by the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 3/11/25.

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) Weiyufeng and The Individuals and Entities Operating Weiyufeng by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendant The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: At the request of counsel, the initial status hearing set for 3/25/25 is reset for 4/24/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 4/17/25.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's counsel contacted the Courtroom Deputy by email requesting time to effectuate service. The status hearing set for 4/24/25 is reset for 5/27/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 5/20/25.

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to The Individuals and Entities Operating Weiyufeng on 5/20/2025, answer due 6/10/2025; Weiyufeng on 5/20/2025, answer due 6/10/2025.

Declaration of Lucas A. Peterson

Exhibit A

STATUS Report (initial) by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

Exhibit Exhibit A

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: The Court has reviewed plaintiff's initial status report 29, which reports that defendant was not served until 5/20/25. Defendant's answer or response to plaintiff's complaint is now due 6/10/25 28. The Court therefore resets the initial status hearing to 6/17/25 at 9:30 a.m. If the defendant has not appeared by that date, plaintiff is directed to file a motion for entry of default by 6/24/25.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: The docket reflects that defendant has been served [28] but has not entered an appearance or answered or otherwise responded to plaintiff's complaint. Given these circumstances, the Court vacates the 6/17/25 status hearing. The 6/24/25 deadline for plaintiff to file a motion for entry of default [30] stands

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to Weiyufeng

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis:Per plaintiff's notice of voluntary dismissal 32, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1), defendant Weiyugeng is dismissed without prejudice. Civil case terminated.