2025-cv-01598

COMPLAINT filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-23089618.

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

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.

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

MAILED trademark report to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA.

Trademarks

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

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: The Court grants plaintiff's ex parte motion for leave to file under seal 3. Upon review of the complaint, the Court sua sponte raises the propriety of joining dozens of trademarks and 85 defendants in a single action. By 3/6/25, 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 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 3/6/25 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 4/21/25 at 9:30 a.m. in person in Courtroom 1719. By 4/14/25,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.

AMENDED complaint by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC against Back-to-1999, The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 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)

Exhibit 1

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 discovery[17], motion for miscellaneous relief[18] before Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 4/10/2025 at 09:30 AM.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's motions for expedited discovery and electronic service of process are granted [17], [18]. No appearance is required on 4/10/25. 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 and joinder. Enter Order, as modified by the Court.

ORDER Signed by the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 4/8/25.

SUMMONS Submitted (Court Participant) for defendant(s) Back-to-1999 and the Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendants Back-to-1999, The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis:Plaintiff's counsel contacted the Courtroom Deputy to reset the status hearing to allow time for service to be effectuated. The status hearing set for 4/21/25 is reset for 5/22/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 5/15/25.

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's counsel contacted the Courtroom Deputy to reset the status hearing to allow time for service to be effectuated. The status hearing is reset for 6/23/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 6/16/25.

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to Back-to-1999 on 6/2/2025, answer due 6/23/2025; The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 on 6/2/2025, answer due 6/23/2025.

Declaration of Lucas A. Peterson

(Exhibit A)

STATUS Report pursuant to [27] by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC

Exhibit A

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: The Court has reviewed plaintiff's status report 27, which reflects that defendant has been served and that its deadline to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's complaint is 6/23/25. Given these circumstances, the Court resets the 6/23/25 status hearing to 7/24/25 at 9:30 a.m.

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to Back-to-1999 and the Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Per plaintiff's notice of voluntary dismissal [31], pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1), Defendants Back-to-1999 and the Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 are dismissed without prejudice. Civil case terminated.

MAILED trademark report with certified copy of minute order dated 7/21/25 to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA.