`
`
`
`DAVID H. KRAMER, SBN 168452
`MAURA L. REES, SBN 191698
`LAUREN GALLO WHITE, SBN 309075
`WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
`Professional Corporation
`650 Page Mill Road
`Palo Alto, CA 94304-1050
`Telephone: (650) 493-9300
`Facsimile: (650) 565-5100
`Email: dkramer@wsgr.com
` mrees@wsgr.com
` lwhite@wsgr.com
`
`
`Attorneys for Defendants and Counterclaimants
`YOUTUBE, LLC and GOOGLE LLC
`
`BRIAN M. WILLEN (admitted Pro Hac Vice)
`WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
`Professional Corporation
`1301 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor
`New York, NY 10019-6022
`Telephone: (212) 999-5800
`Facsimile: (212) 999-5801
`Email: bwillen@wsgr.com
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
`
`CASE NO.: 3:20-cv-04423-JD
`
`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S
`ANSWER AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`
`
`
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`MARIA SCHNEIDER, UNIGLOBE
`ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, and AST
`PUBLISHING LTD., individually and on behalf
`of all others similarly situated,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`v.
`
`YOUTUBE, LLC and GOOGLE LLC,
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`Defendants
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`YOUTUBE, LLC and GOOGLE LLC,
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`
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`Counterclaimants,
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`v.
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`
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`PIRATE MONITOR LTD, PIRATE MONITOR
`LLC, and GÁBOR CSUPÓ,
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`Counterclaim Defendants.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`
`-1-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
`
`
`
`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 2 of 47
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`
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`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
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`Since its founding in 2005, YouTube has gone far above and beyond its legal obligations
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`to assist copyright holders in protecting their rights. It has developed best-in-class processes for
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`removing allegedly infringing materials pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
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`(“DMCA”), which protects online services like YouTube from claims of infringement by their
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`users. It has also invested well over a hundred million dollars to pioneer industry-leading
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`copyright management tools like its Content ID system.
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`Precisely because YouTube’s novel copyright management tools are so powerful, they
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`must be used with care. These special tools enable users to automatically (or at the touch of a
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`button) remove content from YouTube or block it from appearing in the first place. Misused or
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`put in the wrong hands, these tools can be used to censor videos that others have every right to
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`share through YouTube. These tools can also enable users to wrongfully claim ownership rights
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`in others’ content or to take for themselves revenue that rightly belongs to others.
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`Plaintiffs’ claims in this case offer an especially pointed example of why YouTube limits
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`access to Content ID. Plaintiffs complain that they have not been allowed access to Content ID.
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`But Dismissed Plaintiff Pirate Monitor has clearly demonstrated why it cannot be trusted to use
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`that tool properly. As set forth In YouTube’s Counterclaims, Pirate Monitor engaged in
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`widespread abuse of the DMCA’s notice-and-takedown process, going so far as to upload
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`hundreds of videos to YouTube under false pretenses only then to claim, through false DMCA
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`notices, that those same videos were infringing. This was apparently a ruse to obtain access to
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`Content ID, and when it failed Pirate Monitor responded with this lawsuit. As for Plaintiffs
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`Maria Schneider, Uniglobe Entertainment, LLC (“Uniglobe”), and AST Publishing Ltd (“AST”),
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`they are suing YouTube on copyrighted works that they and their agents licensed YouTube to
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`use. Not only that, despite Plaintiffs Maria Schneider and Uniglobe’s claims that they have no
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`access to Content ID, their agents in fact used the tool to generate revenue from those same
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`works on their behalf. Use of Content ID requires far greater care and candor.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`-2-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 3 of 47
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`Plaintiffs’ claims of entitlement to use Content ID are badly misguided; their claims of
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`copyright infringement even more so. Defendants YouTube, LLC (“YouTube”) and Google LLC
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`(“Google,” and collectively, “Defendants”) hereby answer the First Amended Complaint (“First
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`Amended Complaint,” Dkt. No. 99) and assert Counterclaims against Dismissed Plaintiff Pirate
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`Monitor LTD.1
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`DEFENDANTS’ ANSWER
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`To the extent the paragraphs (“Paragraphs”) of the First Amended Complaint are grouped
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`under headings and subheadings, Defendants respond generally that such headings and
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`subheadings (some of which are repeated below for reference only and which do not constitute
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`admissions) state legal conclusions and pejorative inferences to which no response is required.
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`To the extent a response is necessary, Defendants deny each and every heading and subheading
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`in the First Amended Complaint and incorporate by reference this response in each Paragraph
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`below as if fully set forth herein.
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`Further, Defendants object that, rather than a short and plain statement of Plaintiffs’
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`allegations and claims required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, the First Amended Complaint is an overlong
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`narrative with lengthy Paragraph after lengthy Paragraph of advocacy. The complex rhetoric and
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`built-in assumptions in the First Amended Complaint make straightforward responses often
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`impossible.
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`Except as expressly admitted herein, Defendants deny any and all allegations as set forth
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`in the First Amended Complaint. Defendants expressly reserve the right to amend and/or
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`supplement their Answer as may be necessary. Defendants further answer the numbered
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`Paragraphs in the First Amended Complaint as follows:
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`1.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 1.
`
`
`1 On March 8, 2021, Plaintiff Pirate Monitor voluntarily dismissed all claims against Defendants.
`(Dkt. No. 66). The parties stipulated that Defendants’ counterclaims remain in this suit.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`-3-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 4 of 47
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`2.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 2.
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`3.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about
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`Plaintiffs’ alleged “lack [of] resources and leverage necessary to combat copyright
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`infringement.” Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 3.
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`4.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`allegation that “watching[ing] more than one billion hours of videos every single day ... equat[es]
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`to approximately 5 billion videos viewed each day.” Defendants otherwise admit the allegations
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`in Paragraph 4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 5.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 6.
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`Defendants admit that they generate revenue from targeted advertising.
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`14
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`Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 7.
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`8.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works, and that the tool scans videos
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`uploaded to YouTube and comparing them against files previously provided to YouTube by
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`copyright owners. Defendants also admit that an uploaded video that matches copyright material
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`19
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`submitted through Content ID may receive a Content ID claim. Defendants further admit that
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`20
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`copyright owners who use the Content ID tool can then choose to block that video, license and
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`monetize that video, and/or track viewership statistics. See “How Content ID works,”
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`https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797370?hl=en. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 8.
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`9.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works. Defendants further admit that
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`YouTube also provides a notice-and-takedown system for the purpose of managing copyrighted
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`27
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`works. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 9.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`-4-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
`
`
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 5 of 47
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`10.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works; that Content ID screening occurs,
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`among other times, at the moment a user uploads a video to YouTube; and that such screening
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`may prevent the public availability of the uploaded video, at the Content ID user’s election.
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`Defendants further admit that YouTube also provides a notice-and-takedown system for the
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`purpose of managing copyrighted works. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in
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`Paragraph 10.
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`11.
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`12.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 11.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube assesses “strikes” for copyright violations and
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`bans repeat copyright infringers from its platform. Defendants further admit that under
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`YouTube’s repeat infringer policy, Users become eligible to have a copyright strike expire after
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`90 days subject to certain conditions, including completing YouTube’s Copyright School
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`(including passing a quiz) and not accruing 2 or more copyright strikes within the 90-day period.
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`Defendants further admit that the DMCA creates a safe harbor from liability for copyright
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`infringement to which Defendants are entitled. Defendants further admit that a video being
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`identified as a Video Match through Content ID does not satisfy the criteria for an allegation of
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`infringement set forth in Section 512(c) of the DMCA. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 12.
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`13.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube has received DMCA takedown requests sent
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`purporting to be on behalf of Plaintiffs Maria Schneider, Uniglobe Entertainment, LLC
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`(“Uniglobe”), and AST Publishing Ltd. (“AST”). Defendants further admit that Plaintiffs have
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`not been individually approved to use the Content ID tool. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 13.
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`14.
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`15.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 14.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 15.
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`
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`-5-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
`
`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 6 of 47
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`PLAINTIFFS
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`16.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 16.
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`17.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 17.
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`18.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 18.
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`DEFENDANTS
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`19.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube, LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company
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`with its principal place of business at 901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, California 94066.
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`Defendants also admit that in 2006, YouTube was purchased by Google and since that purchase
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`YouTube has operated as a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of Google. Plaintiffs’
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`allegations regarding operation and control of the YouTube website and that YouTube “conducts
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`business as Google” are vague and ambiguous. As a result, Defendants lack knowledge or
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`information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of those allegations. Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations of Paragraph 19.
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`20.
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`Defendants admit that Defendant Google LLC is a Delaware limited liability
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`company with its principal place of business at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View,
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`California 94043. Defendants further admit Google has owned and controlled YouTube since
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`late 2006. Plaintiffs’ allegation that “YouTube and Google also combine both products for
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`purposes of Google’s AdWords advertising program....” and its allegation regarding testing of
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`search links are vague and ambiguous. As a result, Defendants lack knowledge or information
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`sufficient to form a belief about the truth of those allegations. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations of Paragraph 20.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
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`
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`-6-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 7 of 47
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`JURISDICTION
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`21.
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`Defendants admit that the First Amended Complaint purports to assert claims for
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`copyright infringement, but Defendants deny that the First Amended Complaint alleges adequate
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`factual or legal predicates for those claims and otherwise deny the allegations in Paragraph 21.
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`22.
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`23.
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`Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 22.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube and Google are corporate citizens of the State of
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`California. Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth
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`of the remaining allegations in Paragraph 23.
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`24.
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`Defendants admit this Court has personal jurisdiction over them for this matter,
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`that they are headquartered in this judicial district and transact substantial business and generate
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`revenue in this district. Defendants further admit that YouTube’s physical address for receipt of
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`DMCA takedown requests regarding allegedly infringing content on YouTube is in California
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`and in this district. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 24.
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`25.
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`26.
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`Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 25.
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`Defendants admit the allegations in Paragraph 26.
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`NATURE OF THE ACTION
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`27.
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`Paragraph 27 sets forth legal contentions to which no response is required. To the
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`extent that a response is required, Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a
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`belief about the truth of the allegations in Paragraph 27.
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`28.
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`Paragraph 28 sets forth legal contentions to which no response is required. To the
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`extent that a response is required, Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a
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`belief about the truth of the allegations in Paragraph 28.
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`29.
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`Paragraph 29 sets forth legal contentions to which no response is required. To the
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`extent that a response is required, Defendants deny that Plaintiffs have accurately summarized
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`the 1976 Copyright Act, and deny the remaining allegations of Paragraph 29.
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`30.
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`31.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 30.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 31.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`-7-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 8 of 47
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`32.
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`Defendants admit the allegation that “YouTube, now the world’s most popular
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`online video site, launched in 2005.” Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 32.
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`33.
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`Defendants admit that, as a general matter, the video files that users upload to
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`YouTube are automatically transcoded for safety, security, and accessibility. Defendants further
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`admit that YouTube generates revenue from its website. Defendants further admit that uploaders
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`have the option to manually add “tags,” which are descriptive keywords, to their videos. See
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`https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/146402?hl=en. Defendants deny the allegations in
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`Paragraph 33 to the extent they purport to characterize how the video file transcoding process
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`works in all circumstances, and deny the remaining allegations of Paragraph 33.
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`34.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides users with an ability to search for and
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`view video content on the YouTube platform in web browsers and on mobile devices.
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`Defendants also admit that searches for content on the YouTube platform will return results (if
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`any) in the form of links to web pages where users can view video content. Defendants further
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`admit that the search results pages and video content web pages on YouTube sometimes contain
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`additional information about that video content, such as the title of the content supplied by the
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`uploader and the number of times that the content has been viewed. Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 34.
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`35.
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`Defendants admit that the YouTube platform provides users with the optional
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`ability to embed video content on web pages hosted by other web domains. See
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`https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171780?hl=en. Defendants further admit that the
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`YouTube platform provides users with the optional ability to share links to video content through
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`a variety of channels, including email messages. See
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`https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57741?hl=en&ref_topic=9257102. The ability to
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`embed and share links to video content and the manner in which video content is embedded and
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`shared depends on a variety of conditions, including privacy settings. For instance, users have
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`the option to disable embedding of video content that they have uploaded. Defendants therefore
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`deny the allegations in Paragraph 35 to the extent they purport to describe how the embedding
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
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`-8-
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 9 of 47
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`and sharing functions work in all circumstances, and deny the remaining allegations of Paragraph
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`35.
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`36.
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`37.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 36.
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`Defendants admit that the YouTube platform may generate recommendations for
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`video content via computer algorithms depending on a user’s device and settings, and that such
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`recommendations take into account a variety of factors to enhance user experience. Defendants
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`admit that YouTube provides an “AutoPlay” feature that users can choose to disable and that the
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`cited article quotes a YouTube representative as stating: “We also wanted to serve the needs of
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`people when they didn’t necessarily know what they wanted to look for.” Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 37.
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`38.
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`39.
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`40.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 38.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 39.
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`Defendants admit that growth in the total number of users and videos is one of
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`many factors that may influence YouTube’s business. Defendants deny the remaining allegations
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`in Paragraph 40.
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`41.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube generates revenue through advertising.
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`Defendants further admit that it requires users to accept its Terms of Service
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`(https://www.youtube.com/static?tgemplate=terms), which incorporate by reference Google’s
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`Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en). Defendants also admit that user
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`engagement with video content on YouTube is one of many factors that may affect advertising
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`spend on the YouTube platform. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 41.
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`42.
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`To the extent the allegations of Paragraph 42 purport to paraphrase and
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`characterize various extrinsic documents, Defendants deny that Plaintiffs do so correctly.
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`Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 42.
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`43.
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`Defendants admit that Google once provided a service known as Google Video.
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`Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 43.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
`
`
`-9-
`
`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 10 of 47
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`44.
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`Defendants admit that approximately 15 years ago, a low-level Google employee
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`wrote an email that mischaracterized YouTube’s copyright policy. Defendants further admit that
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`Google later acknowledged that Google was mistaken about YouTube’s copyright policy.
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`Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 44.
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`45.
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`Defendants admit that “Google purchased YouTube in October 2006 for $1.6
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`billion.” To the extent the allegations of Paragraph 45 purport to paraphrase and characterize
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`various extrinsic documents, Defendants deny that Plaintiffs do so correctly. Defendants deny
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`the remaining allegations in Paragraph 45.
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`46.
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`Defendants admit that there are “over 500 hours of videos uploaded every
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`minute” to YouTube. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 46.
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`47.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube generates revenue through advertising.
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`Defendants also admit that user engagement with video content on YouTube is one of many
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`factors that may affect advertising spend on the YouTube platform. Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 47.
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`48.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 48.
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`49.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube generates revenue through advertising, including,
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`as a general matter, a substantial percentage of the revenue generated by advertisements placed
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`on YouTube’s homepage (www.youtube.com) and search results pages. Defendants also admit
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`that user engagement with video content on YouTube is one of many factors that may affect
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`advertising spend on the YouTube platform. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in
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`Paragraph 49.
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`50.
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`Defendants admit that the YouTube Partner Program allows for monetization of
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`video content. Defendants further admit that together with its creators, YouTube generated
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`approximately $15.1 billion in gross advertising revenue in 2019. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 50.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 11 of 47
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`51.
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`Defendants admit that it requires YouTube users to accept its Terms of Service
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`(https://www.youtube.com/static?template=terms), which incorporate by reference Google’s
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`Privacy Policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en). Defendants deny the allegations in
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`Paragraph 51 to the extent they mischaracterize those documents. Defendants admit that
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`YouTube has approximately 2 billion monthly users. Defendants further admit that some of those
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`users may convey information “concerning their preferences for topics, products, and services”
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`depending on, among other things, their privacy settings. Defendants admit that the information
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`provided by YouTube users about their preferences may be used to help YouTube grow its
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`business (depending on user settings among other factors). Defendants lack knowledge or
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`information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the allegation that “Google is now
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`estimated to control 40% of the entire online advertising market”. Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 51.
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`52.
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`Defendants admit that the DMCA creates a safe harbor from liability for
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`copyright infringement to which Defendants are entitled. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 52.
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`53.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube generates revenue through advertising.
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`Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 53.
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`54.
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`55.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 54.
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`Defendants deny the allegation in the last two sentences of Paragraph 55.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 55.
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`56.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works, and that the tool works by
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`scanning videos uploaded to YouTube and comparing them against files previously provided to
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`YouTube by copyright owners. Defendants also admit that an uploaded video that matches
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`copyright material submitted through Content ID may receive a Content ID claim. Defendants
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`further admit that copyright owners who use the Content ID tool can then choose to block that
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 12 of 47
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`video, license and monetize that video, or track viewership statistics. See “How Content ID
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`works,” https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797370?hl=en. Defendants deny the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 56.
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`57.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube provides certain users with a tool known as
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`“Content ID” for the purpose of managing copyrighted works, and that the tool works by
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`scanning videos uploaded to YouTube and comparing them against files previously provided to
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`YouTube by copyright owners. Defendants also admit that an uploaded video that matches
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`copyright material submitted through Content ID may receive a Content ID claim. Defendants
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`further admit that copyright owners who use the Content ID tool can then choose to block that
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`video, license and monetize that video, or track viewership statistics. See “How Content ID
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`Works,” https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2797370?hl=en. Defendants also admit that
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`the quoted language comes from a YouTube Help page, and that it is intended to provide one
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`example of an appropriate use case for the Content ID tool. See “Copyright Management Tools,”
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`https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9245819?hl=en. Defendants deny the remaining
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`allegations in Paragraph 57.
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`58.
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`Defendants admit that Plaintiffs have not been individually approved to use the
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`Content ID tool. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in Paragraph 58.
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`59.
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`Defendants admit receiving a letter from a handful of congressional members in
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`September 2019 that Plaintiffs have accurately excerpted. Defendants deny that the letter
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`accurately characterizes the functionality of the Content ID tool or the choices available to
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`copyright owners on the YouTube platform. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in
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`Paragraph 59.
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`60.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 60.
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`61.
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`Defendants admit that certain musical works mentioned in Paragraph 60 of the
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`First Amended Complaint and the accompanying footnote have been posted in full or in part on
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`YouTube by Plaintiff Maria Schneider, her agents, and her licensees. Defendants lack knowledge
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 13 of 47
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`or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the remaining allegations in
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`Paragraph 61.
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`62.
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`Defendants admit that Plaintiff Maria Schneider applied and was rejected for
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`direct access to the Content ID tool in 2015. Defendants lack knowledge or information
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`sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the allegations in Paragraph 62 to the extent that
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`Plaintiffs allege that Maria Schneider directly applied for the Content ID tool on a second
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`occasion.
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`63.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube has received DMCA takedown requests
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`purporting to be on behalf of Plaintiff Maria Schneider since 2013. Defendants lack knowledge
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`or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the allegation that the video content
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`that was the subject of those notices contained her songs or infringed her copyrights, and deny
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`the remaining allegations in Paragraph 63.
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`64.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 64.
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`65.
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`66.
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`Defendants deny the allegations in Paragraph 65.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 66.
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`67.
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`Defendants deny that the English language version of 5 Weddings was registered
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`with the U.S. Copyright Office as a motion picture in October 2016. Defendants lack knowledge
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`or information sufficient to form a belief about the remaining allegations in Paragraph 67.
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`68.
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`Defendants deny that Americanizing Shelley was registered with the U.S.
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`Copyright Office as a motion picture in March 2006. Defendants lack knowledge or information
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`sufficient to form a belief about the remaining allegations in Paragraph 68.
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`69.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`allegations in Paragraph 69.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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`-13-
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 14 of 47
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`70.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`allegations in the last sentence of Paragraph 70. Defendants deny the remaining allegations in
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`Paragraph 70.
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`71.
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`Defendants admit that the English-language version of 5 Weddings and 1 a
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`Minute motion pictures have been posted in full or in part on YouTube by Plaintiff Uniglobe
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`Entertainment, LLC, its agents, or its licensees, and have been viewed by YouTube users.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 71.
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`72.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`allegations in the first sentence of Paragraph 72.
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`73.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube has received DMCA takedown requests
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`purporting to be on behalf of from Plaintiff Uniglobe. Defendants lack knowledge or information
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`sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the remaining allegations in Paragraph 73.
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`74.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 74.
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`75.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 75.
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`76.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 76.
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`77.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube has received DMCA takedown requests
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`purporting to be on behalf of Plaintiff AST. Defendants further admit that YouTube subsequently
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`removed certain user videos that were the targets of AST’s takedown requests. Defendants lack
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`knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the truth of the allegation that the
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`video content that was the subject of those notices infringed AST’s copyrights, and deny the
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`25
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`remaining allegations in Paragraph 77.
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`78.
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`Defendants lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief about the
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`truth of the allegations in Paragraph 78.
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`YOUTUBE AND GOOGLE’S ANSWER
`AND COUNTERCLAIMS
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`-14-
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`CASE NO. 3:20-CV-04423-JD
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`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 160 Filed 08/22/22 Page 15 of 47
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`79.
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`Defendants admit that YouTube has received DMCA takedown requests from
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`Plaintiffs Maria Schneider, Uniglobe, and AST. Defendants deny the alle