8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
1/28
F i l i n g # 4 1 0 1 3 8 9 5
E -F i l ed
0 5 / 0 3 / 2 0 1 6 0 1 : 2 4 : 3 2 P M
IN THE C I R C U I T C O U R T OF THE 11TH
J U D I C I A L C I R C U I T
IN AN D FOR
M I A M I - D A D E C O U N T Y , F L O R I D A
G E N E R A L J U R I S D I C T I O N D I V I S IO N
N A T I O N A L C O U N C I L OF S T R E N G T H &
C A S E N 0
.
F I T N E S S C O R P O R A T I O N ,
a
F l o r i d a
c o r p o r a t i o n
Pla in t i f f ,
v s .
F R E E P L A Y M U S I C , LLC, a D e l a w a r e
l i m i t e d l i a b i l i t y c o m p a n y and T U N E S A T ,
LLC, a
D e l a w a r e l i m i t e d l ia b i li t y c o m p a n y ,
D e f e n d a n t s .
/
C O M P L A I N T
P l a i n t i f f , N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l of S t r e n g t h & F i t n e s s C o r p o r a t i o n ("Plaintiff' or
" N C S F " ) , h e r e b y s u e s D e f e n d a n t s F r e e p l a y M u s i c , LLC ( " F r e e p l a y " ) and T u n e s a t , LLC
( " T u n e s a t " ) ( c o l l e c t i v e l y the " D e f e n d a n t s " ) , an d a l l e g e s as f o l l o w s :
P A R T I E S ,
J U R I S D I C T I O N , AND V E N U E
1 . T h i s
is an
a c t i o n
for
d a m a g e s
in
e x c e s s
of
F i f te e n T h o u s a n d D o l l a rs
( $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) , e x c lu s i v e
of
c o s t s , i n te r e s t ,
and
a t t o r n e y ' s f e e s .
2 . At all r e l e v a n t t im e s , N C S F was a F l o r i d a c o r p o r a t i o n , w i t h its p r i n c i p a l
p l a c e of b u s i n e s s in M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y , F l o r i d a .
3 . U p o n i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l ie f , F r e e p l a y
is a
D e la w a r e l im i te d l i a b i li t y
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
2/28
P a g e
2 of 26
C a s e
No.
4 U p o n i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l ie f , T u n e s a t
is a
D e l a w a r e l i m i t e d l ia b i li ty
c o m p a n y , w i t h it s p r i n c i p a l p l a c e of b u s i n e s s in Ne w Y o r k , Ne w Y o r k .
5 . F r e e p l a y and T u n e s a t h a v e c o n d u c t e d b u s i n e s s in M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y ,
F l o r i d a and h a v e s u b j e c t e d t h e m s e l v e s to the c o u r t s of t h i s j u r i s d i c t i o n .
6 . V e n u e is p r o p e r in M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y b e c a u s e , at all r e l e v a n t t i m e s ,
F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t c o n d u c t e d b u s i n e s s
in
M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y
and the
c a u s e s
of
a c t i o n a c c r u e d in M i a m i - D a d e C o u n t y .
N A T U R E O F T H E A C T I O N
7 . T h i s a c t i o n a r i s e s f r o m y e a r s of f a l s e and d e c e p t i v e a d v e r t i s i n g by
D e f e n d a n t s
to
l u r e u n s u s p e c t i n g u s e r s i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h a t
the
m u s i c o f fe r e d
on th e
w e b s i t e w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m is " f r e e . " B e g i n n i n g w i t h it s v e r y n a m e - " F r e e p l a y "
- D e f e n d a n t s ' b u s i n e s s m o d e l is p r e m i s e d on F r e e p l a y e n t i c in g c o n s u m e r s to
d o w n l o a d w h a t is p r o m i n e n t l y a d v e r t i s e d to the p u b l i c to be " f r e e " m u s i c f r o m its
w e b s i t e w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m , and t h e n , u t i l i z in g T u n e s a t to h u n t ou t c o n s u m e r s
w h o s u c c u m b e d
to the
e n t i c e m e n t ,
to
t h r e a t e n
and to
c o m m e n c e , c o p y r i g h t s t r i k e
l a w s u i t s in an a t t e m p t to ex t o rt v a s t a m o u n t s of m o n e y a f t er t he c o n s u m e r a c t u a l l y
u s e s t h a t m u s i c . S i n c e it s i n c e p t i o n in 200 1, F r e e p l a y ha s a s s e r t e d c o p y r i g h t
i n f r i n g e m e n t c l a i m s in at l e a s t two d o z e n l a w s u i t s , e x tr a c t in g s e t t l e m e n t s in t h e s e
l i t i g a t i o n m a t t e r s and, u p o n i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l i e f , in an u n t o l d n u m b e r of o t h e r
i n s t a n c e s w h e r e
the
s i m p l e t h r e a t
of
l i t i g a t i o n
was
e n o u g h
to
e x t r a c t
a
s h a k e d o w n
f r o m c o n s u m e r s who m i s t a k e n l y t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e g e t t in g e x a c t l y w h a t
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m a d v e r t i s e s - m u s i c th a t was " f r e e " to use .
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
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P a g e 3 of 26 C a s e No.
p r a c t i c e s to Y o u T u b e , a p la t f o r m u s e d by t e n s , if not h u n d r e d s , of m i l l i o n s of u s e r s
a r o u n d
the
w o r l d
to
u p l o a d v i d e o s . W h e n
a
c o n s u m e r l o o ki n g
fo r
m u s i c
to
i n c o r p o r a t e
i n to
a
Y o u T u b e v i d e o s e a r c h e s G o o g l e w it h
the
t e r m " f r e e m u s i c , "
one of the top
t h r e e
s e a r c h r e s u l t s is F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e , w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m . . A u s e r who c l i c k s
t h r o u g h to F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e t h e n s e e s the f o l l o w i n g o f f e r, p r o m i n e n t l y d i s p l a y e d on
F r e e p l a y ' s h o m e p a g e :
a SEARCH
F r e e p l a y ' s c o p y r i g h t i n fr i n g e m e n t c l a i m s ar e p r e m i s e d on the a b s o l u t e f a l s i ty of t h i s
p r o m i s e
of
"f r e e m u s i c
for
Y o u T u b e . "
9 . F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e ,
as it
e x i s t s today, a l l o w s
a
c o n s u m e r
to "ad d to
c a r t "
a
s p e c i f i c t r a c k or a l b u m - w h i c h a r g u a b l y s u g g e s t s the n e e d to p u r c h a s e the t r a c k . The
u s e r
is
t h e n r e q u i r e d
to
s e l e c t
a
l i c e n s e t y p e
and to
e f f e c t
the
p u r c h a s e . H o w e v e r ,
at all
t i m e s m a t e r i a l h e r e t o , w h e n P la i n ti ff a c c e s s e d the F r e e p l a y w e b s i t e in o r d e r to
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
4/28
P a g e
4 of 26
C a s e
No.
a n y t i m e ,
in th e
f o r m
of an MP3
f i le , w i t h o u t
any
k n o w le d g e , a w a r e n e s s
or
r e q u i r e m e n t
o f f e e s , c h a r g e s
or
l i c e n s e r e s t r i c t io n s .
1 0 .
P la in t i f f ,
,
li k e m o s t
of
F r e e p l a y ' s v i c t i m s , l e a r n e d t h a t F r e e p l a y ' s
p r o m i s e
of
" fr e e m u s i c
fo r
Y o u T u b e "
was
f a l s e o n l y w h e n F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t ,
in
c o l l u s i o n w i t h F r e e p l a y , s e n t
a
d e m a n d
for
p a y m e n t
fo r
c l a im e d d a m a g e s , b a s e d
on
t h e o u t r a g e o u s n o t i o n t h a t
the
u s e r ' s u n w i t t i n g " c o p y r i g h t i n f r i n g e m e n t "
wa s
" w i l l f u l . "
1 1 .
F r e e p l a y ' s f a ls e a d v e r t i s i n g
ha s
h a r m e d P la i n t if f , a l o n g w i t h
an
u n t o l d
n u m b e r
of
c o n s u m e r s
wh o
i n n o c e n t l y
use
F r e e p l a y ' s " f r e e" m u s i c
in
c r e a t i n g
t h e ir Y o u T u b e v i d e o s . T h e s e c o n s u m e r s , i n c l u d in g P la in t i ff , b e c a m e
the
v i c t i m s
of the
D e f e n d a n t s ' e x o r b i t a n t s e t t l e m e n t d e m a n d s
and had to
t a k e t h e i r v i d e o s d o w n .
D e f e n d a n t s ' t a c t ic s h a v e d e p r i v e d P l ai nt if f
of the
de
minimis
f a i r
use of
s m a l l
s e g m e n t s
of the
v i d e o s . M o r e s i g n i f ic a n t ly , h o w e v e r ,
in
t h i s a c t i o n , D e f e n d a n t ' s l u ll e d
P l a i n t i f f i n t o b e l i e v i n g
it wa s
e n t i t l e d
to use the
m u s i c , o n l y
to
th e n m a k e
an
u n e x p e c t e d ,
e x t o r t i o n a t e f i n a n c i a l d e m a n d a g a i n s t P l a i n t i f f , w i t h
no
o p p o r t u n i t y
fo r
P l a i n t i f f
to
c a n c e l ,
r e q u i r i n g P l a i n t i f f
to
e i t h e r c a p i t u l a t e
to the
e x t o r t i o n a te d e m a n d
or
i n c u r s i g n i f i c a n t
l e g a l f e e s
to
d e f e n d a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t s ' i m p r o p e r c l a i m s
of
c o p y r i g h t
" i n f r i n g e m e n t " c a u s e d
by
F r e e p l a y ' s d e l i b e r a t e f a l s e
and
d e c e p t i v e a d v e r t i s i n g .
F A C T S R E L E V A N T T O A L L C L A I M S
1 2 .
N C S F
is an
a c c r e d i t a t i o n a g e n c y w h i c h p r o v i d e s t r a i n in g
for, and
t e s t s
the
k n o w l e d g e
and
s k i l l s
of,
c o a c h e s
and
t r a i n e r s
in the
f i e l d s
of
p h y s i c a l a c t i v i ty , p e r s o n a l
t r a i n i n g
and
a t h l e t i c c o n d i t i o n i n g . N C S F e a r n s
its
r e v e n u e s f r o m
the
s a l e
of
s t u d y
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
5/28
P a g e 5 of 26 C a s e
No.
g e n e r a t i n g a c t i v i t i e s as p a r t of its m i s s i o n . One s u c h a c t i v i ty is t he e d u c a t i o n of th e
p u b l i c r e g a r d i n g s a f e
and
e f fe c t iv e e x e r c i s e t e c h n i q u e s .
The
v i d e o s c o n t a i n i n g
the
m u s i c w h i c h is th e s u b j e c t of t h i s a c t i o n w e r e i n s t r u c t i o n a l v i d e o s i l l u s t r a t in g t he c o r r e c t
p o s t u r e and t e c h n i q u e to p e r f o r m c e r t a i n p h y s i c a l e x e r c i s e s . Th e v i d e o s w e r e
i n s t r u c t i o n a l and e d u c a t i o n a l in n a t u r e , as t h e y di d not a d v e r t i s e any g o o d s a n d / o r
s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e d
by
N C S F ,
and ,
m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y ,
did not
g e n e r a t e
any
d i r e c t
or
i n d i r e c t r e v e n u e
for
N C S F .
1 3 .
F r e e p l a y p u r p o r t s
to be th e
o w n e r
and
o p e r a t o r
of th e
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e .
1 4 .
Tunesat purports to be the enforcement
a g e n c y
for Freeplay and
o t h e r
c o p y r i g h t o w n e r s . A c c o r d i n g to T u n e s a t ' s w e b s i t e , T u n e s a t e m p l o y s an a u t o m a t e d
" l i s t e n i n g " s y s t e m
to
d e t e c t u n a u t h o r i z e d u s e s
of its
c l i e n t s ' m u s i c . T u n e s a t p r i d e s i ts e l f
o n b e i n g a b l e
to
r e c o g n i z e , u s i n g
it s
p r o p r i e t a r y t e c h n o l o g y ,
an
u n a u t h o r i z e d
use of
m u s i c as s h o r t as a t h r e e s e c o n d c l i p , e v e n if th e m u s i c c l ip has undergone a certain
l e v e l of e d i t i n g .
1
H o w e v e r , T u n e s a t ' s s y s t e m d o e s no t h a v e the c a p a b i l i ty to i n q u i r e
a b o u t t he c ir c u m s t a n c e s of the " u n a u t h o r i z e d u s e . " T h a t is, th e " l is t e n i n g " s o f t w a r e d o e s
n o t r e c o g n i z e w h e t h e r
a
t r a c k ,
or
p o r t i o n t h e r e o f ,
is
b e i n g played
in a
c l a s s r o o m
e n v i r o n m e n t ,
or by a
n o n - p r o f it o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
or, as in the
i n s t a n t c a s e
, in the
c o n t e x t
of
p u b l ic e d u c a t i o n a l v i d e o s . I n s t e a d , T u n e s a t ' s s o f t w a r e m e r e l y r e c o r d s any and al l u s e s
o c c u r r e d w i t h o u t a l i c e n s e as " v i o l a t io n s . "
1 5 . F r e e p l a y a l s o p u r p o r t s to be th e o w n e r of v a r i o u s c o p y r i g h t s in m u s i c a l
w o r k s a v a i l a b l e for d o w n l o a d on the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e .
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
6/28
P a g e
6 o f 26
C a s e
No.
1 6 .
F r e e p l a y h e a v i l y p r o m o t e s i ts e l f
as
o f f e r in g f r e e m u s i c
to
u s e r s .
In
l i gh t
of
t h e l i m i t e d
us e
t h a t P l a i n t i f f
was
i n t e n d i n g
to
m a k e
of the
m a t e r i a l ,
the
a d v e r t i s i n g
b e n e f i t s
to
F r e e p l a y ,
and the
a b s e n c e
of any
c l e a r p r e c l u s i o n
to the
P l a i n t i f f ' s
d o w n l o a d s , P la i n ti ff w h o l l y b e l i e v e d
and
r e l ie d u p o n F r e e p l a y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
r e g a r d i n g
the
f r e e n a t u r e
of the
d o w n l o a d s .
On
i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l i e f, t h r o u g h
the
d a t e
o f
the
f i l i n g
of
t h i s l a w s u i t ,
the
w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e c o n t a i n e d h u n d r e d s
of
u s e s
of the
w o r d " f r e e "
in its
m e t a d a t a , i n c l u d i n g
the
s t a n d - a l o n e p h r a s e s " f r ee m u s i c
d o w n l o a d s "
and
" f r e e m u s i c . "
1 7 . The
s t a t e m e n t s
in th e
m e t a d a t a t h at
the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e
o f f e r e d " f r e e c o n t e n t , " " f r e e m u s i c , "
and
" f r e e
music
d o w n l o a d s , " c a u s e d
the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e
to
a p p e a r t h i r d f r o m
the top in the
r e s u l t s
of
G o o g l e
I n t e r n e t s e a r c h e s
for
" f r e e m u s i c . "
1 8 . The
s t a t e m e n t s
in th e
m e t a d a t a t h at
the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m
w e b s i t e o f f e r e d " f r ee c o n t e n t , " " f r e e m u s i c , "
and
" f re e m u s i c d o w n l o a d , " c o n s t i tu t e d
a f f i r m a t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
by
F r e e p l a y t h a t
the
m u s i c a v a i l a b l e
on th e
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e
was
i n d e e d f r e e
to
d o w n l o a d
and use.
1 9 . W h e n N C S F d o w n l o a d e d m u s i c f r o m
the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m ,
the
w e b s i t e
did not
u t i l i ze
a
s h o p p i n g c a r t
or any
o t h e r p a y m e n t f e a t u r e
to
co l l e c t
p a y m e n t
in
o r d e r
to
d o w n l o a d m u s i c f ro m
the
w e b s i t e . V i s i t o rs
to the
w e b s i t e c o u l d
f r e e l y d o w n l o a d
any
m u s i c a v a i l a b l e
on the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e , w i t h
the
c o m p l e t e
and
r e a s o n a b l e b e l i e f t h a t
the
d o w n l o a d
was
p e r m i s s i b le
and not
i n f r i n g i n g .
2 0 .
N C S F , w h e n
it
d o w n l o a d e d m u s i c f r o m
the
F r e e p l a y w e b s i t e ,
did so
f u l l y
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
7/28
P a g e 7 of 26 C a s e No.
i n f r i n g i n g .
2 1 .
W h e n N C S F d o w n l o a d e d
the
m u s i c f r o m w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m ,
the
w e b s i t e did not re q u e s t p a y m e n t nor did it r e q u i r e N C S F to a g r e e to any t e r m s of use in
o r d e r
to
d o w n l o a d m u s i c f r o m
the
w e b s i t e .
2 2 . W h e n N C S F d o w n l o a d e d the m u s i c f r o m w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m . the
w e b s i t e
did not
e v e n r e q u i r e u s e r s
to
r e a d ,
let
a l o n e a g r e e
to, any
w a r n i n g , t e r m s
of use
o r o t h e r i n d i c a t i o n t h a t F r e e p l a y m i g h t r e q u e s t p a y m e n t for use of the m u s i c in o r d e r to
d o w n l o a d m u s i c f r o m the w e b s i t e . S i m i l a r ly , the w e b s i te did not r e q u i r e N C S F to o b t a i n
a l i c e n s e for the d o w n l o a d e d m u s i c p r io r to d o w n l o a d i n g .
2 3 .
F r e e p l a y ' s f a i l u r e
to
i n d i c a t e t h a t F r e e p l a y m i g h t s e e k p a y m e n t
fo r
u s i n g
m u s i c m a d e a v a i l a b l e on the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e c o n s t i t u t e s a
n o n d i s c l o s u r e and c o n c e a l m e n t of a m a t e r i a l f a c t r e g a r d i n g F r e e p l a y ' s a l l e g e d a s s e r t i o n
t h a t it is e n t i t l e d to p a y m e n t for c e r ta i n u s e s of m u s i c m a d e a v a i l a b l e on the w e b s i t e .
2 4 . F r e e p l a y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e ,
and
c o n c e a l m e n t , c o u p l e d
w i t h the s t r u c t u r e and o r g a n i z a t i o n of the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e , c r e a t e d an
a c t u a l or i m p l i e d l i c e n s e to d o w n l o a d and use the m u s i c t ha t was a v a i l a b l e on the
w e b s i t e and p r o m o t e d as b e i n g " f r e e . "
2 5 . F r e e p l a y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e , c o n c e a l m e n t , and s t r u c t u r e
a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n of the w e b s i t e w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m l e a d s u s e r s in g e n e r a l , and
s p e c i f i c a l l y
led
N C S F i nt o r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v i n g
and
e x p e c t i n g t h a t
the
m u s i c
on the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e was f r e e as a d v e r t i s e d . It is o n l y a f t e r u s e r s , s u c h as
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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P a g e
8
o f
26
C a s e N o .
l i ti g a t i o n f o r c o p y r i g h t i n f r i n g e m e n t .
2 6 .
O n i n f o r m a t i o n a n d b e l ie f , F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t s e a r c h w e b s i t e s t o
i d e n t i f y i n s t a n c e s w h e r e m u s i c f r o m t h e w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e is b e i n g u s e d ,
a n d t h e n im p r o p e r l y d e m a n d p a y m e n t f o r a l l e g e d c o p y r i g h t i n f r i n g e m e n t f r o m t h o s e
u s e r s t h a t d o w n l o a d e d t h e m u s i c b e l i e v i n g t h e m u s i c t o b e f r e e .
2 7 .
O n o r a b o u t S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 , F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t , in c o l l u s i o n w i t h
F r e e p l a y , c o n t a c t e d N C S F , a n d a s s e r t e d t h a t c e r t a i n v i d e o s o n N C S F ' s w e b s i t e
i n c l u d e d m u s i c c o p y r i g h t e d b y F r e e p l a y a n d d e m a n d e d t h a t N C S F c e a s e a n d d e s i s t
f r o m u s e o f t h e m u s i c
2 8 .
N C S F p u r c h a s e d t h e p a i d l i c en s e s t h a t T u n e s a t d e m a n d e d a s s o o n a s
p r a c t i c a b l e a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h c o u n s e l .
2 9 . D e s p i t e N C S F ' s p r o m p t a n d g o o d f a i t h p u r c h a s e o f t h e l i c e n s e s t h a t
T u n e s a t d e m a n d e d , T u n e s a t r e f u s e d t o h o n o r th e l i c e n s e s c l a i m i n g th a t t h e y w e r e n o t
v a l i d b e c a u s e N C F S h a d p u r c h a s e d t h e m i n " b a d f a i t h "
3 0 . N C S F v o l u n t a r i l y t o o k d o w n t h e i d e n t i fi e d v i d e o s p r o m p t l y t h e r e a f t e r.
3 1 . D e s p i t e N C S F ' s p r o m p t r e m o v a l o f t h e v i d e o s id e n t i fi e d b y F r e e p l a y
a n d / o r T u n e s a t , i n c o l l u s i o n w i t h F r e e p l a y , F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t i n c o l l u s i o n w i t h
F r e e p la y , d e m a n d e d a $ 1 0 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 p a y m e n t .
3 2 . O n M a r c h 1 , 2 0 1 6 , N C S F , b y a n d t h r o u g h u n d e r s i g n e d c o u n s e l ,
e x p l a i n e d in a d e t a i l e d le t t e r t h a t F r e e p l a y ' s a s s e r t i o n o f c o p y r i g h t i n f r i n g e m e n t w a s
i m p r o p e r , i n p a r t , b e c a u s e o f t h e r e p e a t e d u s e o f t h e w o r d " f r e e " in t h e
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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P a g e 9 of 26 C a s e No.
the website.
33.
Subsequent
to the
time that NCSF downloaded
the
music from
www. f re e p l a ymu s i c . co m. Freeplay revised its website to implement changes. However,
Freeplay did not notify NCSF of those revisions. Nonethe less, Freeplay and/or
Tunesat, in collusion with Freeplay, sought to retroactively impose and enforce the
amended
and
revised terms against NCSF.
FREEPLAY'S FALSE AND MISLEADING OFFER OF FREE MUSIC
34.
NCSF seeks redress for Freeplay's deliberate and unlawful false and
misleading representations that its music is free to use on YouTube videos.
35.
Freeplay
is the
third result shown
in a
Google search
for
free music.
It
appears high in the results of other Internet searches as
well :
G o c g f e f e e music
H A p» Videos Shopping
N w i
Mo ra * Semen t&o i j
Aftoirt 1 WO WBJXti rasuttc ?.i 44 *ee«nd»)
R o y a l t y f r e e t h e m e m u s i c - b o u n d o f f . c o m
*:53 www ta»ur;dcff.com/ "
l
or your pedeast. youtube video, or personal dvd project Preview at
F r e e M u s i c A r c h i v e
i TMiT iua ica rc .n t v ie . o rg / • Fran w w . w w »
Archive of public do main and Creative Commo ns licensed tonga managed «vrth a
curatorial approach
Instrumental
•
Electronic • Rock ••
Pop
J a n g o : F r e e M u s i c O n l i n e - I n te rn e t Ra d i o
www.jango
com.' *
Ja n g o
v
Fr ee internet ra dio, just like Pandora only fewer
ad* and
mare variety. List en
tc
hundreds
of
genre stations
or
create your
own
wit h youi favorite m us ic
Ellie Goulding
-
Bruno Mars
- Wiz
Khalifa
•
Today' e Trjp
100
F r e e p l a y
M u s i c
|
W e l c o m e
| T h e
b e s t m u s i c l i b r a r y
o n th e ...
f r e re i p l a ymu s le .co m/
»
15000 SONGS. FREE MUSIC
FDR
YOUTUBE AND MORE.
THE
SOUND
OF
YOUR
NEXT PROJECT STARTS HERE.
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://boundoff.com/http://itmitiuaicarc.ntvie.org/http://itmitiuaicarc.ntvie.org/http://www.jango/http://www.jango/http://frereiplaymusle.com/http://frereiplaymusle.com/http://frereiplaymusle.com/http://www.jango/http://itmitiuaicarc.ntvie.org/http://boundoff.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
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P a g e 1 0 o f 2 6 C a s e N o .
i n t h e G o o g l e s e a r c h f o r " f r e e m u s i c " d o i n f a c t p r o v i d e f r e e m u s i c .
3 7 . It is r e a s o n a b l e a n d j u s t i f i a b l e t h a t a c o n s u m e r t h a t p r o c e e d s t o
F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e ( w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m . w h i c h p r o m i n e n t l y o f f e rs " F R E E M U S I C
F O R Y O U T U B E " ) , a f te r s e a r c h i n g t h e in t e r n e t f o r " f re e m u s i c , " w o u l d a s s u m e t h a t
F r e e p l a y ' s m u s i c is a l s o f r e e .
3 8 . I n d i v i d u a l Y o u T u b e u s e r s w h o a r e l u r e d b y F r e e p l a y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f
" f r e e "
m u s i c f o r t h e ir Y o u T u b e v i d e o s h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b r o w s e F r e e p l a y ' s
c a t a l o g o n it s w e b s i t e . T h i s c a t a l o g i s a l s o d i r e c t l y a c c e s s i b l e f r o m G o o g l e , w i t h o u t
h a v i n g t o n a v i g a t e f i rs t t o F r e e p l a y ' s h o m e p a g e :
Freeplay Music j Welcome j The best music library on the ...
freepiaymus;c.cor?V •*
15000 SONGS. FREE MUSIC FOR YOUTUBE AND MORE THE SOUND OF YOUR
N E X T P R O J E C T S T A R T S H E R E .
B row s e C a t a l og • Log i n - N ew l y A d de d • H ow f t W ork s
3 9 .
B e f o r e , i ts w e b s i t e c h a n g e d , i n o r a b o u t 2 0 1 4 , F r e e p l a y d i d n o t r e q u i r e i ts
w e b s i t e u s e r s t o u s e a n y s h o p p i n g c a r t , o r t o r e a d o r a g r e e t o a n y t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s ,
a n d n e v e r r e q u i r e d u s e r s t o p a y f o r a n y o f t h e m u s i c d o w n l o a d e d f r o m t h e w e b s i t e
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m . A n y u s e r c o u l d s i m p l y s e l e c t a s o n g o r a l b u m f r o m t h e
h o m e p a g e , a n d t h e n c li c k o n t h e r e q u i r e d l e n g t h o f t h e d e s i r e d d o w n l o a d . A t th i s p o i n t ,
a t y p i c a l d o w n l o a d w i n d o w w o u l d o p e n , a l l o w i n g t h e u s e r t o e i t h e r o p e n o r s a v e t h e
d e s i r e d f i le : n o s h o p p i n g c a r t , n o p a y m e n t o p t i o n s , n o t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s . N C S F
o b t a i n e d t h e m u s i c it d o w n l o a d e d f r o m w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m i n t h i s f a s h i o n .
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
11/28
Page 11 of 26
Case No .
40 Since that t ime, Freeplay has rev is ed i ts web s i te so that af ter br ow s ing
Free p lay ' s ca ta log and l is ten ing to sa mples , the user has the op t io n to se lec t "Ad d
to Car t " w i th respec t to any so ng . Upon checkout , the user is p rompted to s e le c t f ro m
a dropdow n me nu o f l i cens e opt io ns . Tw o o f these opt ions , s hown be low, are
"YouTube: Persona l use on YouTube on ly " and " In ternet : Persona l Use (YouTube
only):"
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
12/28
Page 12 of 26
Case No .
$0
^̂ ^̂ ̂w v̂v̂^̂ ^̂ ^̂ ^̂ ^̂ ^̂ vvAV •̂
S e l e c t
S&i&ct
Y o u T u b e
Bus iness Use-Youtube (unlimited URLs )(1 Year(8), $250.00)
B u s i n e s s
Multimedia Unlimited (non-broadcast) [worl0wldej(l Year(s)< 8250.00)
ttu k on Huici [single track](1 Year(8), S25.0Q)
Web Page Us e(1 Vtoarfc), 5100 00)
Multimedia on© us e (nojv broadcaety j wo rsdw id ^ ] (l Day(s), $50.00)
Oame/App Use(1 Yfeanjs), $150 00)
E d u c a t i o n
In-Cl.asaroom Uee(99 Year($). $0 00)
UlL Oris Act Play Co mp eti tion ^ M onth®., S.20.00)
Film
Commercial Film Festival (traek|(? Dayfs). $50.00)
Commercial Unlimited Film Festivals [per
tracNJ
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
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P a g e 13 of 26
C a s e No.
4 1 . The
c o s t
of
b o t h
of
t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s
of
l i c e n s e s
is
z e r o ,
as
s h o w n
in
t h e i m a g e a b o v e .
4 2 .
W h i c h e v e r o p t i o n
t he
c o n s u m e r s e l e c ts ,
a
p o p u p w i n d o w a p p e a r s
for
a " M a s t e r R e c o r d i n g / S y n c h r o n i z a t i o n L i c e n s e "
( the
" L i c e n s e " ) ; S e c t i o n
4 of the
L i c e n s e s e t s f o r th
t he
p e r m i t t e d u s e s
as
f o l l o w s :
Y o u T u b e on ly ,"
the
L i c e n s e p e r m i ts " Y o u T u b e P e r s o n a l
use on
Y o u T u b e o n l y . "
( Y o u T u b e o n l y ) , "
the
L i c e n s e p e r m i ts " I n t e r n e t P e r s o n a l
U s e
( Y o u T u b e o n l y ) . "
4 3 . The
v i d e o s t h a t u t i l i z e d
the
d o w n l o a d e d
(and
v e r y a b b r e v i a t e d )
s e g m e n t s
of
m u s i c d i s p l a y e d p r o p e r e x e r c i s e
or
w o r k o u t t e c h n i q u e s
to
p r e v e n t i n j u r y
a n d
to
m a x i m i z e e f f e c t i v e n e s s . N C S F e a r n e d
no
f e e s f r o m t h e s e v i e w e r s ' p e r s o n a l
u s e
of the
v i d e o s
nor an y
p r o f i t f r o m
t he
v i d e o s
or the
m u s i c .
4 4 . A f t e r
the
L i c e n s e
is
s h o w n ,
all the
u s e r
has to do to
d o w n l o a d
the
m u s i c
and
o b t a i n
the
" f r e e " l i c e n s e
is to
e n t e r
an
e m a i l a d d r e s s
and
c l i c k
his or her
a c c e p t a n c e
of the
L i c e n s e .
The
l i c e n s e
and
d o w n l o a d t r a n s a c t i o n t a k e s p l a c e
d i r e c t l y
on
F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m . w h i c h , u p o n i n f o r m a t i o n
a n d b e l i e f ,
is
m a i n t a i n e d
and
o p e r a t e d f r o m F r e e p l a y ' s p l a c e
of
b u s i n e s s
in Ne w
Y o r k .
4 5 .
At no
p o i n t
in the
p r o c e s s
of
d o w n l o a d i n g F r e e p la y ' s m u s i c
is the
u s e r
If
the
c o n s u m e r s e l e c t s
the
o p t i o n
for
" Y o u T u b e : P e r s o n a l
use on
If
t he
c o n s u m e r s e l e c ts
the
o p t i o n
for
" I n t e r n e t : P e r s o n a l
Use
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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P a g e 14 of 26 C a s e No.
a n y way. It is not s u r p r i s i n g t h e n t h a t m a n y , if not m o s t , of th e c o n s u m e r s who
d o w n l o a d F r e e p l a y ' s m u s i c , i n c l u d i n g N C S F , are not a w a r e of the f i n e p r i n t in
F r e e p l a y ' s u n i l a t e r a l " T e r m s of U s e . "
4 6 .
F r e e p l a y 's w e b s i t e and d o w n l o a d i n g m e t h o d s h a v e c h a n g e d s i n c e its
i n c e p t i o n and s i n c e N C S F ' s d o w n l o a d s . U p o n i n f o rm a t i o n and be l i e f , at all r e l e v a n t
t i m e s ,
F r e e p l a y
has
f a l s e l y , d e c e p t i v e l y
and
m i s l e a d i n g l y r e p r e s e n t e d t h a t
it s
m u s i c
wa s
" f r e e "
to use
u n d e r
the
c i r c u m s t a n c e s p r e s e n t e d
in
t h i s a c t i o n .
4 7 . B e c a u s e
of the
p o w e r f u l d r a w
of
"f r e e " p r o d u c t s
and
s e r v i c e s
on
c o n s u m e r s , v i r t u a l l y e v e r y l e v e l
of
g o v e r n m e n t
has
p r o m u l g a t e d r u l es , r e g u l a t i o n s
and
g u i d e l i n e s t h a t s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o h i b i t f a l s e
and
m i s l e a d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g
" f r e e " o f f e r s
of the
t y p e F r e e p l a y
has
m a d e .
4 8 .
The
F e d e r a l T r a d e C o m m i s s i o n ,
for
e x a m p l e ,
has
p r o m u l g a t e d
a
" G u i d e
C o n c e r n i n g the Use of the W o r d ' F r e e' and S i m i la r R e p r e s e n t a t i o n s . " ( the " G u i d e " )
2
)
T h e G u i d e e x p l a i n s : " B e c a u s e the p u r c h a s i n g p u b l ic c o n t in u a l l y s e a r c h e s for the b e s t
b u y , and r e g a r d s the o f f e r of ' F re e ' m e r c h a n d i s e or s e r v i c e to be a s p e c i a l b a r g a i n , all
s u c h o f f e r s m u s t be m a d e w i t h e x t r e m e c a r e so as to a v o i d any p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t
c o n s u m e r s w i l l be m i s l e d or d e c e i v e d . ' " 16 C . F . R . § 2 5 1 . 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) . The G u i d e t h u s
p r o v i d e s t h a t " [ w ] h e n m a k i n g ' F r e e ' or s i m i l a r o f f e r s all th e t e r m s , c o n d i t i o n s and
o b l i g a t io n s u p o n w h i c h r e c e i p t and r e t e n t i o n of the ' F r e e ' i t e m ar e c o n t i n g e n t s h o u l d be
s e t f o r t h c l e a r l y and c o n s p i c u o u s l y at the o u t s e t of the o f f e r so as to l e a v e no
r e a s o n a b l e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t the t e r m s of the o f f e r m i g h t be m i s u n d e r s t o o d . " Id. at §
2 5 1 . 1 ( c ) .
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
15/28
Page 15 of 26 Case No.
4 9 . S im i l a r l y ,
the
R u l e s of
the City
of
Ne w
Y o r k
("RCNY"),
w h e r e , u p o n
i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l i e f, F r e e p la y
and
T u n e s a t
ar e
b a s e d , p r o v i d e t h a t
"[a]
s e l l e r
who
i m p o s e s ac o n d i t i o n on af r e e o f f e r m u s t d e s c r i b e thec o n d i t i o n c lear ly
and
c onsp i c uous l y
The desc r i p t i on of every c o n d i t i o n on af ree of fer m u s t be p laced
near the
wo rd f ree . .
T h i s c o n d i t i o n m u s t
be in
p r i n t
at
l e a s t h a l f
as
l a r g e
as the
p r in t
u s e d for the w o r d ' f r e e . ' " 6R C N Y §5 - 0 6 ( b ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) .
5 0 .
S i m i l a r l y ,
in
F l o r i d a , " [ a d v e r t i s i n g
in
w h i c h i t e m s
are
o f f e r e d
as
f r e e w i th
c o n d i t i o n s or o b l ig a t io n s n e c e s s a r y toa c c e p t a n c e s h a l l i n c l u d e a
clear and
c onsp i c uous s t a t e m e n t of an y s u c h c o n d i t i o n s or o b l i g a t io n s and a d v e r t i s i n g in
c o m p l i a n c e h e r e w i t h s h a l l
not be
c o n s i d e r e d d e c e p t iv e . "
F/a.
Stat. §8 1 7 . 4 1 5 ( 5 ) ( 2 0 1 5 )
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) .
5 1 .
N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e s e r u l es
and
r e g u l a t io n s , F r e e p l a y hasb r a z e n l y
m i s r e p r e s e n t e d to c o n s u m e r s t h at it o f fe r s " F R E E M U S I C FOR Y O U T U B E , " w i t h o ut
t h e r e q u i s i t e " c l e a r
and
c o n s p i c u o u s " d i s c l o s u r e
of the
c o n d i t i o n s t h a t p u r p o r t e d l y m u s t
b e
met for the
o f f e r
of
" f r ee m u s i c "
to
a p p l y .
5 2 .
N C S F
has
b e e n d e c e i v e d
and
m i s l e d
by
F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e
and
m i s l e a d i n g
a d v e r t i s i n g
and
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s .
F R E E P L A Y S F A L S E
A D V E R T I S I N G
AND T U N E S A T S M A N I P U L A T I O N O F T H A T
F A L S E A D V E R T I S I N G HA S H A R M E D P L A I N T I F F AND T H E P U B L I C
5 3 . The
n a t u r a l
and
p r o x i m a t e -
and,
i n d e e d , d e l i b e r a t e - c o n s e q u e n c e of
F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s m i s c o n d u c t
has
b e e n
the
v e r y c o p y r i g h t " i n f r in g e m e n t s " by
w h i c h F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t p u r p o r t
to
h a v e b e e n i n j u r e d .
In
r e a l i t y , F r e e p la y
and
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P a g e
16 of 26
C a s e
No.
5 4 . F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t h a v e a s s e r t e d c o p y r ig h t i n f r in g e m e n t c l a i m s
in
d o z e n s
of
a c t i o n s o v e r
the
la s t s e v e r a l y e a r s
and
h a v e t h r e a t e n e d
to
b r in g s u c h
an
a c t i o n a g a i n s t N C S F
in New
Y o r k
-
F r e e p l a y ' s
an d
T u n e s a t ' s h o m e s t a t e
-
w h i c h w o u l d
r e s u l t
in
N C S F i n c u r r i n g s i g n i f i c a n t e x p e n s e ,
to the
e x t r e m e p r e j u d i c e
of
N C S F . U p o n
i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l i e f , m o s t ,
if not all , of
F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s p r i o r l it i g a ti o n m a t t e r s
r e s u l t e d
in
m o n e t a r y s e t t l e m e n t s
for
F r e e p la y t h a t e x c e e d e d w h a t
it
c o u l d
or
w o u l d h a v e
e a r n e d
in
l i c e n s e f e e s ,
had the
p u r p o r t e d t e r m s
of
u s a g e b e e n p r o p e rl y d is c l o s e d
on
F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m .
The
f o r c e d e x p e n s i v e s e t t le m e n t
by
l i t i ga t i on
is a key
p a r t
of
F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s b u s i n e s s m o d e l .
5 5 .
U p o n i n f o rm a t i o n
and
be l i e f ,
a
s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n ,
if not the
m a j o r i t y ,
of
F r e e p l a y ' s r e v e n u e
is
e a r n e d f r o m s e t t l e m e n t s f o l l o w i n g
its
t h r e a t s
or
ac tua l i n i t i a t i on
of
l i t i g a t i o n u p o n u s e r s
who
w e r e u n a w a r e
of any
i m p r o p e r u s e s
on
t he i r pa r t
and who
w e r e d e n i e d
any
o p p o r t u n i t y
by
F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t
to
s i m p l y c e a s e
use of the
d o w n l o a d s o n c e T u n e s a t a p p r i s e d t h e m
of the
p u r p o r t e d v i o l a t i o n s .
5 6 .
U p o n i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e li e f, F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t ,
in
c o l l u s i o n w i t h
F r e e p l a y , h a v e s e n t d e m a n d l e t t e r s
to
o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l s
and
e n t i t ie s w h o m t h e y h a v e
n e v e r s u e d ,
and who
e n t e r e d in t o m o n e t a r y s e t t l e m e n t s w i t h F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t
p r e c i s e l y
to
a v o i d
the
l it i ga t io n t h a t F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t i m p r o p e r l y t h r e a t e n e d ,
but
t h a t
its
v i ct i m s c o u l d
not
a f f o r d
to
d e f e n d .
5 7 . U p o n i n f o r m a t io n
and
b e li e f, F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t ,
in
c o l l u s i o n w i t h
F r e e p l a y , r o u t i n e l y d e m a n d p a y m e n t s
in
e x c e s s
of
$ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 f r o m t h e i r v i c t i m s , w h e t h e r
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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17/28
P a g e 17 of 26 C a s e No.
s t a t e d c o s t to l i c e n s e w o r k s f r o m F r e e p l a y for " b u s i n e s s use" is $ 2 5 0 pe r w o r k , w h i c h is
o f
a
c o n s i d e r a b l e m a g n i t u d e l e s s t h a n
the
a m o u n t
of
F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s
u n c o n s c i o n a b l e d e m a n d s .
5 8 .
O n c e T u n e s a t a d v i s e d N C S F
of the
a l l e g e d in f r i n g e m e n t , N C S F
v o l u n t a r i l y
and in
g o o d f a i t h o f f e r e d
to pay the
l i c e n s i n g
fe e, but
F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t
r e j e c t e d N C S F ' s e f f o r t .
5 9 . In
o r d e r
to
f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e
its
d e m a n d s , T u n e s a t ,
on
b e h a l f
of
F r e e p l a y ,
d o e s
not
no t i fy
the
p o t e n t i a l " t a r g e t s "
of
t h e i r a l l e g e d i n f r i n g e m e n t s i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r
l e a r n i n g
of said infringements. Instead, Tunesat waits until the
p u r p o r t e d i n f r i n g e m e n t s
a c c u m u l a t e o v e r t i m e , o n l y
to
t h e n s e n d le t te r s d e m a n d i n g o u t r a g e o u s s u m s
of
m o n i e s
f o r p a s t a l l e g e d " i n f r i n g e m e n t s . " S u c h l e t t e r s i n c l u d e
an
e x t e n s i v e li s t
of all the
" v i o l a t i o n s " a c c u m u l a t e d o v e r t i m e ,
as
w e l l
as
t h r e a t s
of
i m m i n e n t l i ti g a t io n .
6 0 . The d e m a n d s m a d e by T u n e s a t , on b e h a l f of F r e e p l a y , are p r e d a t o r y in
n a t u r e ,
and
m a d e
in bad
f a i t h :
a .
Th e demand letter sent by Tunesat, in collusion
w i t h
Freeplay,
d o e s
n o t t i m e l y n o t i f y N I C S F of the a l l e g e d i n f r in g e m e n t , nor d o e s it r e q u i r e , or e v e n p r o v i d e
a n o p p o r t u n i t y
for,
N C S F
to
r e m o v e
the
i n f r i n g i n g m a t e r i a l ; i n s t e a d ,
it
s i m p l y d e m a n d s
m o n e y ;
b.
The
d e m a n d l e tt e r in c l u d e s
a
l i s t
of
a l l e g e d "v i o l a t i o n s . " H o w e v e r ,
s u c h " v i o l a t i o n s " are a m e r e l is t of the p u b l i c " v i e w s " of the v i d e os . W h e n a v i d e o is
p o s t e d to a v i d e o s h a r i n g w e b s i t e , l i k e Y o u t u b e . c o m , m i l l i o n s of v i ew e r s h a v e a c c e s s to
http://youtube.com/http://youtube.com/
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18/28
P a g e 18 of 26 C a s e No.
a t t e m p t e d
to
h o l d N C S F a c c o u n t a b l e
fo r
e a c h
and
e v e r y v i e w
the
p u b l i c m a d e
of
t h e s e
t w o v i d e o s , a l l e g i n g in its d e m a n d l e tt e r t h a t e a c h and e v e r y v i e w c o n s t i t u t e s a
" v i o l a t i o n ; " and
c.
The
d e m a n d l e tt e r d o e s
not
a f f o r d
any
r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y
to
c u r e the a l l e g e d i n f r i n g e m e n t . I n s t e a d , it c o n t a i n s t h r e a t e n i n g l a n g u a g e s u g g e s t i n g
i m m i n e n t l i t i g a t i o n , a d d i t i o n a l f e e s , p e n a l t i e s ,
and
i n t e r e s t
on
p a y m e n t s , u n l e s s
the
d e m a n d s are i m m e d i a t e l y s a t i s f i e d .
6 1 .
As a d i r e c t result of F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e an d deceptive representations and
a d v e r t i s e m e n t s , N C S F , as w e l l as o t h e r v i c t i m s of F r e e p l a y ' s p r a c t i c e s , h a v e b e e n
f o r c e d
to
e x p e n d c o s t l y l e g a l f e e s
to
d e f e n d a g a i n s t F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s ,
in
c o l l u s i o n w i t h F r e e p l a y , p r e d a t o r y l i t i g a t i o n e f f o r t s ,
al l
b a s e d u p o n
the
v e r y a l l e g e d
" i n f r i n g e m e n t s " F r e e p l a y
has
d e l i b e r a t e l y i n d u c e d t h r o u g h
its
f a l s e , d e c e p t i v e
and
m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s e m e n t s
and
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s . I n d e e d , th i s a c t i o n
is
N C S F ' s o n l y
a l t e r n a t i v e
to the
e x t o r t i o n a t e d e m a n d s t h a t F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t ,
in
c o l l u s i o n w i t h
F r e e p l a y , are now m a k i n g in o r d e r to f o r e b e a r fr o m b r i n g i n g s u i t a g a i n s t N C S F in Ne w
Y o r k , w h e r e N C S F has no p l a c e of b u s i n e s s and no m e a n s by w h i c h to de f en d i t se l f.
6 2 . The
h a r m
to
N C S F e x t e n d s b e y o n d l eg a l f e e s . B e c a u s e N C S F re l i e d
on
F r e e p l a y ' s d e c e p t i v e o f f e r
of
" fr e e m u s i c "
and
u s e d d o w n l o a d e d m u s i c
in its
v i d e o s
(in
m o s t c a s e s , fo r de minimis d u r a t io n s ) , t h e s e v i d e o s w e r e r e m o v e d f r o m Y o u T u b e a f te r
F r e e p l a y a n d / o r T u n e s a t , in c o l l u s i o n w i t h F r e e p l a y , i s s u e d t a k e d o w n n o t i c e s to
Y o u T u b e .
The
w a s t e d t i m e , p r o d u c t i o n ,
and
e f f o r t t h w a r t e d N C S F ' s a b i l i ty
to
f u r t h e r
its
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P a g e 19 of 26 C a s e No.
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s h a v e t h e r e f o r e d a m a g e d N C S F
in its
r e p u t a t i o n
and
g o o d w i l l .
6 4 .
F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s c o n d u c t
has
c a u s e d r e p u t a t i o n a l i n ju r y
by
f a l s e l y c a s t i n g N C S F as a c op y r i g h t i n f r i nge r .
6 5 . U n l e s s F r e e p l a y ' s
and
T u n e s a t ' s p r e d a t o ry b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e s
are put to a
h a l t , N C S F
and
m e m b e r s
of the
p u b l i c w i l l c o n t i n u e
to be
h a r m e d ,
as
Y o u T u b e u s e r s
c o n t i n u e
to
d o w n l o a d
and use
w h a t t h e y b e l i e v e
to be
e x a c t l y w h a t F r e e p l a y a d v e r t i s e s -
" F R E E M U S I C FOR Y O U T U B E . "
C O U N T I
F E D E R A L
F A L S E
A D V E R T I S I N G
( A g a i n s t F r e e p l a y )
6 6 N C S F a d o p t s
and
r e - a l l e g e s
the
a l l e g a t i o n s
in
p a r a g r a p h s
1
t h r o u g h
6 5
as if
f u l l y
set
f o r t h h e r e i n ,
and
a l l e g e s f u r t h e r :
6 7 .
F r e e p l a y
has
m a d e f a l s e , d e c e p t iv e ,
and
m i s l e a d i n g d e s c r i p ti o n s
and
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s of f a c t in its c o m m e r c i a l a d v e r t i s i n g c o n c e r n i n g the n a t u r e ,
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,
and
q u a l i t i e s
of its
g o o d s , s e r v i c e s ,
and
c o m m e r c i a l a c t i v i t i e s ,
in
v i o l a t i o n of the L a n h a m Act, 15 U . S . C . S e c t i o n 1 1 2 5 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) .
6 8 .
F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e , d e c e p t i v e ,
and
m i s l e a d i n g d e s c r i p t i o n s
and
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t h a t
its
m u s i c
is
" f re e , " w i t h o u t a d e q u a t e d i s c l o s u r e
of the
c o n d i t i o n s
a n d l i m i t a ti o n s u n d e r w h i c h
its
m u s i c
is
p u r p o r t e d l y
not
" f r e e ," h a v e d e c e i v e d ,
and are
l i ke ly
to
d e c e i v e , p u r c h a s e r s
and
c o n s u m e r s , s u c h
as
N C S F .
69 . F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e , d e c e p t i v e , and m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s i n g h a v e c a u s e d
d a m a g e
to
N C S F
as
d e s c r ib e d
in
P a r a g r a p h s
61
t h r o u g h
65
a b o v e .
70 . F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e , d e c e p t i v e , and m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s i n g has c a u s e d ,
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
20/28
P a g e
20 of 26
C a s e
No.
v i e w e r s h i p ,
for
w h i c h t h e r e
is no
a d e q u a t e r e m e d y
at law.
P u r s u a n t
to 15
U . S . C .
S e c t i o n
1116,
N C S F
is
e n t i t l e d
to an injunction restraining
F r e e p l a y ,
its agents
( i n c l u d i n g T u n e s a t ) e m p l o y e e s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s and all p e r s o n s a c t in g in c o n c e r t w i t h it,
f r o m d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y e n g a g i n g in f u r t h e r a c t s of fa l s e a d v e r t i s i n g , and o r d e r i n g
r e m o v a l
of all of
F r ee p l a y 's f a l s e a d v e r t i s e m e n t s .
7 1 .
P u r s u a n t
to 15
U . S . C . S e c t i o n
1117,
N C S F
is
e n t i t l e d
to
r e c o v e r
the
d a m a g e s s u s t a i n e d
as a
r e s u l t
of
F r e e p l a y ' s a c t s
in
v i o l a t i o n
of
L a n h a m
Act
S e c t i o n
4 3 ( a ) ,
in an a m o u n t to be p r o v e n at t r ia l .
7 2 . P u r s u a n t to 15 U . S . C . S e c t i o n 1117, N C S F is e n t i t l e d to r e c o v e r f r o m
F r e e p l a y
the
p r o f it s t h a t
it has
o b t a i n e d
as a
r e s u l t
of its
f a l s e , d e c e p t i v e ,
and
m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s i n g
7 3 . F r e e p l a y ' s c o n d u c t
is and , at all
r e l e v a n t t i m e s ,
has
b e e n w i l l fu l ,
d e l i b e r a t e , i n t e n t i o n a l , and in bad f a i t h . P u r s u a n t to 15 U.S.C S e c t i o n 1117, N C S F is
t h u s e n t i t le d to r e c o v e r a d d i t io n a l d a m a g e s , p r o fi t s and r e a s o n a b l e a t t o r n e y s ' f e e s .
W H E R E F O R E , N C S F d e m a n d s j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t F re e p l a y M u s i c ,
L L C for compensatory d a m a g e s , t r e b l e d a m a g e s , pre - and p o s t - j u d g m e n t i n te r e s t ,
a t t o r n e y ' s f e e s and c o s t s , i n j u n c t i v e r e l ie f , and s u c h f u r t h e r r e l i e f as t h is C o u r t d e e m s
j u s t and p r o p e r .
C O U N T II
V I O L A T I O N OF F L O R I D A S D E C E P T I V E AND U N F A I R
T R A D E P R A C T I C E S A C T
( A g a i n s t F r e e p l a y an d T u n e s a t )
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P a g e 21 of 26 C a s e No.
7 5 .
F l o r i d a ' s D e c e p t i v e
and
U n fa i r T r a d e P r a c t i c e s
Act,
F l o r i d a S t a t u t e s ,
S e c t i o n
501 20 1,
et seq.
( " F D U T P A " ) , p r o h i b i t s " u n f a i r m e t h o d s
of
c o m p e t i t i o n ,
u n c o n s c i o n a b l e a c t s
or
p r a c t i c e s ,
and
u n f a i r
or
d e c e p t i v e a c t s
or
p r a c t i c e s
in the
c o n d u c t
of any
t r a d e
or
c o m m e r c e . "
Fla.
S t a t .
§
5 0 1 . 2 0 4
7 6 . The
s t a te d p u r p o s e
of
F D U T P A
is to
p r o t e c t p e r s o n s f r o m " t h o s e
who
e n g a g e
in
u n fa i r m e t h o d s
of
c o m p e t i t i o n ,
or
u n c o n s c i o n a b l e , d e c e p t i v e ,
or
un f a i r ac t s
or
p r a c t i c e s
in the
c o n d u c t
of any
t r a d e
or
c o m m e r c e . "
Fla.
S t a t .
§
5 0 1 . 2 0 4 .
7 7 .
Florida
Statutes,
S e c t i o n 8 1 7 . 4 1 5 ( 5 ) r e q u i r e s t h a t: " [ a d v e r t i s i n g
in
w h i c h
i t e m s
are
o f f e r e d
as
f r e e w i t h c o n d i t i o n s
or
o b li g a t i o n s n e c e s s a r y
to
a c c e p t a n c e s h a l l
i n c l u d e
a
c lear and consp icuous s t a t e m e n t
of any
s u c h c o n d i t i o n s
or
o b l i g a t i o n s
and
a d v e r t i s i n g
in
c o m p l i a n c e h e r e w i t h s h a l l
not be
c o n s i d e r e d d e c e p t i v e " ( e m p h a s i s
a d d e d ) .
7 8 .
F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t h a v e c o l l u d e d
in a
s c h e m e
to
p ro f i t
in
d e r o g a t i o n
a n d p u r p o s e f u l v i o l a t i o n
of the
r e q u i r e m e n t s
of
S e c t io n 8 1 7 . 4 1 5 ( 5 )
and
F D U T P A .
7 9 .
F r e e p l a y
and
T u n e s a t e n g a g e d
and
c o n t i n u e
to
e n g a g e
in the
c o n d u c t
of
t r a d e a n d / o r c o m m e r c e
in
F l o r i d a
and the
d e c e p t i v e c o n d u c t a l l e g e d h e r e i n
was
i m p l e m e n t e d
in
F l o r i d a
and
c a r r i e d
out
a c r o s s
the
c o u n t r y , i n c l u d i n g
the
M i a m i - D a d e
C o u n t y , F l o r i d a .
8 0 . The
p o l i c i e s , a c t s
and
p r a c t i c e s a l l e g e d h e r e i n w e r e i n t e n d e d
to
r e s u l t
and
d i d r e s u l t
in the
p a y m e n t
of
m i l l i o n s
of
d o l l a r s . S p e c i f i c a l l y :
a . F r e e p l a y and T u n e s a t h a v e e n g a g e d in u n f a i r and d e c e p t i v e p r a c t i c e s
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P a g e
22 of 26
C a s e
No.
b . D e f e n d a n t s engaged in unfair and d e c e p t i v e p r a c t i c e s by i n t i m i d a t i n g
P la i n t i f f
and
o t h e r c o n s u m e r s w i t h
the
t h r e a t
of
l i t i g a t i o n
if
t h e y w e r e
no t
p a i d
an
e x o r b i t a n t
and
b a s e l e s s s e t t le m e n t
su m;
c . F r e e p l a y ' s f a l s e , m i s l e a d i n g ,
and
d e c e p t i v e s t a t e m e n t s
and
representat ions that its mus i c is " f ree," wi thout adequate disc los ure of the condi t ions
a n d l i m i ta t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h its m u s i c is p u r p o r t e d l y not " f r e e , " ar e d e c e p t i v e and
m a t e r i a l l y m i s l e a d i n g .
8 1 . D e f e n d a n t s ' s c h e m e was d e v i s e d and c a r r i e d out in F l o r i d a , w h i c h has an
i n t e r e s t
in
p r o h i b i t i n g v i o l a t i o n s
of
F D U T P A w i t h in
the
s t a t e
and
t h e n c a r r i e d
out
a c r o s s
t h e c o u n t r y .
8 2 . N C S F
has
s u s t a in e d d a m a g e s
as a
d i r e c t
and
p r o x i m a t e r e s u l t
of
D e f e n d a n t s ' u n f a i r and u n c o n s c i o n a b l e p r a c t i c e s . F l o r i d a S t a t u t e S e c t i o n 5 0 1 . 2 1 1 ( 2 )
p r o v i d e s N C S F a p r i v a te r i g h t of a c t i o n a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t s , and e n t i tl e s N C S F to
r e c o v e r
its
a c t u a l d a m a g e s
and to
i n j u n c t i v e re l i e f, i n c l u d in g
an
o r d e r th a t D e f e n d a n t s
i m m e d i a t e l y c e a s e
and
d e s i s t t h i s u n c o n s c i o n a b l e p r a c t i c e .
8 3 .
D e f e n d a n t s ' c o n d u c t
is and , at all
r e l e v a n t t i m e s ,
has
b e e n w i l l f u l ,
d e l i b e r a t e , i n t e n t i o n a l ,
and in bad
f a i t h .
8 4 . N C S F
has
s u f f e r e d
and
w i l l c o n t i n u e
to
s u f f e r i r r e p a r a b l e h a r m
if the
D e f e n d a n t s c o n t i n u e
to
e n g a g e
in
s u c h d e c e p t i v e
and
u n f a i r p r a c t i c e s .
W H E R E F O R E , N C S F d e m a n d s j u d g m e n t a g ai n s t
the
D e f e n d a n t s
for
c o m p e n s a t o r y d a m a g e s , t re b l e d a m a g e s , pre- and p o s t - j u d g m e n t i n te r e s t , a t t o r n e y ' s
f e e s and c o s t s p u r s u a n t to F l o r i d a S t a t u t e § 5 0 1 . 2 1 0 5 , in j u n c t i v e r e li e f, c o s t s i n c u r r e d in
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
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Page 23 of 26 Case No.
C O U N T III
D E C E I T - -
I N T E N T I O N A L
M I S R E P R E S E N T A T I O N ,
N O N D I S C L O S U R E
AND
C O N C E A L M E N T
( A g a i n s t F r e e p l a y )
8 5 . P l a i n t i f f a d o p t s
an d
r e a l l e g e s
the
a l l e g a t i o n s
in
p a r a g r a p h s
1
t h r o u g h
6 5
as if
f u l l y
se t
f o r t h h e r e i n ,
an d
a l l e g e s fu r th e r :
86 .
F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e n a m e , w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m .
wa s, at all
r e l e v a n t
t i m e s , a
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t
the
m u s i c p r o v i d e d
on
th a t w e b s i t e
is
f r e e . T h i s
was an
a f f i r m a t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t h a t F r e e p l a y w o u l d not d e m a n d p a y m e n t for use of m u s i c
d o w n l o a d e d f r o m
the
w e b s i t e .
8 7 . On i n f o r m a t i o n and be l ie f , at all re l e v a n t t i m e s , and at l e a s t f r o m 2 0 0 8
t h r o u g h
the
d a t e s
of
N C S F ' s d o w n l o a d s
in
a p p r o x i m a t e l y
2010,
F r e e p l a y ' s w e b s i t e
i n c l u d e d s t a t e m e n t s
in the
m e t a d a t a t h a t
the
w w w . f r e e p l a y r n u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e o f f e r e d
" f r e e "
c o n t e n t , " f r e e m u s i c , "
and
" f r ee m u s i c d o w n l o a d . " T h e r e w e r e a l s o a f f i rm a t i v e
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t h a t F r e e p l a y w o u l d
not
d e m a n d p a y m e n t
for use of
m u s i c d o w n l o a d e d
f r o m
the
w e b s i t e .
8 8 . On
i n f o r m a t i o n
and
be l ie f ,
at all
re l e v a n t t i m e s ,
and at
le a s t f r o m 2 0 0 8
t h r o u g h the d a t e s of N C S F ' s d o w n l o a d s in a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2010 , the
w w w . f r e e p l a y r n u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e di d not h a v e any r e q u i re m e n t that u s e r s pay for m u s i c
o r e v e n a g r e e
to pay for
m u s i c
as a
c o n d i t i o n
of
d o w n l o a d i n g m u s i c f r o m
the
w e b s i t e .
F r e e p l a y k n o w i n g l y
and
w i l l f u l l y c o n c e a l e d
and
f a i l e d
to
d i s c l o s e m a t e r i a l f a c t s
r e g a r d i n g
the
a c t u a l c o s t
to
N C S F
to
d o w n l o a d m u s i c . F r e e p l a y e n g a g e d
in
t h i s n o n
d i s c l o s u r e
an d
c o n c e a l m e n t w i t h
the bad
f a i t h i n te n t i o n
of
s u b s e q u e n t l y e x p l o it i n g s u c h
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplayrnusic.com/http://www.freeplayrnusic.com/http://www.freeplayrnusic.com/http://www.freeplayrnusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
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P a g e 24 of 26 C a s e No.
8 9 . On i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l ie f , F r e e p l a y k n e w t h a t its a f f i r m a t i v e
m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e
and
c o n c e a l m e n t w e r e f a l s e
and
m i s l e a d i n g w h e n
it
i n c l u d e d f r e q u e n t u s e s of the w o r d " f r e e " in the m e t a d a t a in o r d e r to d r a w u s e r s to the
w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e w h e n
users conducted
I n t e r n e t
searches for "free
m u s i c . "
9 0 .
On
i n f o r m a t i o n
and
b e l ie f , F r e e p l a y s p e c i f i c a l l y w r o t e
the
t e r m s " f r e e , "
" f r e e m u s i c , " and " f re e m u s i c d o w n l o a d " i n to the m e t a d a t a k n o w i n g th a t it p l a n n e d to
a s s e r t t h a t m u s i c on the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e was not f r e e . F r e e p l a y ' s
f a i l u r e to i n d i c a t e t h a t it and T u n e s a t , in c o l l u s i o n w i t h F r e e p l a y , w o u l d l a t e r c o n t e n d
t h a t p a y m e n t
was
r e q u i r e d
to use the
m u s i c c o n s t i t u t e d i n t e n ti o n a l m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n ,
n o n d i s c l o s u r e , and c o n c e a l m e n t of m a t e r i a l f a c t s .
9 1 . A s i d e f r o m
any
d u t y a r i s i n g f r o m g o o d f a i t h , fa i r d e a l i n g , e t h i c a l b u s i n e s s
c o n d u c t , or s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s , F r e e p l a y had a d u t y to d i s c l o s e the m a t e r i a l
i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t F r e e p l a y in t e n d e d
to
a s s e r t t h a t p a y m e n t
was
r e q u i r e d
to use the
" f r ee "
m u s i c a v a i l a b l e on the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e b e c a u s e of th e b u s i n e s s n a m e
i t e l e c t e d
to use, its
o r g a n i z a t i o n
and
p r o m o t i o n
of the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e ,
a n d the s p e c i f i c i n c l u s i o n of the t e r m s " f r e e , " " fr e e m u s i c , " and " f re e m u s i c d o w n l o a d " in
it s w e b s i t e ' s m e t a d a t a , .
9 2 . On i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l ie f , F r e e p l a y i n t e n t i o n a l l y c o n c e a l e d and d i v e r t e d
u s e r s ' a t t e n t i o n a w a y f r o m the t e r m s and c o n d i t i o n s on its w e b s i t e , p u r p o s e f u l l y m a d e
t h e l i c e n s i n g s t r u c t u r e c o n f u s i n g and s e e m i n g l y f r e e , r e v i s e d the t e r m s and c o n d i t i o n s
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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p r o c e s s .
93.
F r e e p l a y 's m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e
and
c o n c e a l m e n t s w e r e
s t a t e m e n t s r e g a r d i n g i m p o r t a n t f a c t s th a t w e r e no t t r u e .
9 F r e e p l a y k n e w
and
i n t e n d e d t h a t N C S F
and
u s e r s
of the
w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e g e n e r a l l y w o u l d be d e c e i v e d by t h e s e
m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e s
and
c o n c e a l m e n t i n t o b e l i e v i n g t h a t
the
m u s i c
was
f r e e
to
d o w n l o a d
and use.
9 5 Freeplay knew
and
in tended that NCSF ,
and
u se r s
of the
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e g e n e r a l l y , w o u l d r e a s o n a b l y r e l y to t h e i r d e t r i m e n t on
t h e m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e ,
and
c o n c e a l m e n t
by
d o w n l o a d i n g
and
u s i n g
t h e m u s i c b e l i e v i n g it was f r e e .
96. On i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l i e f , at the t i m e F r e e p l a y m a d e its m u s i c a v a i l a b l e
f o r d o w n l o a d on its w e b s i t e , F r e e p l a y f a i l e d to d i s c l o s e , and c o n c e a l e d the f a c t t h a t the
m u s i c
on
w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m
was in
f a c t
not
" f r e e , " w i t h
the
p u r p o s e
and
i n t e n t
of
c r e a t i n g a d e c e p t i v e t r a p . T h i s tr a p c o n s i s t e d of N C S F and o t h e r u s e r s d o w n l o a d i n g
m u s i c , b e l i e v i n g
it to be
f r e e , w h e r e a f t e r F r e e p l a y w o u l d h a v e T u n e s a t d e t e c t t h e s e
u s e s of m u s i c d o w n l o a d e d f r o m the w w w . f r e e p l a y m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e , F r e e p l a y and
T u n e s a t w o u l d a s s e r t a c o p y r i g h t i n f r i n g e m e n t c l a im a g a i n s t N C S F , and any o t h e r
c o n s u m e r t h a t d o w n l o a d e d m u s i c f r o m its w e b s i te , and F r e e p l a y and T u n e s a t w o u l d
d e m a n d an e x t o r t io n a t e s e t t l e m e n t f r o m N C S F and o t h e r u s e r s .
9 7 N C S F r e a s o n a b l y
and
j u s t i f i a b l y r e l i e d
on
F r e e p l a y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t io n s
in
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplaymusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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Page
26 of 26
Case
No.
9 8 .
N C S F w o u l d
no t
h a v e d o w n l o a d e d
and
u s e d
the
" f r e e " m u s i c
on th e
w w w . f r e e p l a v m u s i c . c o m w e b s i t e a b s e n t F r e e p l a y ' s m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s ,
n o n d i s c l o s u r e s and c o n c e a l m e n t s
9 9 . As a d i r e c t and p r o x i m a te c o n s e q u e n c e of the w r o n g f u l c o n d u c t
d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , N C S F
has
b e e n i n j u r e d
as set
f o r th h e r e i n a b o v e
at
p a r a g r a p h s
60
t h r o u g h
65, , as
w e l l
as th e
t i m e
and
e x p e n s e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h a v i n g
to
r e m o v e
and
r e p l a c e v i d e o s
and
h a v i n g to p u r s u e t h i s a c t i o n .
1 0 0 . F r e e p l a y ' s i n te n t io n a l m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , n o n d i s c l o s u r e s and
c o n c e a l m e n t s w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l , d i r e c t
an d
p r o x i m a t e f a c t o r s in c a u s i n g N C S F ' s h a r m .
W H E R E F O R E ,
N C S F d e m a n d s j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t D e f e n d a n t F re e p l a y M u s i c ,
L L C for c o m p e n s a t o r y d a m a g e s , pre- and p o s t - j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t , c o s t s i n c u r r e d in
b r i n g i n g t h i s a c t i o n ,
and fo r
s u c h f u r t h e r r e l i e f
as
t h i s C o u r t d e e m s j u s t
and
p r o p e r .
D E M A N D FOR
J U R Y T R I A L
N C S F d e m a n d s a t r i a l by j u r y on all i s s u e s t r i a b l e as of r i g h t by a j u r y .
D a t e d t h i s
3
r d
d ay of May, 201 6.
R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d ,
M A R K O M A G O L N I C K , P.A .
A t t o r n e y s
for
N C S F
3 0 0 1
S.W. 3rd
A v e n u e
M i a m i ,
F l o r i d a 3 3 1 2 9
T e l e p h o n e .
(305)
2 8 5 - 2 0 0 0
F a c s i m i l e : ( 3 0 5 ) 2 8 5 - 5 5 5 5
B y . sl J o e l S. M a g o ln i c k
http://www.freeplavmusic.com/http://www.freeplavmusic.com/
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Filing # 41013895 E-Filed 05/03/2016 01:24:32 PM
F O R M 1 . 9 9 7 . C I V I L C O V E R S H E E T
T h e
c i v i l c o v e r s h e e t
an d
t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d h e r e i n n e i t h e r r e p l a c e n o r s u p p l e m e n t
t h e
fi l ing an d s e r v i c e
of
p l e a d i n g s
o r
o t h e r p a p e r s
a s
r e q u i r e d
by
law.
T h i s form s h a l l be
fi led
by th e plaint i f f or
p e t i t i o n e r for the use
of
t he C l e r k
o f th e C o u r t for the p u r p o s e
of
r e p o r t i n g j u d i c i a l w o r k l o a d d a t a p u r s u a n t
to
F l o r i d a S t a t u t e s
s e c t i o n
2 5 . 0 7 5 .
I. C A S E S T Y L E
IN
T H E C I R C U I T C O U R T O F T H E ELEVENTH J U D I C I A L C I R C U I T ,
IN A N D F O R
M I A M I - D A D E
C O U N T Y , F L O R I D A
C a s e N o . :
J u d g e :
N A T I O N A L C O U N C I L OF S T R E N G H & F I T N E S S C O R P O R A T I O N
Plaintiff
v s .
F R E E P L A Y M U S I C. L L C , a
Delaware
L L C . T U N F .S A T . L L C
D e f e n d a n t
I I.
T Y P E
O F C A S E
• C o n d o m i n i u m
• C o n t r a c t s and i n d e b t e d n e s s
• E m i n e n t d o m a i n
• A u t o n e g l i g e n c e
U N e g l i g e n c e - o th e r
•
B u s i n e s s g o v e r n a n c e
B u s i n e s s t o r t s
•
E n v i r o n m e n t a l / T o x i c t o r t
•
T h i r d p a r ty i n d e m n i f i c a t i o n
•
C o n s t r u c t i o n d e f e c t
•
M a s s t o r t
•
N e g l i g e n t s e c u r i t y
LJ
N u r s i n g h o m e n e g l i g e n c e
n
P r e m i s e s l i a b i l i t y - c o m m e r c i a
•
P r e m i s e s l i a b i l i t y - r e s i d e n t i a l
• P r o d u c t s l i a b i li t y
• R e a l P r o p e r t y / M o r t g a g e f o r e c l o s u r e
• C o m m e r c i a l f o r e c l o s u r e SO - $ 5 0 , 0 0 0
• . C o m m e r c i a l f o r e c l o s u r e $ 5 0 , 0 0 1 - $ 2 4 9 , 9 9 9
• C o m m e r c i a l f o r e c l o s u r e $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 or m o r e
• H o m e s t e a d r e s i d e n t ia l f o r e c l o s u r e $0 - 50,000
• . H o m e s t e a d r e s i d e n t ia l f o r e c l o s u r e $50,001
-
$ 2 4 9 , 9 9 9
• H o m e s t e a d r e s i d e n t ia l f o r e c l o s u r e $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 or
m o r e
• N o n - h o m e s t e a d r e s i d e n ti a l f o r e c l o s u r e $0 -
$ 5 0 , 0 0 0
O O th e r r e a l p r o p e r t y a c t i o n s $0 - $ 5 0 , 0 0 0
L J O t h e r r e a l p r o p e r t y a c t i o n s $ 5 0 , 0 0 1
-
$ 2 4 9 , 9 9 9
• O t h e r r e a l p r o p e r t y a c t i o n s $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 or m o r e
• . P r o f e s s i o n a l m a l p r a c t i c e
•
M a l p r a c t i c e - b u s i n e s s
•
M a l p r a c t i c e - m e d i c a l
•
M a l p r a c t i c e - o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l
O t h e r
•
A n t i t r u s t / T r a d e R e g u l a t i o n
L.I
B u s i n e s s T r a n s a c t i o n
[ I
Ci r cu i t C i v i l -
Not
A p p l i c a b l e
•
C o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e - s t a t u t e or
o r d i n a n c e
I I
C o n s t i t u t i o n al c h a l l e n g e - p r o p o s e d
a m e n d m e n t
J I
C o r p o r a t e T r u s t s
o
D i s c r i m i n a t i o n - e m p l o y m e n t or o th e r
[
I
I n s u r a n c e c l a i m s
L I
In te l l e c tu a l p r o p e r ty
fl
L i b e l / S l a n d e r
LI .
S h a r e h o l d e r d e r i v a t i v e a c t i o n
L I
S e cu r i t i e s l i t i g a t i o n
L i
T r a d e s e c r e t s
I I Tr u s t l i t i g a t i o n
8/17/2019 Nat'l Council of Strength & Fitness v. Freeplay Music - complaint.pdf
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C O M P L E X
B U S I N E S S C O U R T
T h i s a c t i o n is a p p r o p r i a t e for a s s i g n m e n t to C o m p l e x B u s i n e s s C o u r t as d e l i n e a t e d an d m a n d a t e d by the
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e O r d e r . Ye s D N o K
III. R E M E D I E S
S O U G H T
( c h e c k al l t h a t a p p l y ) :
M o n e t a r y ;
• _ N o n - m o n e t a r y
Jg . N o n - m o n e t a r y d e c l a r a to r y or i n j u n c t i v e r e l ie f