China Central Television v. Bhalla (In re Bhalla)

573 B.R. 265, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 2337
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedAugust 18, 2017
DocketCase No. 8:16-bk-00265-KRM; Adv. No. 8:16-ap-285-KRM
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 573 B.R. 265 (China Central Television v. Bhalla (In re Bhalla)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
China Central Television v. Bhalla (In re Bhalla), 573 B.R. 265, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 2337 (Fla. 2017).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

K. Rodney May, United States Bankruptcy Judge

Plaintiffs ask for summary judgment, on Counts I and II of their Complaint, to obtain an award of damages against Debt- or for copyright and trademark infringement and a determination that such damages are excepted from discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6).1 Their principal contention is that Debtor, through a wholly-owned company, sold electronic devices with free software that enabled customers to view Plaintiffs’ television channels and protected programs without charge. After considering the motion, Debtor’s response, and Plaintiffs’ reply, and the affidavits and exhibits proffered by the parties, the Court concludes that judgment is due to be entered for Plaintiffs Central Television (“CCTV”), China International Communications Co., Ltd. (“CICC”), TVB Holdings (USA), Inc. (“TVB USA”), and DISH Network LLC (“DISH”).2

UNDISPUTED FACTS

Plaintiffs’ Copyrights and Trademarks

CCTV and TVB (the parent of TVB USA) are said to be the largest broadcasters of Chinese language television in mainland China and Hong Kong. They are the owners of exclusive rights to Chinese language television programs.3 Certain CCTV television channels and programs originally broadcast in mainland China are also distributed in the United States by Plaintiff DISH in a bundle called the “Great Wall Package.”4 At all relevant times, CCTV and TVB USA owned the trademarks and copyrights at issue.5

Debtor and Asha Media

In July of 2013, Debtor purchased Asha Media Group, Inc. (“Asha Media”).6 He was its sole owner, officer and director.7 [271]*271Asha Media’s revenues—and Debtor’s income—were derived solely from the sales of an electronic device called “TVpad,” which purchasers could use, among other things, to acquire Plaintiffs’ television programming from the internet.8 Asha Media sold TVpads through its website, “TVpad.com.”9 With the addition of certain software to the TVpad, purchasers could acquire and view Plaintiffs’ television programs from China and other Asian countries free of charge.10

In the two years after Debtor’s purchase, 8,123 TVpads were sold, producing about $2,145,234 in total revenues. Debtor was compensated by disbursements of Asha Media’s revenues, in such amounts and at such times as he decided.11

Customers in the United States could purchase a TVpad through TVpad.com for $259 (TVpad3) and $329 (TVpad4).12 The TVpad was marketed for its ability to acquire Plaintiffs’ copyrighted programming. For example, the TVpad.com website advertised:

“Not wanting to pay for streaming television? TVpadlf. still streams ... CCTV and many, many more. 13
‘Viewers mil also have access to CCTV which is broadcast directly from the People’s Republic of China. 14
• The TVpad devices provide “complete access to CCTV. 15

Asha Media promoted sales by specifying that Plaintiffs’ television channels were available through the TVpad, through postings on its website and through communications with customers.16 These postings included replicas of Plaintiffs’ trademarked logos.17

Asha Media also identified the software applications (“apps”) that could be used to obtain Plaintiffs’ television channels and programs. To entice customers to buy from Asha Media, the TVpads were offered with a USB drive, pre-loaded with the apps that enabled customers to access and view Plaintiffs’ television programming without any fees or charges.18

[272]*272Between June 2014 and December 2015, Debtor and Asha Media referred customers to the TVpad manufacturer, who advised them that using the TVpad was “legal.” 19 Customers’ queries were answered via email by a customer service representative for the TVpad distributor.20 Debtor testified that he was notified about each of these email exchanges.21

In 2014, Debtor engaged an advertising agency, SEO Chicago Style (“SEO”), for search-engine optimization and website building. In a July 23, 2014 email to SEO, Debtor stated: “As mentioned earlier we cannot publish any content regarding Channels as the TVpad doesn’t own any of the content licenses. However—If you can create a PDF document with pictures for this so we can send our customers this information via email that would be helpful. Just don’t post it on the blog.”22 In August of 2014, SEO confirmed that they had a plan to create a “secondary informational website to be able to list channels, possibly use secondary site to capture people into retargeting and direct sales to tvpad.com [and] link to yourself from secondary site, but include other resellers to obfuscate Amit’s [Debtor’s] involvement,”23

At times, Debtor used the pseudonym “Charles Franco” when sending emails to customers.24 In an email to Plaintiffs’ investigator, Debtor (as Charles Franco) attached a channel listing featuring Plaintiffs’ television channels, images of their trademarks, and advertisement of the apps needed to access Plaintiffs’ programming for free.25 With Debtor’s knowledge and, at times direct participation, customers were told such things as: j

“TVB channels of tvpadk is legal, no worries!’’ Email from Abby Zhou (Customer Support Agent) to William Lau, January 4, 2015 at 8:46 am.
“TvpadS could watch tvb channels, it is no legal issue.” Email from Abby Zhou (Customer Support Agent) to Connie Wong, July 15, 2014 at 5:59 am.
“You will do not get any legal action when you use tvpadS. We sent a 8GB usb driver to you as a gift. It was pre-installed latest apps. Pis put it into tvpadS. Connect the USB driver into your TvpadS device.” Email from Abby Zhou (Customer Support Agent) to Junghwan Yoon, July 19, 2014 at 10:59 am.
“We mil ship a 8gb usb driver to you as a gift, it was pre-installed all apps for live channels, you could use the usb driver to install the apps directly. ” Email from Abby Zhou (Customer Support Agent) to Lynn Tam-Toy, November 15,2014 at 11:12 am.
[273]*273• “The TVpad itself doesn’t violate any copyright laws as the device doesn’t stream any channels. The content is streamed via 3rd party apps which are developed by other companies. If there are copyright issues, then those app owners are liable and the manufacturer does their best to make sure they are compliant. ” Email from Charles Franco to Jaime Vega, June 11, 2014 at 10:10 pm.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
573 B.R. 265, 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 2337, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/china-central-television-v-bhalla-in-re-bhalla-flmb-2017.