In Re Independent Service Organizations Antitrust Litigation

910 F. Supp. 1537, 1995 WL 769164
District Court, D. Kansas·Decided December 11, 1995·No. Civil Action MDL-1021 (94-2102)·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

EARL E. O’CONNOR, District Judge.

This matter came before the court for hearing October 12, 1995, on Xerox’s motion for a preliminary injunction against counterclaim defendant CSU Holdings, Inc. (Doe. # 109). Pursuant to the court’s request at the hearing, Xerox submitted a modified proposed order clarifying and narrowing the relief requested (Doc. # 158). For the reasons set forth below, Xerox’s motion for a preliminary injunction will be granted as modified. After carefully considering the parties’ briefs, oral arguments, testimony at the hearing, and exhibits, the court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a).

*1540 Findings of Fact

1. Counterelaimant Xerox Corporation (“Xerox”) is a New York corporation with its principal offices in Stamford, Connecticut. Counterclaim defendants Copier Services Unlimited (“CSU”) Holdings, Inc., is a Kansas corporation located in Kansas City, Kansas. CSU Kansas City is a Kansas corporation with its principal place of business at 9261 Cody, Overland Park, Kansas. CSU St. Louis is a Missouri corporation with its principal place of business at 2275 Cassens Drive in Fenton, Missouri. Counterclaim defendants will be referred to collectively as “CSU.”

2. CSU filed suit against Xerox in this court seeking injunctive relief and damages for antitrust violations pertaining to Xerox’s allegedly restrictive parts policy. Xerox filed second amended counterclaims alleging, inter alia, copyright infringement by CSU. Only the copyright infringement counterclaims are implicated by the instant motion for preliminary injunction.

3. Xerox is in the business of inventing, manufacturing, selling, and servicing copiers and printers. Xerox also manufactures and sells parts for Xerox copiers and printers.

4. CSU is a competitor of Xerox in the sale and servicing of copiers and printers.

5. Xerox’s 5090 copier, among other Xerox copier machines, utilizes Xerox-developed operating system and diagnostic software, which are contained on floppy disks. Operating system software directs the operation of the machine, while diagnostic software assists in diagnosing machine failures. There are two types of diagnostic software used on a Xerox 5090 copier — that which is resident and, therefore, permanent on the hard drive of the machine (“resident diagnostic software”) and that which is installed temporarily from portable floppy disks (“diagnostic disk software” and “diagnostic utility disks”).

Although Xerox has brought claims alleging that CSU’s use of all types of copyrighted software infringes Xerox’s copyrights, Xerox is not presently seeking to enjoin CSU’s use of any resident software. Xerox is only seeking to enjoin CSU from copyright infringement with respect to: (1) Xerox diagnostic software on floppy disks; and (2) unauthorized copies of Xerox manuals.

6. Xerox is the sole owner and/or assignee of all right, title, and interest in and to the copyrights on all versions of diagnostic software for the Xerox 5090 copier. Xerox’s copyrights are duly registered, pursuant to the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 410.

7. CSU utilizes Xerox diagnostic software in providing maintenance service for Xerox 5090 copiers and 4050, 4090, and 4650 laser printers. Neither CSU nor its customers have purchased a license to use Xerox’s copyrighted software. Xerox will sell CSU or its customer a license to use Xerox’s copyrighted diagnostic software for $4,080 per copier.

8. CSU officials have admitted copying Xerox copyrighted manuals and software and that they knew that the materials were copyrighted. They assert that at the time the materials were copied, copying was one of the only means by which they could acquire the materials.

9. Xerox did not have concrete evidence, until recent discovery in the instant case, that CSU was infringing its copyrights in the particular manner Xerox now seeks to enjoin. There is strong evidence that Xerox may have suspected infringement by CSU for quite some time, and at least as early as November 30, 1994, when it sought leave to bring its copyright infringement counterclaims, Xerox knew of CSU’s allegedly infringing conduct. Nevertheless, the court finds that actual evidence to warrant the bringing of the instant motion for preliminary relief, i.e., admissions by CSU officials of ongoing unauthorized copying of Xerox manuals and diagnostic software disks, was not known by Xerox until recent depositions in this ease.

Conclusions of Law

This court has jurisdiction over the copyright infringement counterclaims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). Venue lies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a).

We are authorized by the Copyright Act to “grant temporary and final injunctions on such terms” as we deem “reasonable to prevent or restrain infringement of a copyright.” *1541 17 U.S.C. § 502(a). See Autoskill Inc. v. National Educ. Support Sys., Inc., 994 F.2d 1476, 1487 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, —U.S.-, 114 S.Ct. 307, 126 L.Ed.2d 254 (1993).

In addition, to obtáin preliminary injunctive relief, Xerox must establish each of the following factors: (1) a substantial likelihood that Xerox will eventually prevail on the merits; (2) Xerox will suffer irreparable injury unless injunctive relief is granted; (3) the threatened injury to Xerox outweighs whatever damage the proposed injunction may cause CSU; and (4) the injunction, if granted, will not be adverse to the public interest. See id. (citations omitted).

Likelihood of success on the merits

To demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, Xerox is required to present “a prima facie case showing a reasonable probability that [it] will ultimately be entitled to the relief sought.” Id. Xerox is not required to show to an absolute certainty that it will prevail. See id. Rather, if the other three requirements for a preliminary injunction are satisfied, it is enough if Xerox raises “questions going to the merits so serious, substantial, difficult and doubtful, as to make them a fair ground for litigation and thus for more deliberate investigation.” Id.

To establish a likelihood of success, Xerox must present a prima facie case of copyright infringement. This requires Xerox to show: (1) ownership of a valid copyright, and (2) copying. See id. Both prongs of Xerox’s prima facie case are easily met in this case.

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In Re Independent Service Organizations Antitrust Litigation, 910 F. Supp. 1537, 1995 WL 769164 (D. Kan. 1995).

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