INT HEUN ITESDT ATDEISS TRCIOCUTR T FORT HEE ASTEDRINS TROIFVC ITR GINIA RichmDoinvdi sion SYNOPSYISN,C ., Plaintiff, CivAicltN ioo3.n:l 2c v252 V. RISBKA SESDE CURIITNYC,. , Defendant. OPINION Thceo mpaintnih leiisst igatioInn-(cS".yS nyonpoaspnRysdisy Bs,sak "s )Se edc urity, In(c".R BS")-ainsddhe anwrtieitt fyhh ce uisrt osmoeftrwssae rceuv ruiltnye raEbairlliiteire thyiesaa rft,Se yrn oapnsnyosu andcdeidwt oiroipkntl a aln tnopee dr foirtnmh a irseR aB,sS e nt Synopacs eyasas nedd e sliestattl elret ghiSanytgn oppslyasn'wnsoe rwdko uclodn stitut copyirnifrgihntgo efRm BeSdn'atst ambiassaep,p roofRp BrSit'arstas ideoecn ra enttdos r,t ious interwfieRtrBheS nc'cuser arnepdnr to speeccotnirovemeli act iSoynnsohtpihspbeysrns.o ught thaicst isoene,ka id negc lajruadtgomtrehySna yttn opcsoynsd'dusoc entso s to i nfringe, misapproorip nrtieSarytfenero,eap .ls ssyuosRe BsfoS r c opymriisguhste . Itnh meo ntlhesa duipt naoNg o vem1b82e,0r 2h 1e arbienfotgrh eCi osu RrBtSm, o ved tdoi smSiysnso pcslyafosir'cm so pymriisgauhnstmde o vfoerdj udgomnet nhptel eaadsti on gs Synopostyhsce'lrsa iAmtts h.he e artihnCeog u,gr rta ntthmeeod t itoodn i smbiescsa use copymriisgcuhostne s tainat ffiurtmeadste ifevnbesun eto,a t na ffirmactliavAienm db.,e caau se justiccoinatbreloxevi easrntsRdeyB dhS a wda iivtaesbd i tleoin tfoyar fo creu m-seclleacutsieo,n thCeo udretn RiBeSdm' ost foiroj nu dgomnet nhptel eadTihnCego suf.ru tr etxhpelrta hiensse holdbienlgosw . SintcheNe o vem1b8he era rRiBnShg a,fis l ewdi tthhC eo uarc to vennoatns tu teo ("coveannaadl n ettt"toS)e y rn owpistyhsd riatcwsei aansngded e sliest(tt" ewri thldertatwearl" ) Thpea rdtiisepsu tet hwedhsoeect uhmreeernn ttdhsece ra o srce o ntrmoovoaetnrt dsh,yur se,q uire dismoifsS syanlo prseymsa'icsnl ianiRgmB sSs: a tyhsde oyS; y nopssatyyhssde oy nTohte.
Couhretla hd e arointn hgpe a rtairegsu'mo enJn atnsu 6a,2r 0y2 2B.e caRuBsShe a nso t demonstthrtaahtcte oe vde rneamnetod rpi reesv tehinent jsu Sryineosap lslyestg hCeeos uw,ri tl l nodti smtihasecs t aismo ono t. I.FACTASL LEGIENTD H EC OMPLAINT A.Tl,Lee tatnetdrl, L ea wsuit OnM ar3c0h2, 0 2S1y,n oipsssyausp e rder sesl aenansoeu intdcsei snigg ansaaC tNiA1o.n Itnh ree leSaysneo,ap lspsyroso mti"osc eldao g saebp e"t wtehveeun l nercaubrirlleiintstitleeysd int hCeV Ed ataabnaadsw ei drearno gfue n idevnutlinfieerda (bEiCNlFoi 4.t9 ia,e2t s. I.)n respoonnA sper5,i2, l0 2R1B,Ss eSnytn oapc seyasas nedd e sliestatts esre trhtSaiytnn go psys
couclodm piltenste eww oraksa C NAo nliyfi at cquainrddei ds cltorsasededec rtehtast Synopssyusb'ssi diarDyu-cBkSl oaftcwkaI rnec,(. " BlaDcukc k")-ahlalde gedly misapprfroopmRr BiSap'trsei dvv ualtnee rdaabtiaVlbuialtsnye(D ,EB C.NF o1 .- 1I.tn)h l ee tter, RBSs tattheSadyt n op's'ytsh'rsre ealteoeafVns ueeld n cDoBn taenindnt fo rmwaotuiilofdn, consummcaotnesdt,.i .ta.u) tc eo pyriingfrhitn geomfte hnetV ulnDdBa tabase; b)misapproof[p trrisaaedtceiru oenntd tsehD]ree fenTdr ade ASc.et.c a.rn esdtt sla atuwen der thVei rginia TArca.td. ;e.a nScde) tc orretitinsot uesr fweirtRehBn Sc'cesu rraenndt
1T hCeo mmoVnu lneraabnEidxl piot(si"ueCrsVe PE r"o)g irdaemn tdiefifienasen,sd , catapluobgldsii cslcycl yobseerds veuclunreirtaAydb eisliitgCinVeaENst u.em db eAruitnhgo rity ("CA'N'm)a ya ssCiVgEni dentinfiucmabtteiorno sen w dliys covvuelrneedr a"bfoirl iti incliunfis risotnp- utbialmnienc o uncoefnm eevwnu tlsn era(bEiClNFio 1t.a,i 9t e;E s C.FN" o . prospeecctoinvoerm eilca tiuonndsVehirir pgsic noimam olna w.("I ad.t2 . )R BSfu rther demantdheadSt y nopsstyousps indgi,s triobrum toidnigfy,vi unlgn eraibdielnittiiinfie esd VulnDanBd alvlu lneraSbyinloiptmsiiyegssh dti scovvieaBr l acDku cka'lsl eged misapproopfrV iualtnDiaBon,ndr equetshtaSetyd n opasgyrsei enw, r ittionr ge,fr afrionm
identviufylinnegr atboCi VlEui nttciioelms p loefts ieopnaM raastsea chsutsacetoteult ristt igatio betwRBeSe na nBdl aDcukc k(.I dT.h)le e tctoenrc luded: Nos tatecmoennttai intn helides t stheabrle cl o nstarswu aeidv oirno gt herwise prejudRiBcSi'rnsig gt host e eakna pproprreimaeitdntey h eev etnhtmi ast itse r noetx pedirteisooulsvleyd . (IdS.y)n oppsryosm pfitlletydh siusis te,e kaid negc larjautdogrmtyeh nSatyt n opscyosn'dsu ct doensos toi nfrimnigsea,p proorip nrtiearatfeneard,le l,e cgoipnygrm iigshuts e. B.ThMea ssuasceA/tc,tt si o11 Thoutghhai cst sitoenfrm osmS ynopsMyasr'2cs0h 2 d1e signaasatC iNoAan n RdB S's subseqcueeaansntedd e sistR BlSae ntSdty enro,p sys-Styhnroopusgsyhus b'ssi Bdliaarcyk, Duck-haal voenh gi st2 oIrn2y 0.1R4B,Sa nBdl aDcukc ekn teirneatdl o i cenasgirnege ment ("tAhger eemetona tl"l)Bo lwa Dcukc tko i ncorpRoBrSa'ptsre i vate vdualtnaebraasbei,l VulnDiBn,it toos w np roduBcltaD.cu kc tkh esnu blictehpners oeddtu oic tctsu stom(eErCsF. No1.4 2a,t7n .4I.n2) 0 1R8B,Ss ueBdl aDcukc iknM assachsutsaettefot rscs oeuvrectrl aali ms (See relattote hAdeg reemiennctl,um diisnagp proopftr riasadeteci roent EsC.FN o1.4 3-T8h.e) Massachusetrtesm aoliningtsoi aignnaodtgn i,D o enc em1b4e2,r0 2R1B,Sa ddSeydn opassay s parttoty h aactt i(oEnCN.Fo 1.4 9-3.)
2 C. TJ,Ceo venaantndl,t We i thdrLaewtatle r OnN ovem2b92e,0r 2R 1B,fiS l weidtt hhCe o utrhcteo veannawdni tt hdlreat(wtEaeClrF . Nos1.31 23,2 -1,T h1ce3o 2v-ep2nr.ao)nv tii pnda erst,: NOWT,H EREFiOnrR eEl,i oanSn ycneo pCsNyANs o'n -RUesper esentation RBhSe rceobvye nnoattnso tu Ssey nofoprsa ynasyn adle lx isotfriu ntcgul raei ms basoenSd y noprsoyalssaeC' NsAr eltaVotu eldn DB. (ECNFo1 .3 2a-3t1. ,I) nt hwei thdratwoSa yln olpResBtyS"ts we,ir t htdhArepa rw5is2,l 0 21 cease-alnedt-stdueebrss,ie"csq otur ernets paonn"dda ensnyuc bes,ea qsuseencrtot nicoenrn ing Synopussoyerps o't eunsotefVi ualln iDinBt r soa laseC NA.("E CNFo1 .3 2a-2t2. ,) IID.ISCUSSION Att htei moeft hNeo vem1b8he era rRiBnShg a,nd o yte its stuhecedo venant a withdlreatwTtahelCer o .u firrtas dtd rtehsfaesc etassst heexyi dsutretidhn Nego vem1b8e r hearaintndhg se,en p araanatlejyluzyse tsi iclnii aogbfthi htlce io tvyea nnawdni tt hdlreatwtaelr .
3 RBSd efinSeysn ops"yCsN'ANs o n-URseep resenats"a Styinoonpss"y s' represoefnn otna-touifVso uenl sn DB,o raB nOoySt Ahv,eu rl nedraatbaiiblinait rtssoyea l sae CNAa,ss efotr tiihnt s optpRooB sSmi'otsti foioronr n e consoifRd BeSrp'arstim iooortnt i oo n st(a[yE NCoF.7 ]4a )n idtc so unrseeplr'ess deunrttiahntNegio ovnesm1 b82e,0r 2h 1e aring. (ECNFo1 .3 2a-3t1. ,) A, November 18, 2021 Hearing’ /. Case or Controversy RBS argues that the Court should dismiss Synopsys’s declaratory judgment claims because “Synopsys mooted any controversy by disclaiming reliance on VulnDB ... in its role as a CNA.” (ECF No. 89, at 3.) RBS also raises several alternative arguments for dismissing these claims for lack of substantial controversy, including that Synopsys has not identified “the ‘potential future’ disclosures that it will make as a CNA” and that RBS has not registered its asserted copyrights. (id. at 4, 7; ECF No. 71, at 8, 11-13.) None of RBS’s arguments warrant dismissal. Under the Declaratory Judgment Act, a federal court “may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought” where “a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction” exists. 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). “[T]he phrase ‘case of actual controversy’ □□□ refers to the type of ‘Cases’ and ‘Controversies’ that are justiciable under Article III.” Med/mmune Inc., v. Genentech, Inc., 549 U.S. 118, 127 (2007) (citing Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Haworth, 300 U.S. 227, 240 (1937)). “The
4 A Rule 12(b)(6) motion gauges a complaint’s sufficiency without resolving any factual discrepancies or testing claims’ merits. Republican Party of N.C. v. Martin, 980 F.2d 943, 952 (4th Cir. 1992). In considering the motion, a court must accept all allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiffs favor. Nemet Chevrolet, Ltd. v. Consumeraffairs.com, Inc., 591 F.3d 250, 253 (4th Cir. 2009). The principle that a court must accept all allegations as true, however, does not apply to legal conclusions. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). To survive a Rule !2(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a complaint must state facts that, when accepted as true, state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. /d “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Jd. A complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “The Court applies the same standard of review to a Rule 12(c) motion as it would to a Rule 12(b) motion.” Seneca Ins. Co. v. Shipping Boxes I, LLC, 30 F. Supp. 3d 506, 510 (E.D. Va. 2014).
declajruadtgopmrreyon ct.e ..dm uanryoe bt em adtehm ee difoursm e cuarnai dnvgio spoirnyi on ianc ontrwohviehcranhsso ya t r isCeonff.mv"aB. nr eCeozre3p 2sU3.., 3S l6 . 3, 2 (41 945). Thdei fferbeentcwaeena e bns tqruaecsattn aid" o cno ntrcoovnetresmbypy"l ated thDee claJruadtgoAmrceiytnns te cesosnoaedfr e iglaryne idewt ,o ubledd i fficult, iifwt o ublepd o sstiofab slheia,po rne ctiefossrted eterimnei vneicrnaygs e whetthheeirsrs ue ac c ho ntrBoavseirtcshayqel.u l eysi,ten ia occnahi s wseh ether thfaec tasl leugnedadel,trl h c ei rcumsshtoatwnh ctaehtse i,rsa es ubstantial controbveetrwspeyae,rn th iaevsia ndgv elresgeia nlt eroefss utffisc,i ent immedainradec aytl woia tryrt ahinest s uoafadn eccel ajruadtgomreyn t. MdC.a Cso.v. P. a Cco.a& lO iClo 3.1,U2 . 2S7.20 7,(3 1 9)4.1 Thpea rhteisrehesa a hr ies otfco ornyfl Siycntosap:cs qyusRi BrSsefo' dr mleirc einns ee 201R7B,Sfi lesdua igta itnhlsaittc einn2s 0e1(e8fo c rl atihmoasvt e rilnpa aprw,ti ,tt hh e underilsysiiunnteg hs ai cst iaonndi),nr, e cyeenatRr BsS,a nSdy nopbseycsad mier ect compeitnti htveou rlsn ermaabrikIlentit ht.2ey 0 2c1e aasnedd e sliesttRt BeSdr e,m anded immedaicatfrtioeomS n y notpaosv yos"i cdo asnttdli ym e-colnistuimg(iaEntCNgiFo o1 .n- .1", a3t. T)h lee ttthseetrna ttheaadbt s,re ensto l"uRtB[iSwo onus,le adel]akl v airleambeludeni deesr thlea iwn,c liundjiunrngec ltaiinrevdefe c oovifet arsty t oferneesy(.sI"'dS .y)n owpesalywlsa ,r e thiatstsu bsiwdaaisla rrdeyea fednyad l ianwgas guaiRitBn Sst,to RoBkS t'hsr seeartia onuds ly filtehddi esc lajruadtgoamrceytn iGtoi nvt.ehp nea rthiiesstR'oB rSey'x,sp ltihcrtiesotau i ten thcee aasnedd e sliesttgt eenre r"aaotnbe jde c·trieavanelrdl e ya soanpapbrleeho efn sio liti"'g5a Dtuin1on3n,F3. S. u p2pda. 8t 2 7.
5S eSeu reLfCvo S.ou tFr oeCo 0t1 5p3.F1,. 1 32d3 162,4( 71 0Cti2hr0 .0( 8')·a [sIs]ens sin whetahl eicrvo en treoxviebsretstsywt ehpeean r twieme ussb,to tthai kneat coc o·uatnlhtle circumbsetfoaurnseac, ne bdses ' e nstiott hifaevc teth wahte tjhuerri sedxiiicsosttft iseoa nn quesotfi" odne g(rienet.ce"irn'ta alot miiotn(tsce lde)ua pn)eD)du; n Cno mpuCtoervrp. . 13F3.S up2pd8. 2 832,(7 E .VDa2..0 0(1")' Miorsre eq ufoirra ec dao"sr e Thfaec tth Saytn ohpasndyo yste i td entthisefip eedcd iifiscc lioitsn utretenomsda ekde dindo stt trhiCepo uorfst u bjecjtu-rmiastdTtiheDceret ciloanr.a torAycp tr Jouvdigdeemse plai"natanil fftse rntapotu irovsfteu h iaetr guialblalecygt ailMv eidtiym.m5"u4 Un9.e aS,7t. 7 2 (quoSttievnfT.gfh eolm p4s1Uo5.n 4S,5. 42 8,(0 1 9(7R4e)h nJq.cu,oi nsctu,rR reiqnugai) r)i.n g plaitnoct hioff'o 'sbee atbwaenedn[o inrtiisng]goh rrt iss pkrionsge cwuotudileodfen ta"ht e
very poutfrh Dpeeo cslea JruadtgoAmrceyItn d..at 7 t 7 (3q uoAtbibnLoagtyb tsv .G. a rd3n8e7r , U.1S3.16 5,(2 1 9a6b7r)o,go anot tehgder ro ubnyCd asl ifva.n oS a4n3Ud0.e 9Sr9.(s 1,9 77)). Nodro ReBsS a'rsg utmheiahnttat n s or te giasntcyeo rpeydri tinhg sehut bsij netcetl lectu propreerqtduyii srmeoi fts hsciaaslfos rel aocfsk u bjecjtu-rmiast6d Ttihecortua ipg olhna .intiff mus"ta pfoprl[c y o pyrriegghitsa]tn rrdae tcietoihCnveo e p yrOiffigchedt'e sc iosn[i iotns ] applibceafotirineos nt istuuittthdi,ion"sneg os ct o nsatj iutruitsedr iecqtuiiorFneoamuler ntth. EsPtu.bB .e nCeofirtvp .W. a ll-StLrLeCe,tS .C.1c t38o.98m 8 1,9, (1 2 01R9e)eE;dl seIvnice.r , vM.uchn5i5Uc9.k S,. 161(652 40,1D 0i)s.m itshsaiicsnt fogir ol nao cfkac opywroiuglhdt "impropertlhyte h croesnstflhaaontlqdedui[ en]swg ti ittohhmne e roif[t Ssy nopcslyasi'mss]. "
DiCovcG.ca or l1a8Fn .d44,t0 4h61 ,(24 Ctih2r 0.2( 1c)iP tiiCtnotgu vnH.to yt elLs..5Pc5.o3,m , F.330d38 1,(42 t Chi 2r0.0 9)). 2F.orum-SCellaeucsteion RBSa lssaoty hsaa fo tr um-seleicntt hiAeog nr ecerlmeaequnudstiie rs emsoi fts hsiasl cas(eE.CN Fo8 .9a ,4t 7, E; C NFo 7.1a ,8t 1, 1 -1T3h.ce)l apursoev iipnda erst,: Theex cljuusriivsead nvidec ntouiafeon a nyc twiiortneh s tptoeh csetu bmjaetctte r oft hAigsr eesmheanbltetl h set actoeu orftt shC eo unotfMy i ddlesex, CommonweMaalstsha caohnfued sa ecotfhtt hpsea rhteiresesut bomi ittstseo l f 6R BaSd mtihtiasctt u rrheonlntdocls oy p yirVniu glhntD tBh "aattnch dhe a onf[c ReB S] regisVtuelrniDcnBog p foyrpr riogthaetrc meti inoinm( aElCN.Fo"1 . 3 a04t,4 :74-49:,2 2-23.) theex cljuusriivsead nivdce tnoiufsoe un cc ho uforrtt shp eu rpoofas nesy u ch action. (ECNFo I.0 -111 3.1R1B.Ss) a tyhsba etc aSuysneo cposnyssta in"t Auffitle7iso a fBtla ec"k Ducakn idt csl afailmwlsi tthhi"ens ubmjaetctoteft r hA"eg reetmheAeng tr,e ement-an conseqtuhefoenr tulmy-,s eclleacutsieot-noaS pypnloypd seycsl'asjr uadtgocmrleyan itm s. Synoaprsgytushet ashtfo e r um-seclleadcuotsneieosoa t np piltnyh c iasbs eec aRuBswSea ived itasb itleoin tfoyri cte. "[vAa]l foirdu m-secllea[custshieobo uengl] id vc eonn trwoeliligianhnl btglu t thm eo st excepctais"oeA nstaM./la. r iCnoen sCtovr.U.. .S D.i sCttf..oW. r D isotfT.e 5x7.U1,. 4S9.6, 3 (20(1q3u)o SttienwOgar rgIt.n ,vc ..R icCoohr 4p8.U7,. S2.23 ,3 ( 198(8K)e)n naenddy
O'ConJn.co,or n,c u(rsreicanolgnt)de irnoa rtiigo"in[n Taa]lph)pe.r owpartyio ea ntfoera c e forum-seclleapcuotsiieno ttnoais ntgoa rtfo er efoirgunim ts h rotuhdgeoh c torffi onrneuo mn convenIid.ae 6tn0 sT..h "ci osm mond-olcat"wra ilnlaeco owustr odt i smaci aswsshe e tnh e origvienniauhslei gihnlcyo nvaenandnai deenqtau,la tteerv neanetuxieiv" sBe tA sSE.y Tse.c h. So&lS .e rvvR.se .p uobKflo irceD aeA'fcs q uiPsriotgAirdoamnmi 8 n8F.43., d4 6437,0 --(741th Ci2r0.1A8p )a.r" tmyua sstsa me orttti dooi ns fomrif sosrn uocmn o nvewniitaehr niesna sonable tiamftete hrfae c tosrc ircumwshtiascnehcra evstse hb ea sfoirts hm eo thiaovdnee velaonpde d becokmneo owrrn e asoknnaobwltayotb hl[eep arCtayb]Nl.ee"w N se twLo.rPLk.L ,. LvP.. CNNews1.7cF7o.S m u,p2 pd5. 0 562,(8E .VDa2..0 0a1ff)di, np arvta.c aitnpe ador nto ther
grou5n6Fd A.sp ,p 5'9x(49 t Chi 2r0.0 3).
7( Siedea. t1 ( defiann"i Anffigl iaas't "eac"no yr po.rt.ah tdaiitor neo crit nldyi rectl own.s.R .e setlotl heeexr t oefan ltte afisft(ty5 0p%e)r oceftn heteq uhiatvyti hnpego wteor vootnoe rdi rtehacefft a oiftrh see n ti)t y"). Thou'g"hs tferdoepnrogal l.i ..fac vyo ernsfo rcoefmfo ernutm -seplreocvtiais oino ns, parmtawyya iivtresi tgeohn tfo rafo creu m-seclleaicuifts"t iec o lnei anrd[eilscyt]a]h,t r [oi utgsh acti.o.int.issn , t teodn ost o .W"h itingC-oTnutrrCnaoecv.rt.W i ensgt cFhieIrsnetCs eo.r. , NoJ.F M-132-031W43L38 1,7 7a8*t84 (1 D,M. d J.u 2n0e2, 0 1A3C )o.u srhto nuolfitdn t dh at ap arhtawysa iivtersdi gtehont fo rafoc reu m-secllea�cu'tsuie(n1o l)tne h pseas ri tnyv otkhien g
clahuatssae k aecnt iinocnosn wsiiitsoththr e adnset l aiyteesnd fo rceamn(ed2tn )hto e,t hpearr ty woublepd r ejubdyii tecsne fodr ceKmeelnIltn/'I..tIe " nr vc S.. t arCbuocr5ksp5F . .S,u p3pd. 83895,(0E .VDa2..0 1(4q)u oWthiintgi ng2-0T1Wu3Lr 3 n1e7r7a,8*t 84 18 ),. RBSi nso s tratnotg hAeegr r eemfoernutm'-ss eclleacuNtsoioeton. ndl iyRd B Sa nd BlaDcukci kn cilitutn dh Aeeg reeim2ne0 n1bt4ui ,t2n 0 1RB8S fi lseudai gta BilnasDctuk ci kn MiddlCeosuesnxttc ayot uepr utr stutoah cnelt a 9u RsBesS.a iyrtsa itshfoeers u m-seclleacutsieo n wirtehg taSory dn onpostwyh,so buegcha,S uysneoo pnsrlyeysc ecnittleydt -hfi"erfot srit m e" ttoh Aeg reeimanen in ntt errroegsapt(ooEnCrsNFyeo7 ..2 a ,5t . ) Buetv beenfo Sryen orpesfeyrtstro he Adeg reeRmBecSno tn,s itsitteeodng teBltlyha ecrk
DucaknS dy nopaslylsme'igsse dde Ietndh csee. aa sndede sliestpttr eerc tehdaiicsnt gRBi So n, alltehgSaeytdn opMsayrs3c'0h2s, 0 2p1r ersesl 'e"adseem ontshnteer xabuteset (wBdel]ea nc k
8T hFeo uCritrhhc auasip tp tlhieessdae mfa ec tiotnrh sce o notfae nxa tr bitcrlaatuisoen. Seee.,Mg i.c,r oSItnrvcaL..ta eugyr,2i 6cF8i. a23,4d 24 4,(9 4 Ctih2r 0.)0 .1B u"t(,a o]tsh er jurisdhiacvnteoi totenhdse,i r sle i tdtilffee rbeentcwaeer ebni tforrautmi-osne,al nedc tion choicec-loaffou-rsel enasfow r cepaubrip"loZ isatekvys/G. .il toL bi.n gSuoilLssLt.C5 ,,3F S.u pp. 3d8 3854,n5 . (4E .VDa2..0 1s4e)ae;l A sgog avrM.aO oLS hMigpm Cto.6. 7,F5 . 335d35 6,5 n.(94 Ctih2r 0.1 (2n)o tthiHanttgSh uep rCeomuhera ctsh aracatnae rrbiiztcerldaa atus'is aoe n specikailoniffodz r eudm -secllea"'cu (tsqieuooSntc ihnveAg.rl kb ertCoo-4.C1,uU7 l. v5Se0.r6 , 51(91 974))). 9T hpea rhtaivseeis nj coeim notvlteyrod e tfehrce a tstoeh Beu siLnietsisSg eacttiioonn oft hMea ssacChouussreytts ttwseh mis,ce hr Mviedsd lCeosuen(xta ym oontgh ebruRstB) S, neveritnhietlfiielatselhsdsle uyi i antc corwdiattnhhcce le a u(sEeCN.Fo8 .9a ,1t 1 .) Ductkh'oesfftR BSi'nst elplreocpatenuSrdayt lny o ppsryosmt'iaossd ed rtehgseasi p Cn V E." (ECNFo1 .- a1tI, . R)B Sfu rtshteartt hetadhtr e e l"ecalseera erf[elry.e].n t.chV eeu[ ldn]D B damtias apprboyBp lraDicuakct ke(.dIa" d.2t ) A nidns u ppoofir tfitsr m sott tisoot naR yB,S argtuhetadhtM e a ssacahcutsaienottdnhti esn satcatnpitao rna olnlaeen loetidhpn ea brre tc ause "thr[oSuygnho poswynse'rossBf]hl iaDpcu kcS ky,n ohpasasyc sct eoas,nsi d ss e ektmioi nsgu se,
thsea mter asdeec r(eEtCsNF.o3 ".5 a,t1 2T.h)ce i rcumtshtiaantRn ,Bc Sev'sis e wwa,r rant applioctfa hfoteri uomn- seclleaecuxtsiiemso atnnem ydo nbtehfosRr BefiS l tehdmi ost ion. Despiitotswe an r gumleinntSksyi nnogp ascytsit'ooBsn l saD cukc kR'BsSa, r dently lititghaaitcset fodir om na nmyo ntbhesfoa rtet emtpoet nifonrtgch foeer um-seclleacutsieo.n Durtihnaegp proxsiimxa-tpmeeolrnybit eohtd ww eheeSnny nofiplsteyhdsai cst ainotdnhd ea te RBmSo vfoerdj udgomnte hnpetl eaodnti hneggsrseo uRnBdmSso ,v tedodi stmhiceso sm plaint, fileadna nswmeorv,te ods ttahyae c taipopne,aa tarh eeda rpianrgt,i icnais peatttelde ment confearneednn cgeai,gnd e ids co(vEeCNrFoy s8..4, 6 4,85 ,06 ,87 ,3s ;e ael EsCoNF o 7.5 , a1t0 R.B)S z'esa ldoeufesni stneh a icst wieoinag ghasti hnaesp tp lioctfa hfoteri uomn- selecti
clause. Undtehres saemfa ec ttshC,eo ufirntdt she antfo rcoefmt ehcnelt a wuosuepl rde judice SynopBseyfoRsrB.erS a itshfoeerd u m-seclleaScuytsnieoo,dpn is lyisrg eesnptotlRnoyBd Se'ds motiaonnpdsr osetchuaitcset diB oontp.ha rptairetsi icnti hpheae taeradin sndeg t tlement conferfuelnblcryei ;ee afmceohdt iaonendn; g aigdnei ds coTvheorutyghp.hea rhtaiavegesr eed tos hadries cobveetrwtyeh eainnst d h Mea ssacahcutsnieootatntlt ,slh i es siunee ascc ha se overAlnadpp,e. r hmaopsistm poretnafonrtcloeyftm, he foenr tu m-seclleahcuetswrieoeo u nl d prejSuydniocbpees cyatsuh ssete ca otuecr atnr neomtSe ydnyo pdseycsl'ajsru adtgocmrleyan itm forn oc opyirnifrgihntg (eImdse.en2)et8U; . . S§.1 C3.3s 8eL;ei zav/A.dd ev anPcleadn ning Ser8v7sF5..S , u p2pd1. 1 5101,5( 8S .CDa2..0 1H2a)v.ci onngs itdheeelr eemdte hnCeto su,r t findtshR aBtSw a iivtersdi tgehont fo trchfoeer um-seclleacutsieo.n 10 3C.opyMriisguhste RBmSo vtedosi sSmyinsos pcsoypsy'mrsii sgcuhlstabe ie mc acuospeym riisgeuhxstie s ts "onlayn a [ffiarsm]a tivaen nddo aetnaf ffiernmsacetl iafovirerm e li(eEfCN.Fo"4 . 9 a,7t . I)n firhsotl dtihcnaogtp ymriisgeuhxstie as sat nas ffi rmadteifevntesoc e o pyirnifrgihntg tehmee nt, FouCritrhac nuailto cgoipzyelrdait wgpo ha ttl ean"wt[: w a]roeetf hvei ehwo,w etvhesarit,n ce copyarinpgdah ttle answte rpvaer aplulbielnlit ce ar' eimsstusds,ee fe'ns sheo auplpdtl oy infringaecmtbeirnootnu sgv hitn detiioctr ahitegerLh ats.e"r AcmoI.mn,vbc R. .e ynolFd.s2,d 911 97907,(6 4 tChi 1r9.9 0W)h.ea np arstuyc ceaslslfumeliglseyuus ns dee rd oecitttrhhieenr e , defen"sree siurnle tnsd erin[go crto hpey rupinagethnetfon]ru tcn ettahimbelil seiu pssu er ged." B.BraMuendI .n,vcA ..b bLoalybls 1.2,F4 . 134d1 194,2( 7F eCdi1.r9 .9 7). Destphiptere e vaolcfeo npcymeri isgauhasstn ae ffi rmadteifevnaesnc edo untetrhcel aim FouCritrhhc auysien tto r te cogcnoipzyemrdii sgauhsast nea ffirmactliavTiehmC e.o umraty
peramn iotvc ellat imom o vfoer waervdiei fndt o "e'sfan lowlti tthhfoieun cr o merouspr r oifo r calsaew b,ui"tst e neosr eatsoo sndo ho e wrhee RrBeS dheanviaiec nsog p yrWirgihvgt.h. t NorCtahr o7l8iF7n. a23,5d 26 6,(43 t Chi 2r0.1(5q)u oMtciGnavgrC. yi o tPfyo rt3l8aF6n. d3,d 125192,7( 09C tih2r 0.0 4C)/A) l.t CeorrvapC. .l eLaorgI inc4c,2. F4,. 130d7( 99C tih2r 0.0 5) ("'Betchraee umsefoedrc y o pymriisgiuhesstq e u iitmtaa bklleeis,st etnltseaoe l l[opawa rttoy ]
10S ynoaplsasyrosg tuheiasittn s o atp arttoay,nd din doa tc quBilarDceuk cu kn atftielr RBaSn Bdl ack Duck thhAaegd r eeeaxmnetedchn iuatttfut set du,r e aasacC tNiA"o dnons[o ]t falwli tohrei vne n trtoeh sleua btmjeae tcottfte hrRe e seAlglreere m(eEnCNtFo.7 ."5 a ,1t 1 , 12B.e)c atuhsee Court wfianidivstea sdbt ihtlaeoitn t foyRrt BchSee sfoerluemcc ltaiuosne , i neneoda td drtehseassl et ernaartgiuvmee nts. procoenae ndi ndepecnldafoeirnmc t o pyrmiigshuwtsh eet nh ehraebs e ennoa llegoaft ion copyirnifrgihntg eTmheCeno tut.rh"tdu) is.s mCiosusIneIotsIft hceo mplaint. B.Covenaa11Wndit t J,dLreatwtaelr "Igne neacr aaslbe e commoeoswt h etnhi es spureess eanrnteole odn 'gleirov rte h'e
parltaiacel kse gally icnotgeinrntie hzoseaut bt lceoM muer.pv"hH .yu n4t5,U5 . S4.7 84,8 1 (19(8q2u)o U.tSiP.na gr Coolme'm vn G. e ra4g4hU5t. y3S,8. 38 9,(6 1 98(0c)l)eu apns)ee;de ArizofnoOarff.n E sn gv..A riz5o2nU0a. ,S4 .36 ,7 ( 19(9"7T)qo u alaisafy c asfietfo r federal-cour'taa nca tdcujoaunldt ircmoauvtsbeiteero xsntya,a at nl stlt aogfreesv ineomwte, r ely atth tei tmhece o mpliafisil net(d q.u"o'Pt rienvigN.s e ewrk 4i2rU2k. ,3S 9.45 0,(11 975T)h)e) . Couirs"t o bltioig neqdus iusrape o wnhteen eadv oeurb t asat roti hesexe iss otfefe ndceer al jurisdMitcHt.ei aolCnti.hS"tyc y h .B d.Do ifEs dtuv.cD. .o y4l2eU9,. S2.7 4,( 12977s87e )e; FedR..C ivP..l2 (h)(("3tI)hfc e o udrett eramtai nntyei sm teh iatlta cskusb ject-mat juristdhiceco tumiruotsdn ti, s mtihasecs t ion.").
HerReB,Sc reaqtueeds atasti tooh cneo ntinuedjoufts haticistc wiihoaeinbnit i s lsiuteyd thceo venaanndtt h wei thdlreatwtaTelhr eS. u prCeomuer to uhtalsai snterdi ngent burden-shiftthiaanptgp lwfrihaeeamsnp e awriotsryska uc eosv ennoattnos t ui ent hmei dosft thlei tigation: Weh avree cog.n.ti.hz aaed tde fendcaannatnu otto mamtoioacct aa lsslieym ply bye ndiitnusgn lawful onccosenu deCudic.otyt fM esqvuA.il taed Cdaisnt'lse , In4c5.U5,. 2S8.23 8,(9 1 98O2t)h.e rawd iesfeen,dc aonuetln dg aignue n lawful condsutcwothp,e s nu ethdoa vtehc ea dseec lmaorotethd,pe inuc pkw hehrele e ft offr,e petahtciiysncu gln eht eia lc hiaelhvliue sns l aewnfudlGs i.vt ehnci osn cern, oucra sheasve ex platih"naadet ed fe ndcalnatit mhiiantvtgso lucnotmaprlyi ance mooatc sa bseea trhfoser midbaubrlodefse hno wtihniaigtta s b solculteteahlrey allewgreodnlbgyefu hla cvoiuonlrord te asobneea xbpleytc ort eecduF rr.i"e nds otfh Eea rItnhvc,L.. a idElnavSw'e tr(T vOsC.I) n,5c 2.U8,. 1S6.17 9,(0 2 000). AlreLaLdvCyN. ,i kIen,5c 6.U8,. S8.59 ,1( 201O3n)ct.eh c eo venanpta-rimtseysei uttissn g burd"ei[ntb, e coimnecsu]mo bn[e tnohtpe p opsairnttgoiy n]d itchaatteo p[ptohpseai rntgy ] engaigoner hs as su fficiceonntclpryle attnoes einangc atgienv oictto iveebsryt e hcdeo venant." ABGSl oIbn.vc,.C. y tonoLmLeC9/,8SF 4T,3. dI 1O 71,0 20 C(iF2re0.d2 (.q1 u)o tAilnrge ady, 56U8. aS9t.4 ).
IAnl retahpdely a,iN nitkuienff i laitsesrauca eoldvl eynn oattnso tu 1 1ea fttehrde e fendant AlreLaLdCy( ," Alreaandoyt"foh)oe,tr w emaarn ufactfiulreade d re,c lajruadtgomreyn t counte5r6cU8l. aSait.8m 8.- 8T9h.ce o veenxapnltsi tcaitttheliadywtt a (sI u)n conditiona (2i)rrev(o3ca)ap bplleit;cao an cbyll aeoi rdm e maannd(4d; a) p plitcAoal brleead diys'tsr ibuto ancdu stomers: [Nikuen]c onditainodin rarlelvyo ccoavbelnyat notr se frafrionm makianncgyl aiomrd( esm)a n.d.(a.sg )a iAnlsrteo arad nyoy fi t.s.r .e lated busines.s. [.ei nntcildtuiidseitsnr g.i].ba .un etdmo prlso oyfse uecsh entities anadlc lu sto.m.oe.nra sc cooufan ntpy o ssciabuolsfeae c tbiaosnoe ndo r involtvriandgei mnafrrikn guenmfaecinortm ,p etoirdt iilouuntn,id oenr,o rs tate federlaa.lw. r.e lattoti hnNegI KMEa rbka soendt haep peaorfaa nnoycf e Alreacduyr'rasen ndtp/ roerv foiootuwspe raord duecstia gnnadsn c,yo lorable imitatthieorrneesog fa,ro dfwl heesttshh foeaortt wiepsar ro d.u.co.eor d t herwise useidnc ommebrecfooerr aeft tehrE eff ecDtaitovefte h Ciosv enant. Ida t9 3(e mphaasnaedls t erianot riiogniCsno anls)i.dt ehbreri enaogdf tt hhet seer tmhse, SuprCeomuefor utn tdh lea ng"usaugffiec [tiome enettthb] eu rdiemnp obsyte hde volunta cesstaetsiItoda.n 9t" 3 T.h Ceo ufurrtt shteart ed:
11N ikael so tmodo ivsemiditc ssls a wiimptsrh e juIddai.8tc 9 e.. Alreoandllyey'g sca olglnyi iznajbulrfaeyc -ttth Nhaietkt eos otke tpoes n force ittsr ademnaorwgk o-niaesn dg,i vtehnbe r eaodftt hhce o venant, canno reasobneea xbpletycro te ecdTu hreb.re ein noog t hbearso inws h itcfiohn dl iav e contrtohvceea riscssely e,ma orolty. Ida.1t 0 102. HerReB,hS a fasi ltemode eitt"s fo rmidbaubroldsfee h"no wing tShyanto ptshyes i seetkrose maendpdyr e"vceonnutol rtde asobneea xbpleytc rote ecdAu"lr r.e5 a6dU8y. a,S9t .2 . Becatuhcseoe v ecnoavncetor nsd" ubcaotsnS e ydn oprsoyalssaeC' NsAr eltaVotu elDdnB i,t" doensos tu fficipernottleyc t oStyhcneoormp mseycrsoc'nisda ulc tN.o 1.2( 3-Ea1Ct,3F . ) Synohpasssyt sa teadft iet"trhd aits,cap o uvbelruisnc klnvyou wlnn eraasaC b NiAl[,iiw ttiy]l l creaastseo c[iraetcieoindrtp dsrs o dBulcaDtcu,kSc ekc uArdivtiys( o"rBiOeS.sA. "d.)e ,t]a iling thied envtuilfineedar natdbh ioBlsOieStr Aye caorrmeda sda ev aitlSoay bnloepc suysst'"o mers. (ECNFo 1.43 a,1t 0n .3S.y)n osposuytgsoph rto ttheticystop fec ommearcctiiiavnili t tsy compwlhaeiinrnt et p earteefdetlrioyrt b esud s irneelsast ainoadns skfoheridd pe sc larrealtioerfy "tpor esietrrsiv gedh etfesin,tgd so ondma ea npdr oit[ebtcu]tss i annetdsh sor"se el ationshi (ECNFo1 .1 5116,17 ,4 R.B)dS o neosdt i stphuSatyten oppsoysst'-csCo NmAm ecrocnidaulc t fal"losu ttshsiecd oeop fte'h c eo vebnuafitnn ttd,hsi i msm ataecrcioatrlRod;B i Sn",gti hnes tant actfoicouns oenS[ ysn]o pfustyucsro'ens d ausaCc NtA .("E CNFo1 .4 a22t,- 135,. ) ThouSgyhn orpesloyinsie tCssN Ac ondauasnc e tx amoptflh ceeo ndisutec ettkpo sr otect iint rse maicnliatnihgmre se ,li istee effok res a cclha diemm onstthiradtati tn deor ste tfetor h is
condiuanvc atc uBuyfim l.i tnhsgiu sSi ytn,o ipnstyestni odn ecdol tuhdfueetr ub rues iancetsiso ns
12S eael so AB9S8 F4.G a3l1tdo0 b2(.2d, i smaipspsaeisan lgm oot pwlhaeirnet itfhre "affiddaivsiatv iotawspi pn[egwa alus n]q uesntairorntoahwbtaelhnrcye o vennoattnos t ui en Alrebaudwtya ,"s"' coexwtiettnhhase si sveiern tjieundr yfa'Nc utr"sD)ee;rc y&a Mlosr e, Inc. vN.eaPtr iInntNc,o. 3.,: 19c2v022W61L04 69,4 2a1*t97 (2 N,. TDe.Ox c.2t 2.2, 0 2)1 (denyin motitoodn i smaiftsefisrn ditnhtgah tce o vennoattnos t u dei ndo etl imtihnpeal taei ntifr inju)r.ies imta tya wkiert ehg taBorD dS aAn adc,c oradnifiynn galnaycn,ird ae lp uthaatrmti homanatay l resfruolemtff otriotm sp seudacech t i(oCEn.fCs NF.o 1.- a13t,( demawnidtihanonegu x,tp licit referteoSn ycneo pCsNyAds u'tsti heSasyt,n o"p[siy]sm mceedaitsahueten e aluyt huosrei,z ed distrainbmduo tdiiofinoc,fRa BtSii'onsnt elplreocpteuTrahtcleyo "v)e.wn)ha incctoh,v o enrlsy SynopCsNyAcs o'nsd purcotva,ic doensv elnoioepfonhrtRo BltSeso u Sey nofoprsi ytfusst ure alluesgoeefV d u lniDnSB y noppsryiscv'uasst teo meprr-ofad1cu3(i cSntEegsCe .NF o 1.6 a9t,
2:12 3-22:2.) Synopmsayncsyi' tsa ttioit bosun ssir neelsast rieovnaesnaholits phhseo rr tocfto hmei ng coveunnalntithkc:eeo v einAnal nrte wahdipycr,ho tAelcrteedadid syt'rsai nbcduu tsotrosm ers, RBSc'osv eanpapnoltni tleSoysy nopTshCyeos u.dr otne osot p itnoedo anwy h etShyenro psys coublrdia dn egc lajruadtgocmrleyanb itam so enpd o teancttaiigaoalnoi nnoesfi t tr se tabiulte rs, findtsh agti,vt ehnnea rrowlpyr-ottaetichlcteooi rvoeendpn raonvtii dtdo eensso,r t e meodry adequpartoeStlyeync otp bsuyssio'nirse tb ssus s irneelsast ionships. Becatuhrseee lS iyenfos peseiyktnssh s iusii ntc lfuutduberuses iancetsiisvan id tdiietsi on
toi tCsN Ac ondaunctdth c,eo vednoanenostpt r oStyencotip nps eyrsfo rtmhioanscget ivitie RBhSa nsom te ittb su rdTehCneo. u writnl oldt i stmhicseas as sme o ot.
13T hCeo urOtr'ddsee rn yRiBnSgfi' rsms ott tioso tnra eyc ogtnhidazetes,dsp oimtee overbleatpwt ehMeean s sacahcutsaienottdnht a iscs t tiho'en' t,th hreoe ffua ttul riet iogvaetri on acttiooo ncsci untr h fuet udreefi tnehssec oopfte h aicst i(oEnC.NF"o 4 .7 a,t7 .T)h ough SynopCsNyAcs o'nsd cuecrttc aoinnsltayini t muptoecrsot mapnoton fte hnsitus ti htCe,o urt's stateamntedhn Ceto ,u rotv'efisrn adliiltnn h gOa rtd deorne,os lt i mtihstec oopfte h aicst tioo n Synospfu styucsro'en dauasCc NtA . Ill. CONCLUSION For the reasons explained above. the Court granted RBS’s motion to dismiss, (ECF No, 128), denied RBS*s motion for judgment on the pleadings, (id. ), and will not dismiss the action as moot, The Court will issue an appropriate Order. Let the Clerk send a copy of this Opinion to all counsel of record and to the Special Master.
Date: ll January 2022 Richmond, VA John A. Gibney, Jr. Senior United States Dystrict Judge