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UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURT FORTHESOUTHERNDISTRICTOFNEWYORK
X SOFTWAREFREEDOMCONSERVANCY,INC.and : ERIKANDERSEN, : ECFCASE : Plaintiffs, : 09CV10155(SAS) against : : BESTBUYCO.,INC.,SAMSUNGELECTRONICS : PLAINTIFFS'REPLY AMERICA,INC.,WESTINGHOUSEDIGITAL : MEMORANDUMOFLAWIN ELECTRONICS,LLC,JVCAMERICAS : SUPPORTOFTHEIR CORPORATION,WESTERNDIGITAL : MOTIONFOR TECHNOLOGIES,INC.,ROBERTBOSCHLLC, : PRELIMINARYINJUNCTION PHOEBEMICRO,INC.,HUMAXUSAINC., : AGAINSTDEFENDANTS COMTRENDCORPORATION,DOBBSSTANFORD : BESTBUY,CO.,INC.AND CORPORATION,VERSATECHNOLOGYINC., : ZYXELCOMMUNICATIONSINC.,ASTAKINC., : PHOEBEMICRO,INC. andGCITECHNOLOGIESCORPORATION, : Defendants. : X
Best Buy and Phoebe Micro oppose Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction primarilyontwogrounds,thatErikAndersen'sinfringementclaimwillfailonthemeritsbecause his copyright in BusyBox is invalid and that Plaintiffs do not suffer irreparable harm from ongoing infringement. However, Plaintiffs can easily demonstrate the validity of Andersen's copyright in BusyBox and the continued distribution of BusyBox by Best Buy and Phoebe (whichisconceded)willdeprivePlaintiffsofpotentialcontributionsandreputationalbenefits. Under Andersen's leadershipand with his myriad contributionsBusyBox matured fromanobscure,specialpurposesoftwareprogramintoanessentialcomponentofembedded computingdevices.Andersen'sworkenabledconsumerelectronicscompanieslikeBestBuyand Phoebetoprofitfromnewproducts.BusyBoxisnotonlyhighqualitysoftware,itisalsoopen source,meaning its licenseallows unlimitedcopying and redistribution forfree solong as the rightstoBusyBoxgrantedbyAndersenarepassedon.Chiefamongtheseistherighttoobtaina completecopyofthecorrespondingsourcecodefortheversionofBusyBoxbeingredistributed. Best Buy and Phoebe have proven unable or unwilling to meet these modest requirements, despite launching new products since this suit began that they admit contain BusyBox and despite continuing todistributeBusyBoxtoday. These brazenacts demonstratethat they will continuetoinfringePlaintiffs'rightsunlessenjoinedbythiscourt. I. PLAINTIFFANDERSENOWNSVALIDCOPYRIGHTSINBUSYBOX Best Buy claims that there is substantial dispute as to the validity and extent of Andersen'scopyrightinBusyBox.1 Opp'n Dkt.178at 1.Butfromthebeginningofdiscovery, 1 PhoebehasmovedtojoinBestBuy'sMemoranduminOppositiontoPlaintiffs'Motionfor PreliminaryInjunctionDkt.183.Therefore,PlaintiffsherewillrespondtoBestBuy'sbriefas ifrespondingtobothBestBuyandPhoebe. 1
BestBuyhasbeeninpossessionofanswerstoeveryquestionitraises:auditablesourcecode revision logs definitively showing every line of code Andersen contributed to BusyBox; Andersen'scopyrightregistrationclearlydefininghisclaim;andemailsshowingwhenAndersen begandevelopingBusyBoxindependentofhisemployment,andthus ownedallhiswork. Pl.'s Resp.toDef.'sReq.forDocsNo.3;2AndersenDecl.Ex.1;WilliamsonDecl.Ex.B. A. AndersenOwnsCopyrightInSignificantPortionsofBusyBoxVersion0.60.3 AndSubsequentVersions
AndersenwasthemaintainerofBusyBoxfrom1999through2006.Duringthefirsttwo yearsofhisstewardship,healsoworkedforLineo,Inc.3AfterleavingLineo,Andersencontinued maintainingBusyBoxindependentlyforover4years,duringwhichhewroteenormousamounts ofBusyBoxcode,servedastheprogram'schiefarchitect,andcoordinatedthecontributionsof other developers. Williamson Decl. Ex. D at 88:2489:10. The first version of BusyBox AndersenreleasedafterleavingLineowasversion0.60.3.Thatversioncontained8,897linesof brandnewcodeaddedbyAndersenafterleavingLineo.Thisnewcodeaddedfunctionalityand improvementstothestability of BusyBox'scorefeatures. WilliamsonDecl.Ex.Aat274:5 276:24. Alargeportionofthiscode, 5,794 lines, hewrote entirely by himself. The restwere contributions(orpatches)submittedtoAndersenbyotherdevelopers,eachofwhichAndersen personally reviewed and, if appropriate, integrated into the BusyBox code, often requiring Andersentorewriteorreorganizethepatchintheprocess.WilliamsonDecl.Ex.Dat90:512. TheprecisedetailsofAndersen'scontributionswererecordedinrevisioncontrolsystem software, which allowsdeveloperstotrackeverychangeto abodyof code. Revisioncontrol 2 AttachedasExhibitAtoWilliamsonDecl. 3 ThecopyrightassertedheredoesnotincludeanycodeAndersenproducedwhileatLineo. 2
systems recordeverydetailofeverymodification:whomadeit,when,andwhatwaschanged. WilliamsonDecl.Ex.Dat234:22239:25;KuhnDecl.45.PlaintiffslongagopointedBest BuytothepublicwebsitecontainingBusyBox'scommitlogs.Pl.'sResp.toDef.'sReq.forDocs No.3.AsimpleinspectionofthoselogsshowsthatAndersen'soriginalcodeisindisputablythe subjectofcopyrightprotection.SeeComputerAssoc.Int'l,Inc.v.Altai,Inc.,982F.2d693,702 (2dCir.1992).NotonlydidAndersenwritefromscratchasignificantportionofthecodeadded betweenthetimeheleftLineoandthereleaseofversion0.60.3,heisalsoentitledtoacopyright forhisdirectionandorganizationofBusyBox'sdevelopmentbecausetheCopyrightActprotects "aworkformedbythecollectionandassemblingofpreexistingmaterialsorofdatathatare selected,coordinated,orarrangedinsuchawaythattheresultingworkasawholeconstitutesan originalworkofauthorship...."17U.S.C.101,103;FeistPub'lns,Inc.v.RuralTel.Serv.Co., 499 U.S. 340, 362 (1991).4 After releasing BusyBox version 0.60.3, Andersen contributed substantialoriginalcodeandmanagingcontributionstoeverysubsequentversionuntilheceded maintainershipin2006.KuhnDecl.10(attributingover27,600linesofcodetoAndersen). B. Andersen'sCopyrightRegistrationInBusyBoxVersion0.60.3IsValidAnd PrimaFacieEvidenceOfAValidCopyright 1. BestBuymisstatesthefactsregardingAndersen'sregistration
Andersen registered his copyrightin the[n]ewandrevisedcomputersourcecode he addedto BusyBox,v.0.60.3. Andersen Decl.Ex. 1.5 BestBuy suggeststhatthe registrationis 4 ContrarytoBestBuy'ssuggestion,Plaintiffsdonotdisputethattheotherdeveloperswho contributedtoBusyBoxduringAndersen'smaintainershipalsoowncopyrightsintheircode. Butthosecopyrightsheldbyunrelatedthirdpartiesarenotatissueinthiscase.Allthatisat issueisthecopyrightheldbyAndersenregisteredwiththeCopyrightOffice. 5 TheAndersenDecl.wassubmittedwithPlaintiffsopeningmemorandumsupportingthis motion.Dkt.1651. 3
defective because Andersen's registration did not mention the work of other BusyBox contributors. Dkt.178at1112. Thatis patently false. In hisapplication,Andersendeposited BusyBoxsourcecodecontainingthecopyrightnoticesofseveralauthors.6WilliamsonDecl.Ex. C. Andersen's application did not list every contributor to BusyBox because he was not registeringthecopyrightsofthosecontributors.Rather,he claimed copyright only in hisown originalcontributions.Thatiswhyhiscopyrightregistrationexpresslystates,Newandrevised computersourcecodebyErikAndersen.AndersenDecl.Ex.1(emphasisadded).Inanironic efforttocharacterizeAndersen'sapplicationasmisleading,BestBuyomittedthelimitationby ErikAndersenwhenquotingtheregistrationinitsoppositionbrief.Dkt.178at3. 2. Andersen'sregistrationisprimafacieevidenceofavalidcopyright
BestBuymakesmuchofthefactthatAndersenregisteredhiscopyrightfiveyears and fourmonthsafterpublication,Dkt.178at3,8,butthiscourtnonethelesshasdiscretiontoapply the presumption. 17 U.S.C. 410(c); Telerate Sys.,Inc. v. Caro, 689F. Supp. 221, 227n.7 (S.D.N.Y.1988).Congressincludedthefiveyeartimeperiodin17U.S.C.410(c)toensurethe reliabilityofthefactsbroughtbeforetheCopyrightOffice,reasoningthat"thelongerthelapseof timebetweenpublicationandregistration,thelesslikelytobereliablearethefactsstatedinthe certificate."3MelvilleB.Nimmer&DavidNimmer,NIMMER ONCOPYRIGHT12.11[A][1](2010) (citingH.Rep.941476,at156(1976)).Here,thelapseoffourmonthsafterthestatutoryperiod offiveyears hadnoeffectonthereliabilityofthecertificate, becausetheBusyBox revision control system retained clear public evidence of Andersen's copyrighted contribution. 6 ThoseauthorsincludeDavidKeppel,DavidMacKenzie,Lineo,Inc.,RonAlder,Bryan Rittmeyer,JulienGaulminandNicolasFerreofAlcve,MagnusDamm,QuinnJensen,Linux International,RalfBaechle,RichardHenderson,andBjornEkwall. 4
WilliamsonDecl.Ex.Dat240:15245:16;KuhnDecl.45. II. BESTBUYINFRINGESANDERSEN'SCOPYRIGHTSINBUSYBOX BestBuyhasdistributedBusyBoxinatleastsevenofitsInsigniaproducts.KuhnDecl. Dkt.166at813.BestBuyconcedesasmuchinitsbrief,andalsoconcedesthatitcontinues todistributeBusyBoxintheNSBRDVD4andNSWBRDVD2productstodayandinsoftware updatesforitsNSBRDVD3andNSWBRDVDproducts.Dkt.178at5,89(asmallsubsetof thatsoftwareincludestheBusyBoxcode); Dkt.166 813; WilliamsonDecl. 7. These distributionsviolatetheBusyBoxlicense,becauseBestBuydidnotgiveitsusersnoticeoftheir rightsinBusyBox,includingtheirrighttogetacopyofthecompletecorrespondingsourcecode. AndersenDecl.Ex.2,2,3;Dkt.16610. Further,onceBestBuymadeadistributionofBusyBoxthatdidnotcomplywiththe licenseterms,thelicenseterminated,andthereforeanyfurtheractofcopyingordistributing BusyBoxbyBestBuy(evenifincompliancewiththelicense)iswithoutAndersen'spermission. AndersenDecl.Ex.2, 4(Youmaynotcopy,modify,sublicense,ordistribute [BusyBox] except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicenseordistribute [BusyBox] isvoid,andwillautomaticallyterminateyourrightsunder thisLicense.). Thus,BestBuy'sfailuretocomplywiththelicensehasterminatedanyrightit may have to make any copies or distributions of BusyBox and its ongoing distribution of BusyBoxthereforeinfringesAndersen'scopyrightsregardlessofwhetherthedistributionstoday areincompliancewiththeopensourcelicense. BestBuy'sinfringingdistributionscontainBusyBoxversion1.2.1,whichcontains4,884
linesofcodethatAndersencontributedtoBusyBoxversion0.60.3,3,078ofwhichheauthored. KuhnDecl.8.Thus,BestBuy'sdistributionofversion1.2.1ofBusyBoxviolatesAndersen's exclusiverighttoreproduceanddistributecopiesofhiscopyrightedcode.17U.S.C.106(1),(3 ).Further,version1.2.1isunquestionablyaderivativeworkofversion0.60.3,as version1.2.1 was indisputably based on and is substantially similar to version 0.60.3, so Best Buy's distribution of version 1.2.1 is itself a violation of Andersen's exclusive right to make and distributederivativeworksofhisregisteredcopyright.17U.S.C.106(2),(3).Aftertherelease ofversion0.60.3,Andersencontributed27,671morelinesofcodetoversion1.2.1(originalcode aswellasselection,arrangement,andcoordinationofexistingcodeandpatches).KuhnDecl. 10.ThoughAndersenhasnotregisteredhiscopyrightincontributionssince0.60.3,thisdoesnot precludehimfromseekinganinjunctionforinfringementofthesecopyrights.See17U.S.C. 412(listingremediesforwhichregistrationisaprerequisiteandomittinginjunctiverelief). III. THECOURTSHOULDENJOINBESTBUYFROMDISTRIBUTINGBUSYBOX A. PlaintiffsHaveDemonstratedALikelihoodOfSuccessOnTheMerits
A copyright infringement claim comprises two elements: (i) ownership of a valid copyrightand(ii)unauthorizedcopying,modifying,ordistributingofthecopyrightedworkby another.SeeAristaRecordsLLCv.Doe,604F.3d110,117(2dCir.2010)(citingFeist,499U.S. at361).Asshownabove,Andersenholdsavalidcopyrightinsignificantportionsoftheversions ofBusyBoxcurrentlybeingdistributedbyBestBuyandthesedistributionsareunauthorized. B. AbsentAnInjunction,PlaintiffsWillSufferIrreparableHarm
willnotadequatelycompensatefortheharmsuffered. Salinger v.Colting,607F.3d68, 7980 (2d Cir. 2010). In this case, Best Buy has harmed Andersen by appropriating his work on BusyBox while denying him the principal object of that work, namely the incremental improvements that Best Buy (and its suppliers) made to BusyBox: [i]n exchange and in consideration for this collaborative work [that] the copyright holder permits users to copy, modifyanddistributethesoftwarecodesubjecttoconditionsthatservetoprotectdownstream usersandtokeepthecodeaccessible.SeeJacobsenv.Katzer,535F.3d1373,1379(Fed.Cir. 2008)(citingWallacev.IBMCorp.,467F.3d1104,110506(7thCir.2006)). DamagescannotrepairPlantiffs'injurybecausethe goalsofopensourcelicensing are timesensitive.Contributionsto BusyBox arise becauseusersaddfunctionalitytothesoftware thattheyneedfortheirownuse; indeed,thisishowmost opensourcesoftware getsmade. BestBuy'scustomersmissedtheopportunitytomodifyBusyBoxtomeettheirneeds,because BestBuydidnotprovidethemwiththeBusyBoxsourcecode,ornotifythemoftheirrights under the BusyBox license, as theywere requiredtodo. Compliance after the fact will not remedythatloss,becauseconsumerelectronicslikeBluraydiscplayersfallintodisusequickly, whetherfrommalfunctionorobsolescence. 7 IfBestBuy'scustomersarenolongerusingthe players,theywillnotmodifyBusyBoxtomeettheirneeds,andtheBusyBoxprojectwillhave losttheircontributionsirretrievably. ToAndersenandothers, thepointof writing opensource software isnottomakemoney,buttobenefitfromthesharingofimprovements.BestBuy's failuretocomplywiththeopensourcelicensetermsdenied them thisobjective,andmoney 7 Forexample,BestBuy'searlyBlurayDiscplayerscouldnotconnecttostreamingservices suchasNetflix,animportantsellingpointofthenewplayers.WilliamsonDecl.8. 7
cannotcompensatefortheirloss. BestBuydidworsethanignoreitsobligationtoAndersenanditscustomersitreleased newproducts inwillfulinfringementofAndersen'scopyright well afterPlaintiffsbroughtthis action. WilliamsonDecl. 7. BestBuy's casualattitudetoward infringementcontributestoa cultureofcorporateinfringementofopensourcesoftwarethatharmsPlaintiffsgreatly.Byfailing to requirecompliancefrom its suppliers, BestBuy condonesandencourages infringementof BusyBox copyrights. This conspiracy of indifference to the rights of open source software developersisselfperpetuatinganddeeplyharmful.C.f.AristaRecordsLLCv.LimeWireLLC, 2010U.S.Dist.LEXIS115675at *15(S.D.N.Y.2010)(facilitationofwidespreadinfringement caused irreparable harm because it engendered a culture of infringement). Plaintiffs' lost opportunitytoreceivecontributionstoBusyBoxandthecultureofinfringementabettedbyBest Buy'sactionsareinherentlynonpecuniaryandhavenoremedyatlaw.AstheFederalCircuithas found,opensourcelicensesmightwellberenderedmeaninglessabsenttheabilityofthelicensor toenforcetheirrestrictionsthroughinjunctiverelief.SeeJacobsen,535F.3dat137982. C. BecauseAnyHarmToBestBuyIsUnrecognizedUnderTheLaw,The BalanceOfHardshipsFavorsPlaintiffs
WhileBestBuy'sinfringementisinflictingirreparableharmonPlaintiffs,aninjunction wouldcauseBestBuynohardshiprecognizedbythelaw.BestBuyarguesthatitwouldsuffer immediate and significant harm because it would be unable to make further sales of the accusedInsigniaBlurayplayers.Dkt.178at2021.Butwhere[t]heonlypossibleharmto[an infringer]isthelossofthechancetosellaninfringing[product],...thelawdoesnotprotect[it]. WarnerBros.Entm'tInc.v.RDRBooks,575F.Supp.2d513,553(S.D.N.Y.2008)(citingMyT 8
FineCorp.v.Samuels,69F.2d76,78(2dCir.1934)(Hand,J.)).EveryharmcitedbyBestBuy derivesfromitsinabilitytomakeinfringingdistributions,andthereforetheyarealluncognizable underWarnerBros.andMyTFine. Furthermore, Best Buy misleadingly implies that it will make no distributions of BusyBoxafterMarch2011.Dkt.178at2,89.Infact,BestBuyabsolutelyintendstocontinue sellingtheNSBRDVD4andNSWBRDVD2productsitmanufacturedwithBusyBoxembedded in them well after March 2011. Id. It also intends to continue making electronic firmware distributionsthatcontainBusyBoxtoitscustomerswhopurchasedtheNSBRDVD3andNS WBRDVDproducts.Idat89,17.BestBuyarguesthesedistributionsarenotinfringingbecause theyarebeingmadeincompliancewiththeapplicablelicenseterms.However,thatisirrelevant. Asdiscussedabove,BestBuy'srightstomakeanycopiesordistributionsofBusyBoxterminated whenitfirstfailedtocomplywiththeapplicablelicense.AndersenDecl.Ex.24.Andersenhas notreinstatedanyrighttoBestBuytomakecopiesofdistributionsofhiscopyrightedcode,and thereforeanydistributioniswithouthispermission,whetheritiscurrentlyincomplianceornot. D. AnInjunctionServesTheInterestOfTheGeneralPublicInReceivingThe BenefitsOfTheBusyBoxLicense
EnjoiningBestBuyfromcontinuingtoinfringeAndersen'scopyrightsservesthepublic interestbyenforcingthetermsoftheopensourcelicenseandpromotingaccesstotheimproved BusyBoxsourcecodetowhichthelicenseentitlesthem.SeeJacobsen,535F.3dat1378.Best Buy argues that an injunction against Best Buy will not prevent the accused code from widespreaduseintheindustry.Exactlythesamecodewillcontinuetobedistributedbyathird party,Broadcom,throughitsotherindustrycustomers. Dkt.178at 21(emphasisinoriginal). 9
This but everybody's doingitargument is as baseless as itis callous: BestBuyoffers no evidencethatanythirdpartydistributionsofBusyBoxareinviolationoftheopensourcelicense. Butevenifsuchviolationsexist,thatPlaintiffshave causetoenjoinsimilar infringements is besidethepointandcertainlydoesnotexcuseBestBuy'swillfulinfringement.Failingtoenjoin blatant violationsof opensourcelicensesthreatenstoerodetheireffectiveness,whichwould causesubstantialpublicharmbydecreasingtheparticipationinthesoftwaredistributionmodel thatproducesfreelyavailableandmodifiablesoftwaretotheworld. E. TheCourtShouldWaiveTheSecurityRequirement
The underlying purpose of Rule 65(c) is to provide a mechanism to reimburse the enjoinedpartyshoulditsufferharmasaresultofawronglyissuedinjunction.SeeBethMedrash EeyunHatalmudv.Spellings,505F.3d139(2dCir.2007);seealsoHoechstDiafoilCo.v.Nan YaPlasticsCorp.,174F.3d411,421n.3(4thCir.1999).Here,sinceBestBuyhasadmittedthe factsnecessarytoprovePlaintiffs'claimofwillfulinfringement,amistakebythecourtishighly unlikely.BestBuy,knowingofAndersen'scopyright,knowingthatBusyBoxwasinitsproducts, knowingthetermsoftheGPL,and knowingitwasviolatingthem,beganinfringinganew8 monthsafterPlaintiffsfiledsuit.BestBuyhasraisednolegitimateissuesregardingAndersen's ownership or registration of copyrights in BusyBox and regardless, Plaintiffs have here demonstratedbothbeyondquestion. CONCLUSION For these reasons, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the motion for preliminary injunction be granted and that thesecurityrequirementofRule65(c)bewaived.
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Dated:March21,2011 NewYork,NewYork
Respectfullysubmitted, SOFTWAREFREEDOMLAWCENTER,INC. By:/s/DanielB.Ravicher DanielB.Ravicher(DR1498) AaronWilliamson(AW1337) 1995Broadway,17thFloor NewYork,NY100235882 Tel.:2125800800 Fax.:2125800898 AttorneysforPlaintiffsSoftwareFreedom Conservancy,Inc.andErikAndersen
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