A group of entertainment powerhouses including Universal Studios Productions LLLP,
AllAccessTV (AATV) and Quality Restreams don’t have permission to sell access to the media companies’ copyrighted movies and television programs, according to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Some of the plaintiffs’ most popular works are illegally accessed on the streaming services, including the Harry Potter series, “The Godfather,” and “Spider-Man,” the companies said in the complaint.
AATV allows subscribers to access several live channels at the same time as the legitimate broadcast but without subscribing to the actual services, according to the complaint. The infringing service includes access to major networks like ABC and
According to the complaint, AATV sells subscriptions to its service through which users can access the allegedly infringing content, and the streaming services have used several different websites as interfaces for subscribers to purchase the credentials.
The streaming services deliberately masked their operations by using a site that appears to sell VPN software but is actually selling AATV subscriptions, according to the suit.
Causes of action: Copyright infringement, contributory copyright infringement, and intentionally inducing copyright infringement
Relief: Preliminary and permanent injunctions, damages, profits, attorneys’ fees
Response: AATV and Quality Restreams didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Attorneys: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP represents the media companies.
The case is Universal City Studios Productions LLLP et al v. Johnson et al, C.D. Cal., No. 2:21-cv-09361, 12/2/21.
To contact the reporter on this story:
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
To read more articles log in.
Learn more about a Bloomberg Law subscription