Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

Summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment is suing the operators of Back-to-1999, an online service, for trademark infringement under the Lanham Act. The case centers on alleged unauthorized use of Sony's protected marks, likely related to PlayStation or other gaming intellectual property. Sony is seeking to halt the infringing use and recover damages.

Summary generated by AI from public docket data. Verify against the original filing before relying on it.

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Cause

15:1125 Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

Entities in this case

Parties

Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (plaintiff) The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 (defendant) Back-to-1999 (defendant) The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A (defendant)

Docket entries

1. #332025-07-22

   MAILED trademark report with certified copy of minute order dated 7/21/25 to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA. (vkm, ) (Entered: 07/22/2025)

2. #322025-07-21

   MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Per plaintiff's notice of voluntary dismissal 31, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1), Defendants Back-to-1999 and the Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 are dismissed without prejudice. Civil case terminated. (ca, ) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

3. #312025-07-21

   NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to Back-to-1999 and the Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 (Miller, Rachel) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

4. #302025-06-18

   MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: The Court has reviewed plaintiff's status report 27, which reflects that defendant has been served and that its deadline to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's complaint is 6/23/25. Given these circumstances, the Court resets the 6/23/25 status hearing to 7/24/25 at 9:30 a.m. (ca, ) (Entered: 06/18/2025)

5. #292025-06-17

   STATUS Report pursuant to 27 by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Miller, Rachel) (Entered: 06/17/2025)

6. #282025-06-02

   SUMMONS Returned Executed by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC as to Back-to-1999 on 6/2/2025, answer due 6/23/2025; The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 on 6/2/2025, answer due 6/23/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Lucas A. Peterson, # 2 Exhibit A)(Peterson, Lucas) (Entered: 06/02/2025)

7. #272025-05-16

   MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's counsel contacted the Courtroom Deputy to reset the status hearing to allow time for service to be effectuated. The status hearing is reset for 6/23/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 6/16/25. (ca, ) (Entered: 05/16/2025)

8. #262025-04-14

   MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis:Plaintiff's counsel contacted the Courtroom Deputy to reset the status hearing to allow time for service to be effectuated. The status hearing set for 4/21/25 is reset for 5/22/25 at 9:30 a.m. The joint status report is now due by 5/15/25. (ca, ) (Entered: 04/14/2025)

9. #252025-04-10

   SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendants Back-to-1999, The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 (mam, ) (Entered: 04/10/2025)

10. #232025-04-08

    ORDER Signed by the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 4/8/25.(ca, ) (Entered: 04/08/2025)

11. #222025-04-08

    MINUTE entry before the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis: Plaintiff's motions for expedited discovery and electronic service of process are granted 17, 18 . No appearance is required on 4/10/25. The Court finds that expedited discovery is warranted to identify defendants. The Court also finds that electronic service does not violate any treaty and is consistent with due process because it is an effective way to communicate with the online marketplace defendants. The Court decides these issues, however, without the benefit of adversarial presentation. If any defendant were to appear and object, the Court will take a fresh look at the issues of electronic service and expedited discovery as well as any issues related to personal jurisdiction and joinder. Enter Order, as modified by the Court. (ca, ) (Entered: 04/08/2025)

12. #212025-04-07

    NOTICE of Motion by Justin R. Gaudio for presentment of motion for discovery 17, motion for miscellaneous relief 18 before Honorable Georgia N Alexakis on 4/10/2025 at 09:30 AM. (Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 04/07/2025)

13. #202025-04-07

    DECLARATION of Justin R. Gaudio regarding memorandum in support of motion 19 (Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 04/07/2025)

14. #192025-04-07

    MEMORANDUM by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC in support of motion for miscellaneous relief 18 (Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 04/07/2025)

15. #182025-04-07

    MOTION by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC for Electronic Service of Process Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3) (Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 04/07/2025)

16. #172025-04-07

    MOTION by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC for discovery (Expedited) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1)(Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 04/07/2025)

17. #162025-02-19

    EXHIBIT by Plaintiff Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Amended Schedule A regarding amended complaint, 15 (Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 02/19/2025)

18. #152025-02-19

    AMENDED complaint by Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC against Back-to-1999, The Individuals and Entities Operating Back-to-1999 and terminating The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2)(Gaudio, Justin) (Entered: 02/19/2025)

19. 2025-02-14

    CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Georgia N Alexakis. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Heather K. McShain. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (ksr, )

20. 2025-02-14

    CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (mam, )

Docket history from CourtListener/RECAP — most recent first.