A federal court in New York has granted Strike 3 Holdings, LLC permission to serve a subpoena on Verizon Fios to identify a defendant linked to an IP address in a copyright infringement case. The ruling, made on October 8, 2026, allows the plaintiff to obtain the true name and address of the defendant assigned the IP address 71.183.241.166. This decision is significant as it underscores the ongoing legal battles surrounding copyright enforcement in the digital age.
The case, filed under docket number 7:26-cv-08549, highlights the challenges copyright holders face in identifying individuals who allegedly infringe their rights online. Strike 3 Holdings, known for producing adult entertainment content, seeks to protect its intellectual property by pursuing legal action against those who unlawfully share its materials.
Background
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC is a company that produces and distributes adult films. The company has been active in pursuing legal action against individuals who allegedly share its copyrighted content without permission. In this case, the plaintiff identified a specific IP address, 71.183.241.166, that it claims was used to infringe its copyrights.
The defendant in this case is listed only as John Doe, a subscriber associated with the IP address in question. The anonymity of the defendant is common in copyright infringement cases, where the identity of the alleged infringer is often unknown until a subpoena is issued to their Internet Service Provider (ISP). The case reached the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after Strike 3 Holdings filed a motion seeking permission to serve a third-party subpoena on Verizon Fios before the initial conference required by Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The Ruling
The court ruled in favor of Strike 3 Holdings, stating that the plaintiff had established “good cause” for serving the subpoena on Verizon Fios. The court referenced previous cases, including Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3 and Malibu Media, LLC v. John Does 1-11, which support the practice of allowing plaintiffs to identify defendants through subpoenas to ISPs.
The court stated, “Plaintiff may serve the ISP with a Rule 45 subpoena commanding the ISP to provide Plaintiff with the true name and address of the Defendant to whom the ISP assigned an IP address as set forth in the Complaint.”
The ruling also allows Strike 3 Holdings to issue subpoenas to any other service providers identified in response to the initial subpoena. This means that if Verizon Fios provides information about other ISPs that may have been involved, Strike 3 Holdings can pursue those leads as well.
Impact
This ruling is significant for several reasons. First, it reinforces the ability of copyright holders to pursue legal action against alleged infringers, even when the infringer's identity is initially unknown. By allowing the issuance of subpoenas before a formal conference, the court streamlines the process for plaintiffs like Strike 3 Holdings, enabling them to take swift action to protect their intellectual property.
The decision may also have broader implications for how copyright infringement cases are handled in the future. It sets a precedent that could encourage other copyright holders to take similar actions against individuals who share their content without permission. This could lead to an increase in the number of lawsuits filed against alleged infringers, particularly in the realm of digital content.
What's Next
Following this ruling, Strike 3 Holdings will proceed to serve the subpoena on Verizon Fios. If the ISP complies, the company will obtain the identity of the defendant associated with the IP address. The defendant may have the option to respond or contest the subpoena, but details on any potential appeals or related cases were not available in the court filing.