The latest action targets 1,100 John Does in three suits waged by CP Productions Inc., First Time Videos and Future Blue Inc.
All three suits were filed by attorney John L. Steele at U.S. District Court in Chicago and seek to identify each user through their Internet service providers. Each asks for injunctive relief and damages.
CP Productions sued 300 alleged pirates in one of the suits for content stolen from ChicasPlace.com in its Cowgirl Creampie section.
"The content ... is a single member’s section update and was illegally downloaded by the defendants in this case within a week of publication," the suit said.
First Time Videos says content from its flagship site, FTVGirls.com, was poached, and it has sued 500. FTV operates FTVCash.com
Meanwhile, BlazingBucks.com parent Future Blue said its MyXXXPass network of website was pilfered. Specifically, it said in the suit, content was stolen from its brands Throated, Stuffed Petite, Only Teen Blowjobs, Meat My Ass Love Your Tits, Big Black Thing and 1000 Facials.
Steele, who filed the suits on behalf of the companies, operates Media Copyright Group, which offers "turnkey solution for combating online piracy of their copyrighted media."
Steele, who offers to track and ID infringers, as well as pursue damages against infringers on a contingency basis, told XBIZ that piracy could be setting the industry back substantially.
"I don't like piracy," he said. "I think that if left unchecked, the file sharers are going to set back this industry 20-30 years. Why should studios spend money for huge productions, when there are those who get it for free."
Steele said that Media Copyright Group has filed six suits so far, including those Wednesday, and that there are more to come.
"We're looking at seven more suits by Dec. 31," Steele said, noting that Media Copyright Group now has a dozen clients.
Steele said that, depending on client, letters will go out to alleged bit torrent downloaders offering settlement deals between $1,900-$3,900 for each infringed movie.
"Of course, those numbers are initial settlement numbers," he said. "For those who decline those offers, the bill goes up to about $7,500."
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