?

K|;V

JS 44C/SDNY
REV. 4/2014

CIVIL COVER SHEET

14 CV

927

The JS-44 civil cover sheet and the information containedherein neitherreplace norsupplement the filing and service
of
srviceof
pleadings or other papersas required by law, except as provided by local rulesof court. This form, approved by the
the

sW r^0

&

Judicial Conference oftheUnited States in September 1974, isrequired for useoftheClerk ofCourt for the purpose
of
fseof
initiatingthe civil docket sheet.

~'

m 21 ww

PLAINTIFFS

DEFENDANTS

CREAZIONI ARTISTICHE MUSICALI, S.r.l

CARLIN AMERICA, INC., EDWARD B. MARKS MUSIC CO., and JOHN DOES
1-10

ATTORNEYS (FIRM NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER

Reitler Kailas & Rosentblatt LLC, 885 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York,
NY 10022, (212) 209-3050

ATTORNEYS (IF KNOWN)

CAUSE OFACTION (CITE THE U.S. CIVIL STATUTE UNDER WHICH YOU ARE FILING AND WRITE ABRIEF STATEMENT OF CAUSE)
(DO NOTCITE JURISDICTIONAL STATUTES UNLESS DIVERSITY)

Copyright Infringement

Has this action, case, or proceeding, or one essentially the same been previously filed in SDNY at any time? NdSfesQjudge Previously Assigned
If yes, was this case Vol. [J Invol.

Dismissed. No

Yes

No 0

Yes

IS THISAN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CASE?

(PLACEAN [x] IN ONEBOXONLY)

If yes, give date

NATURE OF SUIT

TORTS

ACTIONS UNDER STATUTES

PERSONAL INJURY

PERSONAL INJURY

FORFEITURE/PENALTY

[ ] 367 HEALTHCARE/

] 110
J120
]130
]140

INSURANCE

NEGOTIABLE
INSTRUMENT

[ ] 320 ASSAULT, LIBEL &

1150

RECOVERY OF
OVERPAYMENT &

[ ] 330 FEDERAL

[]

[ ] 310 AIRPLANE
[ ] 315 AIRPLANE PRODUCT

MARINE

MILLER ACT

LIABILITY
SLANDER

EMPLOYERS'

ENFORCEMENT

LIABILITY

OF JUDGMENT
MEDICARE ACT
RECOVERY OF

[ ] 340 MARINE
[ ] 345 MARINE PRODUCT

DEFAULTED

[ J 350 MOTOR VEHICLE

[ ] 355 MOTOR VEHICLE

LIABILITY

STUDENT LOANS

(EXCL VETERANS)
[ ]153

]160
]190
]195

INJURY

[ ] 362 PERSONAL INJURY MED MALPRACTICE

LAND

[ ]220
[ ]230
[ ]240
[]245

[ ] 365 PERSONAL INJURY

PRODUCT LIABILITY

[ ] 368 ASBESTOS PERSONAL

BANKRUPTCY

OTHER STATUTES

[ ] 422 APPEAL

[ J 400 STATE

21 USC 881

[ ] 423 WITHDRAWAL
28 USC 157

] 690 OTHER

INJURY PRODUCT
LIABILITY

PROPERTY RIGHTS

\)i 820 COPYRIGHTS

[ ] 830 PATENT
[ ] 840 TRADEMARK

PERSONAL PROPERTY

[ ] 370 OTHER FRAUD

[ ] 371 TRUTH IN LENDING

SOCIAL SECURITY

[ ] 380 OTHER PERSONAL

[] 710 FAIR LABOR

PRODUCT LIABILITY

STANDARDS ACT

[ ] 720 LABOR/MGMT
[ ] 463 ALIEN DETAINEE
[ ] 510 MOTIONS TO
ACTIONS UNDER STATUTES
CIVIL RIGHTS

[ J 440 OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS

(Non-Prisoner)
[ ] 441 VOTING
[ ] 442 EMPLOYMENT
[ ) 443 HOUSING/
ACCOMMODATIONS

[ ] 445 AMERICANS WITH

DISABILITIES EMPLOYMENT

TORTS TO LAND

TORT PRODUCT
LIABILITY

ALL OTHER

[ ] 446

VACATE SENTENCE
28 USC 2255

[ ] 530 HABEAS CORPUS

[ ] 535 DEATH PENALTY
[ ] 540 MANDAMUS & OTHER

[
[
[
[
[

]861
] 862
] 863
] 864
] 865

HIA(1395ff)
BLACK LUNG (923)
DIWC/DIWW(405(g))
SSID TITLE XVI
RSI (405(g))

] 410 ANTITRUST
] 430 BANKS & BANKING
] 450 COMMERCE
] 460 DEPORTATION
J 470 RACKETEER INFLU
ENCED & CORRUPT
ORGANIZATION ACT

(RICO)
[ ] 480 CONSUMER CREDIT
[ ] 490 CABLE/SATELLITE TV
[ J 850 SECURITIES/
EXCHANGE

[ ] 890 OTHER STATUTORY

RELATIONS

ACTIONS

[ ] 740 RAILWAY LABOR ACT

[ ] 751 FAMILYMEDICAL
LEAVEACT (FMLA)
[ ] 790 OTHER LABOR
LITIGATION

[ ] 791 EMPL RET INC

SECURITY ACT
IMMIGRATION

PRISONER CIVIL RIGHTS

[ ) 462 NATURALIZATION
[ ] 550 CIVIL RIGHTS
[ ] 555 PRISON CONDITION
[ ] 560 CIVIL DETAINEE

REAPPORTIONMENT

[
[
[
[
[

COMMODITIES/
LABOR

PROPERTY DAMAGE

[ ] 385 PROPERTY DAMAGE

1 1 375 FALSE CLAIMS

28 USC 158

SEIZURE OF PROPERTY

PRISONER PETITIONS

1196 FRANCHISE

CONDEMNATION
FORECLOSURE
RENT LEASE &
EJECTMENT

INJURY/PRODUCT LIABILITY

PRODUCT LIABILITY

LIABILITY

[]210

PHARMACEUTICAL PERSONAL , , 625DRUG RELATED

[ ] 360 OTHER PERSONAL

RECOVERY OF
OVERPAYMENT
OF VETERAN'S
BENEFITS
STOCKHOLDERS
SUITS
OTHER
CONTRACT
CONTRACT
PRODUCT

REAL PROPERTY

&Case No.

APPLICATION

[ ] 465 OTHER IMMIGRATION

ACTIONS

[ ] 891 AGRICULTURAL ACTS

FEDERAL TAX SUITS

[ ] 870 TAXES (U.S. Plaintiff or

Defendant)
[ J 871 IRS-THIRD PARTY

[ ] 893 ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS

[ ] 895 FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION ACT

26 USC 7609

[ ] 896 ARBITRATION
[ ] 899 ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURE ACT/REVIEW OR
APPEAL OF AGENCY DECISION

[ ] 950 CONSTITUTIONALITY OF
STATE STATUTES

CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT

AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES -OTHER

[ ] 448 EDUCATION

REAL PROPERTY

Check ifdemandedincomplaint:

CHECK IF THIS IS ACLASS ACTION

UNDER F.R.C.P. 23

DEMAND $_

OTHER

[^O YOU CLAJM THIS CASE IS RELATED TO ACIVIL CASE NOW PENDING IN S.D.N.Y.?
JUDGE

DOCKET NUMBER

Check YES onlyifdemanded incomplaint

JURY DEMAND: El YES PsiO

NOTE: You must also submitat the timeoffiling the Statement of Relatedness form (Form IH-32).

(PLACEAN x IN ONE BOX ONLY)

1*1 1 Original

ORIGIN

2 Removed from

Proceeding

State Court

1' 3. a.l parties repr.s.n,l

II 3 Remanded d 4 Reinstated or
from

O 5 Transferred from 6 Multidistrict

Reopened

(Specify District)

7 Appeal to District

Litigation

Judge from

APPellate
Court

Magistrate Judge

Judgment

I I b. At least one
party is pro se.

(PLACEANxINONEBOXONLY)
BASIS OF JURISDICTION
1 U.S. PLAINTIFF 2 U.S. DEFENDANT \x\ 3 FEDERAL QUESTION
4 DIVERSITY

IF DIVERSITY, INDICATE
CITIZENSHIP BELOW.

(U.S. NOT A PARTY)

CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (FOR DIVERSITY CASES ONLY)

(Place an [X] in one box for Plaintiffand one box for Defendant)

CITIZEN OF THIS STATE

PTF

[]1

DEF

[]1

PTFDEF

CITIZEN OR SUBJECT OF A

[]3[]3

FOREIGN COUNTRY

CITIZEN OF ANOTHER STATE []2 []2

INCORPORATED and PRINCIPAL PLACE

PTF

OF BUSINESS IN ANOTHER STATE

INCORPORATED or PRINCIPAL PLACE

[]4[]4

FOREIGN NATION

[]6 [16

OF BUSINESS IN THIS STATE

PLAINTIFF(S)ADDRESS(ES) AND COUNTY(IES)

CREAZIONI ARTISTICHE MUSICALI, S.r.l., Galleria del Corso 4, 20122 Milano, Italy

DEFENDANT(S) ADDRESS(ES) AND COUNTY(IES)

CARLIN AMERICA, INC., 126 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016
EDWARD B. MARKS MUSIC CO., 126 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016

DEFENDANT(S) ADDRESS UNKNOWN

REPRESENTATION IS HEREBY MADE THAT, ATTHISTIME, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE, WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE, TO ASCERTAIN
RE9IBENCE ADDRESSES OF THE FOLLOWING DEFENDANTS:

John Does 1-10

Check one:

THIS ACTION SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO:

WHITE PLAINS

[x] MANHATTAN

(DO NOT check either box if this a PRISONER PETITION/PRISONER CIVIL RIGHTS
COMPLAINT.)

DATE 11/21/2014 JSTSfclATURE.OF ATJOR^Y OF RECORD

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN THIS DISTRICT

RECEIPT #

I I N0
M YES (DATE ADMITTED
Attorney BarCode #

.,,

Magistrate Judge

js so Designated.
Deputy Clerk, DATED

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT (NEWYORK SOUTHERN)

Oil

Mo. JI Yr. If

Magistrate Judge is to be designated by the Clerk of the Court.

Ruby J. Krajick, Clerk of Court by

DEF

[]S []5

14

Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC

Robert William Clarida
885 Third Avenue

20th Floor
New York, NY 10022

Phone: (212) 209-3044

Fax:(212)371-5500

'"* W.J

^^

u ii t

Email: rclarida(5),reitlerlaw.com

Attorneyfor PlaintiffCreazioni Artistiche Musicali, S.r.l.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
x

CREAZIONI ARTISTICHE MUSICALI, S.r.l.

Plaintiff,

-against-

COMPLAINT

OS
CO

CARLIN AMERICA, INC., EDWARD B. MARKS

MUSIC CO., and JOHN DOES 1-10,

CO

:.!-;

CD

:rr-

JURY TRIAL DEMANeSd "

Defendants.

-<

PlaintiffCreazioni Artistiche Musicali, S.r.l. ("CAM"), by its attorneys,

Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLC, avers as follows:

NATURE OF ACTION

1.

Plaintiff CAM is an Italian corporation that owns a number of musical

copyrights, including many compositions created for the soundtracks of Italian films.

2.

Plaintiffseeks damages for copyright infringement of an original

musical composition, entitled "M33 with vocals," Italian title "M33 con solistamaschile,"

<J'.

registered in the U.S. Copyright Office as registration number PAu3-700-309 (the

"Registered Work").
3.

Defendants Carlin America, Inc., Edward B., Marks Music Co., and

John Does 1-10 (referred to collectively hereafter as "Defendants"), without any authority
from the Plaintiff, have within the three years preceding the commencement of this action

prepared, reproduced, and publicly performed derivative works of the Registered Work, or
authorized others to do so, in violation of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 101
et seq. (the "Copyright Act").

4.

Plaintiff seeks legal relief to remedy Defendants' willful infringement

of the Plaintiffs copyright. Plaintiff requests an order: (1) declaring that Defendants'
unauthorized preparation, reproduction, distribution, and public performance of derivative

works of the Registered Work, and/or authorization of others to engage in such acts,
infringes Plaintiffs copyright in violation of the Copyright Act; and (2) awarding actual
damages and profits to Plaintiff, to the extent permitted under the Copyright Act.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

5.

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action under the

copyright laws of the United States, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq. and 28 U.S.C. 1331 and
1338.

6.

Upon information and belief, this Court has personal jurisdiction over

the Defendants because the Defendants have prepared, reproduced, and publicly performed
derivative works of the Registered Work, or authorized others to do so, in New York and this

District, and are otherwise doing business in this State and in this jurisdiction.
2

7.

Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), 28 U.S.C.

1391(c) and 28 U.S.C. 1400(a).

PARTIES

8.

Plaintiff CAM is an Italian corporation having a principal place of

business at Galleria del Corso 4, 20122 Milano, Italy

9.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Carlin America Inc. ("Carlin")

is a New York corporation having a principal place of business at 126 East 38th Street, New
York, NY 10016.

10.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Edward B. Marks Music Co.

("Marks") is a partnership organized under the laws of the state of New York having a

principal place of business at 126 East 38th Street, New York, New York 10016.
11.

Upon information and belief, Defendant Marks is a subsidiary of

Defendant Carlin.

12.

Upon information and belief, Defendants John Does 1-10 are

individuals and/or corporate entities whose identity is presently unknown, residing or doing
business in this judicial District, but whose identity will become known through discovery in
this action.

13.

Upon information and belief, John Does 1-10 have prepared,

reproduced, and publicly performed derivative works of the Registered Work under the

ostensible authority of licenses issued by Defendants Carlin or Marks, which authority Carlin
and Marks did not ever and do not now possess.

A.

Ownership and Registration of the Registered Work

14.

Plaintiff is the copyright owner of the Registered Work, having

acquired the copyright by written agreement with the composer, Piero Umiliani ("Umiliani"),
dated October 4, 1966. A copy of that agreement has been recorded with the U.S. Copyright
Office as V3620 D649, page 55, and is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.

15.

The Registered Work was written as part of the soundtrack for a 1966

Italian action film entitled "Duello nel Mondo."

16.

The October 4, 1966 agreement concerning CAM's ownership of the

Registered Work was registered with SIAE, the Italian music-rights society, December 31,
1966.

17.

The original 1966 open-reel tape recordings from the soundtrack

recording session of "Duello Nel Mondo" are in Plaintiffs' possession, and copies will be
made available to the Court upon request in such audio format as the Court may direct.
18.

The Registered Work is an original work of authorship.

19.

The Registered Work has been fixed in a tangible medium of

20.

The Registered Work contains substantial amounts of material created

expression.

by the composer's own skill, judgment and creativity.

21.
States.

The Registered Work is copyrightable under the laws of the United

B.

Access and Substantial Similarity

22.

Upon information and belief, in June 1968, after having written the

Registered Work in 1966, Umiliani wrote music for a Swedish film, "Svezia Inferno e
Paradiso" ("Sweden, Heaven and Hell").

23.

This film score, registered in the U.S. Copyright Office May 1, 1969 by

Defendant Marks (Reg. No. Eu 113247), contained the composition that is now listed on
Defendant Carlin's website under the title "Mah Na Mah Na."

24.

Umiliani, having previously composed the Registered Work, had

access to it prior to composing "Mah Na Mah Na."

25.

The 1968 Umiliani composition "Mah Na Mah Na" is identical,

virtually note-for-note, to the 1966 Registered Work.

26.

The aggregate of similarities between the Registered Work and "Mah

Na Mah Na" is striking, and "Mah Na Mah Na" could not have been created without having
heavily copied from and having been based on the Registered Work.
27.

An audio recording containing both works will be made available to the

Court upon request in such audio format as the Court may direct.
28.

Under the title "Mah Na Mah Na," the Defendants' unauthorized

derivative work has become extremely successful in recordings and film soundtracks by the
Muppets, among many others.

29.

After becoming aware of Defendants' unauthorized use of the

Registered Work, CAM contacted Defendant Carlin and advised it of the unauthorized use.

30.

Plaintiffs efforts to resolve the matter short of litigation have been

unsuccessful.
5

31.

Plaintiffhas suffered, and continues to suffer, from the infringing

activities of Defendants, including without limitation from the Defendants' failure to pay a
license fee commensurate with the value of their use of the Registered Work as embodied in
the infringing "Mah Na Mah Na" derivative work.
COUNT I

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

32.

Plaintiffrepeats and reavers the allegations contained in paragraphs 1

through 31 as if set forth fully herein.

33.

Defendants' unauthorized preparation, reproduction, distribution, and

public performance of derivative works of the Registered Work, and/or authorization of

others to engage in such acts, are infringements of Plaintiffs copyright in violation of the
Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 106.

34.

As a direct and proximate result of the foregoing acts of the

Defendants, the Plaintiff has been damaged in an amount to be proved at trial.

WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff requests the following relief:

A.

Actual damages and profits under 17 U.S.C. 504 in an amount to be

proved at trial;

B.

A permanent injunction requiring the Defendants to cease and desist

from reproducing, distributing, or publicly performingthe Registered Work or any derivative

work thereof, or authorizing and third parties to do so, without authorization from the
Plaintiff;

Such other and further reliefas this Court deems just and proper.
Dated: New York, New York

November 0,2014
REITLER KAILAS &

ROSENBLATT, LLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff

Robert W. Clarida

885 Third Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022
Tel. (212)209-3044

EXHIBIT 1

{=. C. Ol I4DMA

N. H4033O

CREAZIONI ARTISTICHE MUSICALI

4.0ffco'bre.66
ROMA.

VIA VIRB1LIO N. S - TELBFONO N

C&ai-esi "CAMUSIC"

310318

Rom*

Egr. Sig.
MPr2H0 UMILIANI

Via Romeo Romei, 13

ROMA

A conclusione delle nostre intese e con riferimento agli accord! con la Casa di produaone

^sl^ oa q r 1
Mm!H...ai^.CA^

Per ...Leconfermiamo
il l]m P^sonamente
mtitolato
quanta
segua

V) Ld'coinporra e'reauzzera il commento musicale del film sopra indicate

Salvi gli eventual! inseriraenti di musiche di terzi che dovranno da noi essere sempre autoriz-

zati previ accordi con il produttore ed il regista, tutto il commento musicale dovra essere
conitjosto di musiche assohitamente original! e di Sua creazione.
T) Tutti i diritti di utilizzazione suite musiche da Lei composte, sm dal momento della loro crea-

zione saranno a noi trasferiti, per tutto il mondo, con facoltadi cederh totalmente o paraal.

mente a terzi, alia condizione die i Suoi diritti non subiscano lesioni o lumtaziom.
Lei ci riconosce altresi il diritto di estrarre dalla colonna sonora una o pm parti musicali, d)
disporre gli eventual! adattamenti o arrangiamenti che riterremo necessan per la migliore utilizzazione commercial e di aggiungere testi letterari aUe smgole musiche con piena hberti di

scelta sia per quanto riguarda l'autore che le parole, purche siaiio salvi i Suoi diritti morah
3) II mandate relative aUa tutela giuridica ed economica di tutte le musiche sara amdal.o alia
S.I.A.E. (alia quale Lei ci conferma di essere iscritto) per l'ltaha e per i Paesi in cm detta
societa ha o avra una rappresentanza autorizzata.

La tutela dei diritti fonorneccanici sara affidata alia S.E.D.R.LM. fino a che noi adenremo a
tale societa. Lei, quindi, sara tenuto a firmare, a nostra richiesta, i bollettim e la documentazione che sara necessaria.

,.

,.

4) Quale compositore delle musiche che costituiscono il commento del film, Lei oltre alia somma di
;

che Le sara corrisposta con le modaUta previste al successivo art, 5 avra dintto

ap'ercepire'una quota pari a

10./24 suiproventi S.I.A.E. euna quota pan a

sui proventi S.E.DJR..LM. (BIEM).

. . . . ,.,

A.0%

+ a- c

Nel caso die a bnmi tratti dalla colonna musicale siano aggiunti testi Imci, i proventj di Sua

spettanza saranno suddivisi con l'autore delle parole, secondo i sistemi che applicheranno la

S.I.A.E. e la S.E.D.R.I.M., salvo diversi eventuali accordi.

5') Per l'onera che Lei prestera per la direzione dell'orchestra, per la realizzazione della colonna musicale (per la quale concorderemo il numero degli dementi orchestrali e dei turni) e per la collaborazione che Lei dara nella scelta delle musiche da riprodurre su disdii o apparecchi analo-

Mea compenso dei diritti die d sono riconosciuti di diffondere e riprodurre in ogm forma e
modo delle musiche, noi Le corrisponderemo la somma di L-.

tanza di L.40,OOQ- Le verra versata con le seguenti modalita:

alia finna del presente accordo L.
,rr:.
alia ultimazione della colonna musicale L.t^

==-

......

La mtera sua spet

---

al compimento della scelta e della coordinazione delle musidie per la nproduzioiie discografica e alia consegna dei bollettim di dichiarazione, del prograrnma musicale e ddle partiturc
musicali, L45.Q..0O.O....(.QMa:fctx.O.C^
6") Sara fatto da parte nostra quanto e possibile per ottenere la futda dei nostri comuni diritti e

^nteressi anche nei Paesi nei quali la S.I.A.E. o la S.E.D.R.I.M. non abb,ano rappresentanza,
senza per altro assumere responsabilita circa il buon esito..
7") Le spese di registrazione del presente contratto saranno a canco della parte che, per la sua ma.
dempienza, ne avra reso necessario 1'uso in giudizio.

8) Per ogni controversia che dovesse sorgere e competente il Foro di Roma.

9) H presente accordo sara impegnativo tanto per Lei che per noi quando ci'sara stata nconsegnata
la copia da Lei sottoscritta. Distinti saluti.
x
imposito
Il Maestro Compositore
CAM CF/1