linkedin v. does cfaa and dmca

8/13/2019 Linkedin v. Does CFAA and DMCA

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/linkedin-v-does-cfaa-and-dmca 1/17

JDROMEC. ROTH StateBarNo. [email protected] l. BLnVIN (Srate rr No.230269)[email protected],AIJRAK. Lin(Stotc arNo.2815,12)laura.lin(drlto.oomMlJNCER. Ot,T,ES OI.SON LP560MissionStreetTwcnty-SeventhloorSanFrancisco,alifornia 4105-2907' lc lephonc: (415)5l2-4000lacsimi lc: (415)512-4077

Atbmcys or LinlicdlnCorporation

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UNITEDS'I'A1'I'SDISI'I{ICTCoTJ[tl'

NORI'I IJITNDIS'I]I.IC'I' F CAI-IFOItNINgq/CaseNo.

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Linl(cdlnCorporir l ion,

l 'h int i l l ' . Cornpl:r int, 'ot ' :(l) vloLAl'roN olt 1'llEcoMPtll' lt l{I,-llAUD NDAllIJSE C'l', l i l;-s.c.Qti1030 i'f S[Q.i(2)VlOl,A't ' toNol' cALll 'ol{NlAI'ENALCOr)l lS502;(3'IVIOI,Al'ION0F THN I)I(;I1'AI,

MILLENNIUM coPYRIGHT Ac'r, l7u.s.c. $ 20r TstrQ.;(4) I}REACII 0I.' CONTILdCT;(5)TRIiSPASS; NI)(6)MISAPPIIOPIiIATION

I lhrough incltrsivc,

Dckncliurts.

COMPLAINT



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Plainti1l ,inkedln Corporation "Linkedln" or "Plainti1l'), by and hrough ts attorneys,

brings h is ComplainragainslDcfendantsDocs I -10 (collcctivcly, he"Doe Dcfendants") or

injunctivercliefand danragcs.Linkcdln allegcsas ollows:

1. Linkedln s hc world's argest roiessionalet\\ ,olkith morc han259nil l ion

nremhcrsn over200corrntricsnd cf i ibf ics ruoundheglobc.Linkedlns l i .sstons o connect

thc worlcl'sprofessionalso rnakc hem moreprodtlctiveand succcssful. hrough ts proprictary

platlbrm. Litrkedlnallows ls nrcmbcts o ctcale,manage nd sh:tre hcir professional istoricsand

intcrcsts nl ine. n addit ion., inkedln rovides aluable crviccso corporatecoruitcrs l lcl

hcadhuntersith ts tecfuiler foducl,\ 'hich l lows hcm o dcnti l .v rrongLinkcclln's renrbcrs

top candidatcsbr opcnposil ions. t thehcarlof Linkcdln's l i l t lbnnarc ls nlcmbcrs, hocrcate

proli lcs ha(scrvc ls hcirprollssionllonlirrc dentit ics ndarcaoccssiblcy anyothcr rrcnlbcr.

2. SinccMay 2013. nknown ctsons ud/of nt it ics nrployirlgariousrl l lomatod

soliwarc rrrg|amsollcrr olerccl o as bots")havo cgistcrcdhousandsf l irkcLinkcdln

mcDrbor ccounls nd havccxlrtctcd and copieddilt fronrnlany ncnrbcrprolilc pagcs. I his

pr i tct icc,knownnsdata'scraping." iscxpl ic i t ly lxt rrcdbyl, inkc( l l l r 'sIJscr,A , ,0cn1enl,wh

prohil l j ts cocsso Linl(cdln lhrough cfapirrg,piclcring.fawling l olhcr cohnologyr

sottwarc.rscclr acccss atawithout heexprcss lit ten onscnl l Linkcdlnor its Mclnbcrc."

l. Thc Doc l)clindrnts knowirgly and ntclti(nally havcbrcachcd his andothcr

acccss ncl sc cslrict ionsn Lirrkedln'slscr AgrecmcDt \ hich hcyagrcedo abidcby irr

regisleringheiraooounls andh[vc circunvcnted ariorrscchl] ical fotcclion arriors rnploycd

by Linkccll[ . lnsodoing,theyhavcviolatcd n array fl ldcral andskltc awi-. ncll tdinghc

Cornputer raud ndAbuseAcl, l8 U.S.C. 1030, t scq. the Cl;AA"), Cali lbrniaPenalCode

$ 502et scq., nd he )igitalMil lenniunrCopyright ct, 7 U.S.C. 1201 t seq. 1hc DMCA"),

and havc engagedn unluwftrlactsof hreachof contract, iisappropriation, rrd respass.

4. The l)oe Dcfendants'unla$'ful conduct hreatenshe t-inkcdlr platform n scveral

ways. [t undcrmincs he rtegrity andelfectivcness fLinkedln's protcssional elwork by

polluting it \dth thousands f iake mcinberprofiles- The world's prol'essionalstilizc Linkedln

{'ilh the cxpectation hat ls colltenlsarcaccurate nd ts uscrprofiles cgitimale. Morcover,by

-t -COMPI.AINT



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piltbrirg data iom thc Linkedln sitc. he Doe )efcrda[ts tlucaten o degrade he valueof

Linkcdln's ltccruitcr product, n which I-inkcdln has nveslcdsubstantially ver the cars.

l,inke<ilnalsohassullbred additionalharrnsasa resuitofthc Doc Dcfendants'aclivitics,

inchlding,bul not limitcd to, incrcased trair on anddisruplionof ils networkservcrs nd hc

expcnditufe f limc and resourccso invcstigate ndrespond1()hismisconducl-

5. LiDkcdln's olcguiding alue s Mcmbcrs irst. Becausc inkedln's rcrnbcrs

cnlfust inkedlnwith lhcirprolcssionalistoicsand ntcrcsts n , intricdlt l 'sitc.Linkedlr s

con1mil lcdo carning ndkecpingtsmcmbefs'r. trstn evcf) ' thing inkcdhr ocs.ncluding

prolcct irrgtsmcnbcrs iom attcrnptsy thirdpart ics scmpc hejrdata.

6. l , inkcdln cspondedu' i l i ly o thc )oe )eiir ldants' ct jvi l ies,ncluding romptly

disablinghc lkc nrcnrbcr rol i lcs nd nrplcnlcnlingddit ioualechnical n)lccl ion art icrs. n

addition o thcsenreasules, nd o cnsurc hal i(urc incidcnlsdo not occur- -inkcdln brings his

itct ion 0 dcntify hc Doc )cl 'cndantsrnd o obl:r in crnranon(njunctivcclicl 'halt inghcir

unlawll l condtict. l-hcl)oc )cl indarrt"- ct ivit ics.l notcnioincd.hrcalcn ngoing rd

irrcparablcarm o Linkcclln.ncludingo i ls rcputalion ndsub)_tanlialonsumcfood\+il l .

l , ini icdln ir lher is entit led 0 tsaotual anrtrges,tatLrloryanrngcs.nd/orcxcnrplarylanngcs s

a rosult l thc )oo I)cl-endaDls'iscondLlcl.

. IUI{ISDIC'I ' IONAND VIINUII

7. This Court ras cdclalqucstionjurisdiot ionvcr lr is ct ion LrudcrB i.S.U.

$$ l33land l l3l lbecauscthisact ioDal lcgesviolal ionsolbdcr| lstatutcs,ncludirgtheCI.AA.

l8t l .S.C.S1030,ctseq.,andtheDMCA,7U.S.C.gd1201,ctscq.ThcClourt1as upplcmcntal

j urisdictionover ire state aw causcs f uctionpleadedhercin pursuanto 28 U.S.C. \ l3 67.

11. Vcnue is propcr n this District urdcr 28 U.S.C.g l39l, bccalNc substantiai arl

ofthe evcntsor omissionsgiving rise o theclaintsoccuncd n this l)istricl-

9. In addition,Linkedln's tjscr Agreement overningall users'accesso and useof

the l-inkcdlnwcbsiteand Linlicdln's serviccs rovidcs hat courts ocatcdwilhin thc coo4tyof

SaulaCluua,Califbmia, sballh.rveurisdiciion ovcr anydisputcbetrveen inkcdln and hc Doe

Dettndants.

-2,COMP],AIN1'



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10. During all rclgvan imes, hc Doe Dclendants avcrepcatedly, nowingly, and

intcDtionallyacc€ssed inkcdln's servers ooatcd n this.judicioldist ct witlrout Linkedln's

authorization, nd havcqontractedbr suchaocess, cconing lcgistcredLinkedln mcmbers

subiect o Lid(cdln's ljscr Agrecment. Whilc acccssing inkedln's scrvers, he )oe J)cfendants

madc systcmatic ndcontinuous ontactswith this udicialdislrict,and targeted heir $rongt'ul

act:^ l Linkcdln. which s hcadquarteredn this iudicialdisllicl.

I l. -l'hisis an rrtcllectual rope y action o bc assigned n a districFlvidc basisunder

Civi l Local {ulc3-2(c).

TIII ' PAII ' I ' IES

12. Linkedlu s a Dclawirccorporation jth tsprinclpal lace l busincssn Mounlain

View.Cali lbrnia.

13. l hc Doc DcLcndantsrcpcrsorlsnd/or ntit ics csponsiblcn wholcof in pnl1 lof

thewrongcloinBIIegcclc|cin. At lca"-t'or omcol-thc nlawli l acts l lcgcd crcin. hc )oc

I)clcndanlscSistcrcd)cnrbcr ccolints |r , inkcdln, ubjcct ) hc -inkcdln JscrAgrccnrcnt.

Linkcdln s nlblnrccland cl icvcshalcachol thc Doc )clcnclantsu{icipalcdn, rdl i l ied,

cndoBed, r wls othcn isc nvolvcd n l l teacts onrplaincdl irn(l hul hcyhavc iabil i ly bf such

rcls. Li lrkcdlrrntcnclso scel( xpcditcd lisoovefyo lcarn ho dcntity 11hcDoc DclcndaDtsnd

wil l arrcnd his lomplairti1'and hcr thc dcntit ics l such crsons r cnlit ics nd/or hc scopc l '

theifact i0ns ecomcsnown.

FACTS

Thc Liukcdln ProfcssionalNetrvot.k

14. Linkcdln s theworld's argesl rolcssionalctwork,with over259mil l ion

mcrnbersworidwide and ovcr 84 rnillion mcmbcrs n the United Statcs.Linkedln's mission s to

connect he wotld's prolessionalso nrake hem morcproductivcand succcssful.

15. Through ts proprielaryplatform, Linkedln members reable o creaic.manage nd

share hcir protessiorlaLdeotityonline, build aDdengaSe ith thcir prolessional eiwork,access

sharcd nowledgeand nsights,and ind business ppo unitics,enabling hem to be morc

-3-CoMPLAlr.'T



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producti e andsucccssful.Linkedln's broadcrvision s 10creatccconomicopportunily or cvery

member fthc globalworkforce.

I6. At the hcarl ol Linkedln's plotibrm are ts rnenlbers,who crcale ndividualprofilcs

thatservea"^heir pfolcssionalprofilesandareacccssible y any olhcr membcr.as well as unless

a ficnrberchooses therwisc)anyonewith an Intcnletconncction. Linkedln couDts xecutivcs

liom all 20ll lorlunc 500compunicssnrembers.

17. l- inkedln's orcguiding,aluc s Mcnbels . irst. lecausc inl(cdll l 's nenrbers

c[lmst l- in](cdln , i th hcirprolossionalistorics nd ntcrestsn [, inkedln's itc.Linkcdln s

conmit lcd o camingandkcepingts nrembcrs'rust n evcrything inkcdln locs,ncluri irrg

protecling ts lnenrbcfs inll allcnrptsby lhird partics o scmpe hcir dala.

18. lhc Linkcdln reb$itcsanoriginal opyrightcd ork. .Anrcnghc signif icanl

of iginal lenrsnls l the -inkcdlnwcbsilc r0 hedist inct ivc agc ayout, csign, raphical

clenronls,ndorganizalionl 'mcnlbor rol i lcpagcs nd hc Linkcdln tomcpagcndnows iccl.

l , irrkccllrr 'sJ.S. opyriShtcgislrat ioDsbr hc -inkcdlnwcbsitcncluclclcg.Nos.

IX0007355749,X0007010652.nLt X000745529l.

l9 Linl(cdlnhas nvcstcdndplanso cdlt irLrc 0 nvcsl ubstiut ialiorc. abor. ki l l ,

and inanciolcsolrrccsulo lre lcvclopll]entlndnraintcn ccol lhc l, inkcdln i lc.

l , inl<cdln'sUscrAgrccmcnl

20. Linkcclln s lr,ailable al no cosl o anyonewho wtnts to_ioin ndwlroagrccs o thc

tcflns o ,inkedli's User Agreentcnt nd \'ivacy Policy.r A p()spective ncrllber cgisteN bf an

0ccoulrt y providinga l'irsl name, ast name, mail addross, ndpirssword, ltd agrccing )

I-ir <cdhr's scrAgrectnent ndPrivacy olicy.

21. As dcscribed lrtlrer below, he Doe Dcfeldanls rcgistercd housands f f'ake

membcraccounts spartol thcir datascraping ctivitics. Iror cachof thoscaccounts,he )oe

Defendanis greed o bc boundby Linkedln's Uscr AgrccmeDt.

I Ser http://wr.rrv.1ir'*edin.com/lcgal/user-agrecmenr.

COMPLAlNT



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22.. l,inkedln's lJserAgleemcnt cxplains hat membcrs regrantcda limitcd and

rcvocable iccnsc o acccss ndusc Linkcdlrr n accordance ith the eflns ofthe Uscr Agrecmcnl.

23. Linkedln's User Agrccmentspccilicallyconditionsmcmbers' ight to acccss

LinkcdlnoD hciragreeingot o do so hroughheLNc fdalascrapingcolDologiesnd clatcd

conduct. Ihc agreemcnl talcs, wc granl you a limitcd. rcvocable- onexciusive, onassignablc.

n<.rnsublicenseablcicensc nd ight o acccsshc Scrviccs,hrough gcncri l l ly vailable cb

browser. robile cvice r Linkcdlnauthorizcdpplicationrrl rol lhrough trdPin :spideting

cn rling or othcr technt ogt or sofiru'e usr.l o accc:tslLtl.twithoul h e.\pr?ss 'rilletl cot1sclll

ol Linkedlnor it\ lvlcmbcbr.k) view itllbmrrtion and usc hc ScNices hat wc provideon

I-inkcclln ebpagcsrrrdn aocotdanccith hisAgrccn1cnt."l-nlphasis

ddcd.)

24. I- irrkcdln'sDo's andDon'ts'scction fi ls l jscr Agrccmcnlcitcratcsh l

mcnrbcrs aynot"Lrndcrtrlkc.. l to lu]sonlit l luit l r aulonli l lcdoftwarc, ericcs. cripts obots.

olhcr l lcans r proocsscso lcccss,scrapc, 'crarvl 'ot 'spidcr' ' nywcbpagcs r olhelscrviccs

containcdn thcsitc." l 'hc JscrAgrccnrcnll |. lhcr talcshalnrcnrbcrswil l only nraint{in nc

I-inl icdln ooount tanygi on inrc." lvi l l usc thcirl cl l nrmcandorl lyprcvidcdcoufatc

inl irrmationo Linkcdln.",rndwil l not iolrtc any iBhls l l , inkedln."As dcscribodirrthcr

bclow. hc Doc )clcndants'conducts n I lagtanl iolal ion l each l lhcscprovisi()r ls

Linkcdln's l iccrui(cr Sorvice

25. LinkcdlnRccruitcrs aprcnriLrnrinkedln toduct hatallowscorpuri lLuc ruitcls

and hcadhunlcrso locatc nd fccruit top can(lidates.U[likc I-i icdln's Iicc. basicaccounls br its

nrcmbers.inkedln iccruiler cquires sers t)paya nlonthly 'ec br hcirpremium cccss.

26. LirtkcdlnRecruitcrs oneofl. inkedln's 'astcstrowing crvicesMore han

I 6,000 clicnts andcompanics ay to use Linkcdln Recruiter. Linkedln Rccrtlitcrusers uclude

hLLnanesourccs epartrnontsl soDle fthc mostsucccsslitlcompanicslr lhc counlryanlong

thousands fodrcr large, ncdiumand small busincss nd recruiting inns Ninety of$e Fortune

100companics seLinkedln l.ecruiteror anothcrofLintedln's premium alentsolutions

ploducls.

5-C:OMPLAINT



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21. Corporate ecruitcrs nd headhuntersurchase inkcdln Rccruitermembcrshipsn

ordcr o search br prospcctive andidates mongLinkedln's hundrcdsof millions or nrcrroer

profiles. By using Linkedln Recruitcr's obustandexclusivescarch ools, recruircrs ansearcn

thc cnlire Linkcdln netwolk for top candidatcs' amcsandptoiiles. Recruitcrsmay ocatcand

contactmcmbcrs,ncluding passive andidatcs ho may not be ooking tbr ajob, by aocqssing

Linkcdln's plolcssionalnctwofk tluoLlgh irkcciln Rccruitcr.

l,inkcdln's'l echnol,gicalSafcguards rnd Sccurirv-Mc:NurcsT0 I ' rotectLiukodln Ag:ri st UnauthorizcdAcccss

28. Liukedln 'astidiouslyorks o protecthe ntcgrity ndsccurity f i ts networknd

systcms.Amongolher (hiDgs,1employsan trmy ol lcchnologicalsaLguardsandbarricN

dcsigned 0prcvonl alascrapcrsndoihcrwrongdocrsiorrrgainiDg nauthodzcdoocsso

Linkoclln's itc.

29. Oncsuch alcguards Linkedln's :US|-)rogranr.r[JSI-jnrposcs limit on thc

activi lyLhil l n ndividunl , inkcdlnuscrnrry nit ialc n thcsitc. lhis l imil is ntcndcdo prcvctl l

woulcl-boata ori lpcrs t i l izing utonMtcdcchnologics'ront uic[1y occssingsubslantidl

volunlc l rnclrlbcr roli lcs-.

30. Similarly, inkcdln'sScntinel rogrnrn)onitors ndblocks uspiciousctivi ly

associaledith parl icLrlalnlcrnclProtocol"IP")addrcsscs.2

3l . LinkedlnaLsolnt icipatcdhatdata orapcrs ighldttenlpt creatc mult i tudc l '

lakc rncmbcraccounls.Accordingly,asa seconday ayer of protcction, ,inkedln mplenrentcdts

IJCV systerr o thwart this tnisconduct. fho UCV systemuscsa nunlbcrofparaDrcterso

detcnnineIa ncw account ignup s suspicious.fa suspiciousignup s clentit icd,heUCV

systcm mposes arriers ntcndcd o separatccgitilnateprospcclivemcmbers lom aulomatcdata

scrapingprograms nd bos. Specifically, he UCV sysrcm nkoducesa CAp-l CHAr ticld thal

rcqulresprospcctlve tcnlbcrs o rc-typea word or tcxt thot appearsn obscured, oiored ype.

' An Il'addressn thiscontexts alumerical abelassigncdo each ccess oint o thc nterne(.t

CAPTCHA san"..onym

for "Completely utomated ublicTuring cst o tell ComputersndHumans Dart."

COMPLAINT



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'l'heseobscuredwordsor text irre egib lc o a rcal pcrson anci amiliar to thosepurchasing

concertdckcls, br instance, sa conlmonstcp n an online rcgistralionprocess but difl'icult for

an aulomatcdprogramor bot to recognize.By using C,AP CHA.S,hc IJCV syste prevenlsdala

scrapercrom automatically cgisteringmany new and llegitimatc nembcraccounts.

32. l-ir (edlnalsocmploys echnicalprolocolsdcsigncd o prcvcnlunauthorizcd

autonlatedotsandwcbcrawlcrston accessingthcrw-iscublicly availablc arts f the ,inkedln

site. I(nownas fobots.txli lc, thissaftguind rovides sclol inst lt lcl ionso anyaulonatcd

lcchnologiesisit ing hc -inkcdln itc. Whilc LiDkcdlD'sobots. lxli le docspeDnit omc

u'ebcrawlersc.g.- earch ngiucs uchasGoogle l l l ing) o vicw hc cntirc itc. l prchibjts nd

is ntenclcdo prcvcnt l i lornetcd rogramsikc hoscLrsedy data crapers.

Thc l)oc )ofcndants'D:rtaScrapingAclivit ics

33. l lcl$ccn May 2013anclhcprcscnt,hcDoc )clcndantsnowingly nd

intenlionallyifcLlnlvcntcdrtJSIi, cntincl,hc UCV systcrlr.ho obots.txt rotocol nd/or thcr

l. inkcrl ln ccurity rc surcs n ordcr o cueirgcn thcirdata crapintsct ivi l ics.

34. I)urir lg his irrrc criod. he )oc I)oloDdanlsfoalcdhousandsl r) lolnbcrrccounls

(wi1h trl(c anles ndcontlcl nlbf lr i l t ion) ) ircocssndscli lpe rl i l l iom rnanyLirrkecllnnemb0l

proli lcs.

35. lDordcf o cl-ci l tcachandcvoryoncol-thcscakenrcrnber ccour)ts,hcDoc

l)elcndrnts ad o ag|cc o ahiclc y thc acocss nduse cstf icl ionsn Linkcdlns IJser gfccment,

\thich. irlur rrlrr. prolribit 'scrapirg,spidering, rawliDgor olhcr cchnologyor soliwarcused o

access atawithoul hc cxpress l- i l lcn onsel)t l LinkedlD r ls Mcmbers." nd ccluirehat

nTembcrsr.viLlnlymirintair neLirkedlnaccount tanygivcn inrc"and rvil l usc theirl cal

nameandonly providcaccumle nlbtmation to Linkcdln." 'l'heDoc Delindants knou'ingly

violated ach l ' thesc ccessnduse estrict ionsn cltgagingnthcir unlawl.L ollduot.

36. ln May andJune2013, he Doe Defendants ircumventcdFUSE wlich limits thc

volume ofactivity fbr each ndividualaccount by creatiDghousands fdiflerent ncrv membcr

accourts hrough hc useofvaious automatcd echnologies.Regislcringso many uniquenew

accounts llowcd he I)oc Dcfendantso view iTundrcds flhousandsofnrcmber profiles pcr day.

-7-(ioMPI-AlNt'



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37. At the samc ime, thc l)oc Del'cndallts lsocircumverted he UCV systetn y using

autornatedcchnologics o cgister housands ffikc memberaccor.lnts ithout triggeting he

UCV systcm'smposil ion f C,\P' lCIIAs. -l 'hcDoc Def nclantsrlso ircr,rmventedndbypassed

Linlcdln's robots.txt ile, which specilicallybansand s intcnded o prevcnt hc useol

unaulhorizcd ulomaleddatascrapingptogralnsandbols.

18. In early Seplcmbcr2011, hc l)oc l)el'enda|1tsgaii accesscd-inlicdln's wcbsire

nnd crrgagedn dittascraping hrough he uscofautontatcddatascrapingplogrants. n so doing.

the Doc DelindanlscircumvcntcdLinl(cdln'sScnlinelprogranl. \hich lirlits thc nunlberol-

succcssivccqucsls ade y an I l ' addrcssr sctoJ l) addresscs.hcyalso ircuntvcntedhc

frdlibit ionssct i)[h i Linl(cdln'sobols.rxti lc.

19. [ , i l lkcdln nil ial ly dcnri l icdhcDoc DclrJr]dantsl iscondUothcn t obscrvocllhrt

thousdndsl l irkcmcrnbcf ccountsadcollootivclyicwcdntany ncmbcfproll lcsn a shorl

pcriod l t inrc. , inkcdlndctcrmincclhat hcuscr ccountswcrc lkc allcrclose nspcctionl-

dccounl olai ls cvc.rlcdlciupaltcnls l auk)nlat ioD., inkcdlD bscrvcdhat hcaul(nnalcdots

lhalwerc'un,ringlrcsc akcaccouDts oul(lusccachaccoull(o viown snlallnumbcr l pl l) l i lcs.

thercby ypassingntlcircunrvcntiugjLlSlis pagc icw tcslrict ions.nd henwoLrldrovc on ()

thcncxt cgistercdcoounto vicw addit ional rol i les-

40. Linkedln onductcdr cxtensivenvcstigalionfthc I)oe )clenda nts' isconduct.

In lhccoufso f i ls nvcsligatiolr,1conlpilcd prcadshcctsrackinghe P addrcsscssed y the

Doc )elendants., inkedlnalso dellt i f icd rd catalogedl]e )oc I)ei indants' akenrcmbcr

proii les,hc numbcr f lcgit imatc rof i lcs iowed y each akcmcmber, nd hcdales nd imcsol'

theDoc Delendanls'activily on thc Linkedln \\,cbsite. ,inkcdln disabled hc ti*e DrcmDef

prolilcs and mplementcd dditional echnological al'eguardso protcclagainstunauthorized

acccss ()hc Linkedln site.

41. As a rcsult ofthis investigatio\ Linkedln dctct.mincdhat tlrc Doe Dcfirndants

accessed inkedln using a cioud computingplatlonnoltcred by AmazofiWeb Sen,iccs ,,AWS").

'fhis platform callcd ArnazonElasticComputcCllo[d or Amazon :C2 - allows users ikc the

Doe Delendantso rcnt virtual computcrs n which to rn their own computorprogmnlsand

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applications.AmazonEC2 provides esizable omputingcapacity. fhis fcatureallo\r'susers )

quickly scalecapacity,bothup and down. AmazonEC2 uscrsmay temporarily un hundrcds r

thousaldsofvirtual computingmachines.The Doc l)eftndontsuscdAmazonEC2 to create

virtual machineso run automatcd ots o scrapcdata 'romLinkcdln's *,ebsite.

42. As a result l DoeDelendants'scofAnrazon C2, t , inkcdln xpectso beable o

identify hc )oc I)cfcndantsy servinglt ird-pa(ydiscovc|y n AWS.a I-inkcdln ntendso li lc

nlotions o cxpcdite hesedi$corery requcsts.

Doc DclcndantsHavcCrusedand' l 'hrertcnOngoingand lrrcptrable Injury to Linkcdln

43. I ly cng.Lgiugn thc data crapingncidcnts cscribcd bovc,hc )oc )eiendunts

hayc auscd, nd fnol halledwil l ooDtinuco cause, ngoin iandrreparablcarnt 0Linkcdln, nr variely l *ays.

44. l hc hoLrsandsl l lke nlcnrbcr roll lcs reirtocly thc DoeDelcnd ntsdisrupt nd

dcgradc-inkcd)n's itcandscNiccs y rcducinghcaccuracynd nlcgri lyol thc nlbrmationhc

sitc corrlains. -inkcdln's nrcnlbcNcxpcct hc sitc to conlainaccuratc nd cgitirnatcprolcssi(nul

profl lcs nol usolessiot ions rolicdby ddtd crtpcrs.

45. lhc proscnccl l ir l(c rcnrbcr roli lcs lso rnpairscgit irnatcncmbcrs'abil i ty 0

idcnti lyvalidprofessidralcontncls.n pa(i0ular, ccause,inkcdln nables(snrcDrbcrso vicw

whichuscrs ave ie\\ .eclhcirproli les,egit intatc inkedln scrswhoscproli lcshavcbccn

viewed y a Doc )cfcnddnl singa fakcaccounlmaybc 0onlused r mislcdwhen heysec hatan

unknown,itkcmember as icwed heirproli lcs. ndced,, inkcdlnobscrlcd ome f i ts valid

members ltenpling to conncclwith these ikc nrember rofilcsafternoticiug hat hc fakc

accounlsudvielved hcirprofi lcs.

46. l his type of poliulion to thc Lil)l(cdlnnetwork, l nothaltcd, hreatens ngoilg and

irrcparableharm o the Dlegrityofrhe Linkedln platfonn and Linkcdln's repulalion.Linkedln

a.See ttp://portal.aws.amazon.corr/gplaws/htnl-forms-

controllcr/contactuvAWSAhuse#subpocna.sdetailingproceduresor scrviog hird-partydiscoveryon Amazon o obtain nformation elaling o "suspeclcd buscof AmaT-onllasticConpute Cloud(Amazon ,:C2)").

COMPLAINT



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also will suffcr ongoingand rreparablc ann o the valuc ofils consumer oodwill and rust,

*.hich Linkedln hasworkcd hard or ycars o carn rndmaintain, l the Doc l)cfcndants'conduct

continues.

47. Irurther, y pil l ir ing mcmbcr ato rom thcLinkedli site, hc )oc Deienclanls

misconducthrcatcnso degrade he aluo l l , inkcdln'sRecruiter roducL, hichLinkedlnhas

investcd ubst.rnt ial lyn ovcr hc ycars.Or information ndbclicf, heDoc Dclcndants,ho havc

irvested noncol-thcil ou,1l imc andrcsourccsnto developingand builcling he ,inkcdln platform.

havccngagcd n thcir scrapingactivitics |r an altempl o cstablislr ompcting ccruitingwcbsites

andusurpLinkcdln's {ccruiter Kxluct.

4t i.' lhe

DoeDelendants' r isconc|.rolrlso irs nposedsignit ioanltrr inb n

LinkcdJn's crvcrs,ncludinShroLlShhcuscol lutonlatcdechnoLogicso icw mauymt:rrrbcr

prof i lcs. ' lhcI)ocI)c lcndarl ts ' i l legi t inratcprol i lovicwsjmpaircdl , inl(cdln'sal) i l i ty todcdi

itsseNcrs ()suppor' l imghcactivi l ics l lcgit irnatc inkcdlnnrcnrbcrs.

4.). l . inkcdlnhi|s ul ' lcrcclr|nr o its compulcr yslcnrs,ndh s cxpcndod ignil icant

hunun. ina cial.and cchnologicalcsourccs,ncluding u ndrcds l hours l crnplo)ccimc,

invcsligatingncl cspondingo thc )ocL)clcnchots'rnlawlir lct ivi l ios,t a cost10 . inkcdln l '

Drorchon j;5,000.

rl l tsl Cl,AIM I, 'Oll Rll l , l l l l '

Computcr -raudand AbuscAct, l t l U.S.C. 1030 l scq.

50. Linliedln realleges nd rcorporatcsby ref'ercncc ll ol lhe prcccding aragraphs.

51. Linkcdln-s omputcrsndscrvcrs rc nvolvcd n iDlelslatcnd orcign onlrncrcc

andcommunicalion,ndareprotectedomlutefs ndcr18 U.S.C. 1030(e)(2).

52. Ou inlbrmationand beliel, he Doe l)cfcndantsklowingly and ntcntionall],

ilccesscd i|kgdln's computcrsand scrvelswithout aulhodzationor in exoess fthe aulhorization

permilledunderLinkedln's Uscr Agreenlent nd n circumventionofvadous tcchnicalbarriers

includingFUSF, Scntinel, he JCV systcm. hc robots.txtprotocol,aodadditiorral afeguards

Linkedln hasemployed o proteclLinkedln'scomputers nd scrvcrs rom unatrthodzed cccss.

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53. On nformation ndbelief, ffcrgaining nauthorircdcc€sso Linkcdln's

computersuldscruers,heDoeDcfcndarls btained ndused aluablenformatjonrom

Linkcdln'sprotectcdomputcrs ndseners n tlansaclionsnvolving nterstatc r forcign

communicationsr violation f 18U.S.C.S 1030(a)(2). his nfornrationncludes, mong thcr

things,hecontcnts lmany Lintcdln membcr rofiles, nd hisuse,on inlbrmation ndbeliet,

inuludcs.nrong lhcr hings. istributingh t contcnro6thcn,

5,1. l-lrcDoeDcfindants nowing)y, illf'ully. ndwithan ntent o dcfraud, cccsscd

Linkcdln's omputcrsnd crvcrs ithout uthorizationr n cxcessfauthorizationnd btaincd

valuablenlbrnratioDiom .inkedln'somputcrsnd clvershat, n nlbrrnationncl cl iel.hc

Doe )clcndautsscdo obluin omcthingl valucn violalionf l8 tJ.S.C. 1030(.rxa).55. Linkcdlihas uffercdarnagcnd oss y casonflhcsc iolations,ncluding,

withoutLinril{ti(nl ufin to Linkcdln's olnpulcr ystcms,xl)clrsesssooiatcdith bcing brccd

to nvcstigalcnd cspondo hcufl i lrrthorizodcccssnd busc l i ls computersno orvcrs,ulq

othcr osscs nddanlgc n anarnounlo bcprovcn t rial, n cxccss f$5.000aggrcgdtcdvcr r

orc yoar cfrod.

56. Inacldit ion,,inkedln as ullbrcdndwil l continueo sul' lerrreparablcarm, nd

ils rcmedyll law snot tsclladcquntco compcnsatct for injuriesnllictcdby thc )oc

Dclcndnts, AcootclingLy,inkedlnscnti l lcdo njunclivcciicl ' .

SIiCONDCI-AIM FOII RITLIEF

Crlifornir Comprohcnsivoomputer ccesstndFraudAct,Cal. 'er l Codc$502t scq.

57. Linkcclln callcgesnd icorporatcs y feiercncell ol theprooedingeLragraphs.

5ll. 'Ihc DoeDctbndanls rongfully blaincd ndused aluablenformationionr

Linkcdln's itc, sallcgedbovc.

59. TheDocDel'endantsnor,vingly,raudrrlcntly,ndwithoulpermissionccessedr

causcdo beaccessedinkedln's omputcrs,omputcr ystcms,nd/or omputer ctwork n

vrolrt iun l(hl. PcnrlCodcS502(c)(7).

60. TheDoeDefendantsnowingly, raudulcntly,ndwithoutpcrmissionook, opied

alrd nade seofdata,and iles iom Linkedhr's onputers, omputer ystems,nd/or omputer

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net$,orl(s,ncluding o wrongfully ontrol uch ata,n violation fCal. PcnalCode$ 502(cXl)

&(2).

61. lhc Doe Delendants norvingly, iaudulcntly,and rvithoul pcmrissiotr jsruptcdor

caLrsedhedisruption f l , inkedln'scomputcr crviceso authorizedsers l 'Linkedln's

compulgrs. olr]puter ystcors, nd/orcomputcrnctworks n violation of Cal. PenalCode

Ss02(c)(5).

62. As a dircct andproxinratc csultol'lllc Doc Delendants'unlawtirlconduct, hc Doe

Delendanls vc causcddamage o Linkedln n an anrounl o bc pro\.cnarl rial. Lil*edln is also

entit ledo fccovcr ts rcasonablcttomey'sccspufsuanto California'enalCodc$502(c).

63. L, iukecLlnclicvcshat heDoc )cicndants' clswcre vil l l ir land naliciousn thal

Delir ldants' ots cscfibed bovewcrcdonowith thcdclibemtcntcul1o ulprovc lrcDoc

I)cl indanls' LrsiDcssl Linkcdln's xpensc. inkcdJns thc|clbre nli t lccl )purl i l ivo arnagcs.

64. ln atldit ion.-inkedln as ull l . fcd nd 4il l continuc ( ' ul l ir i l fcpnrxblc arm, nd

ils rcnrcdy t lnw s nol lscl ladcquirtco conrpensc i l l i)r njr| l . icsnll ictcd y hc )oc

Dcl'cndants.ccordingly, inkcdlDs cntit lcclo ir, nct ivcrcl icl.

l t I l lU) cl,AIM IrOli Rlit , I l i l '

Viol l t iorts ol ' l 'bc l)igi(nl Mil lcDniumCopyrigh(Act, l7 U,S.C.S l2{)l ct scq.

65. l- inked)n eallcgesnd ncorporatcsy relcrencc l l ol thcprccoclingaragraphs.

66. l, inkcdlrr mploys alious ycrso1 cchnologicalro(ecliors including IJSE.

Scntincl,hc JCV systern,lheobots.txt rotocol, ndaddit ionalsafcguardsto prolect

l-inkedln's computers nd scrr'crs iom unaulhorized ccess. fhcsc lcchnologioal rotcction

neasures i1 otivelycontrol acccss o drecopyrightedmatedalson Linkedln's servers,ncluding

the Lini<edInwebsite.membcrprofile pages, rrd he Linkedh honcpageand news eed,and

plotcct Li )kcdln's exclusive ighls n thosccopyrightcdmarerials.

67. DespiteLinftedln's besrcllbrts to protect he Linkcdlr site iom the Doe

Dcfcndants'unaulhorized ccess,he Doc Defendanls ircunveuted ,inkcdln's tcchnological

safeguards ilcluding IUSE, SenliDel,he UCV system, hc robots.lxlprotocol,and additional

-12'COMPLAINT



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safcguards andgajncdunauthorized ccesso i,inkedln's copyrightcd laterials, ncluding

wilhout imitat ionhecopyrighled inkcdlnwcbsite,Dviolat ion)1 7 U.S.C. l20l(a).

68. As a resl l olthc Doc Dei'erldants'.ronglulacts, Linledln hassr.rffered.s

conlinuingo sul' fer, ndwil l continueo sullcrdarnagcso beprovcnal tr ial. Linkcdln s urther

cntitlcd io all plollls attribulable o llre Doe Dcfcndants'$ronglul actsb be provenat trial.

Alternatively,pon ls eleolion t any iolc bclofe ln al udgmcnts cnLercd., inkcdln s enlit lcdo

tccover latulu damagesi om theDoeDclcndarls ursuor'r l0 7 lJ.S.C. is 20J br each rol l

circunrvcnlionommilted y thc )oc Dcfcndarnts.

69. lhc I)oeDelendintscircumvclrt ionslsohavc auscd inkcdln lrcparablelrn.

lJl l lesseslraincdndenjolncd.hc [)oc )c]cndanls i l l conlinuo o olnmilsrich cts.

l, inkcdln's enrcdicsl Ia$,arc ()ladcqllatc) conrpcnsalet lor thcsc nll iclcdand hrc tcncd

injul ics, nd hus , inkcdln s 0ntit ledo injunctivc cLicfas rr)vidcd y l7 t l .S.C.-s

1203.

I. 'OUIt l ' I I CI,AIM I-OR ItI |I , IEF

llrcach of Col|ar{ct

70. Linkcdln callcgcs nd ncoqrol 'atcsy |clc|cncc l l of thcp|cceding arirgraphs.

7t . t jsc ofthe l- i l l l (ccl ln cbsitc ndusool l- inkoclln crvioos rcgoverDcdy al)d

subjcct o thc [JscrAgrccnrcnt.

12. Ljnkcdlnmeurbcrsrcprcsctrtcd ith hc ]scfAgfcemcnl ndmuslall lrmativcly

accepthc JscrAgrcenrcnlo rcgistcrbf a l, inkcclln ccounl.

1]. At al l rclcva|t inres. inkcdlnalsopr-orninentlyisplaycd l ink to the iscr

Agreemenl u Linkedln's ontepage.

71. l he Doc DcfcndantscccsscdhcLinkedlnwcbsile rnd t l irnativelyacccltcd nd

agrccd o the UserAgrccmcnt o, amongolhcr things,crcatc lre ake nrcmbcrprolilcsthal cnabled

theDoe Deilndants o access inkedln userprofilesand scrape dta 'romLinkedln's \.vcbsile.

75. Ihe User Agrccmcnt s cnforceablc ndbiudingon the Doc Dcfcndanls.

'76. 'l'heDoe Delendantsepeatedly ccesscdhe Linkcdlnwcbsitewith knowledgeof

the Uscr Agrccmenrandall ol'its prohibitions. Dcspite heir knowledgeol'thc UserAgrccmcnt

and ts prohibitions. he )oc l)clendantsauoesscd ndcontinue1() cccss he Linkcdln website o,

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amongothcr hings, scrape, rawl, or useotherautomatedcchnologyor softuarc o gainaccesso

the Linkedtn *cbsitc without theconscntof Linkedln. Moreovcr, hc Doe Defendantsmaintaincd

morc thanone account indeed, housa[dsol'accounts)at anygiventimc. anddid notprovide heir

real namcsor provide accurale nformation1o ,inkedln.

11. l,inkedln hasbeenunable o contacl hc Doc De|nddnts to dcmand hat theycease

.1nd esist heir data scrapingand othcr -inkcdln-relatcd clivitiesbccause inkedll1docs tot

know he deDti l ies lthc Doc Dcttndants.

78. l'hc l)oc Del'endants' ctions,us dcscribed bovc,havewillfully, repeatedly,urd

systenlatically reachedhe User Agreen'lcnt.

'19.Linkcdlnhaspcrformcd ll ooldit ions, ovcnanls,ndpromiscscquircd f i t in

accordancc ,ith thc User Aglccmcnt.

80. 'l'hc I)oc Dcfcndants' onducthasdanragcd,inkcdln, andcauscd nd continucs10

causcncparablc nd ncalculablcarmand niury o l, inkcdln.

81. l- irkcdln scrl l i l lcd o irt iunctivcclicl.cornpcnsaloryanla8cs,nd/or thcr

cquitrblc elicl.

FIFTTICI,AIM FOR RI'LIEF

'[ rcsptrss

82. Linkcdln callcgcs nd noolporatcsy relercncc l l of theprecedingafagraphs.

81. ' l ' l lcl)oc I)clcndantsntcntionally,nclwilhoutauthofization,cccsscclaud

interacted ith , inkcdln, rcludilrgwithoul inl i tat ion,, inkcdln'swebsitc, ompuler ystcDlsnd

setvcts.

84. The Doe Delendants'aooesso l,inkedln and he nibrmationcontained hcrcin

rcquired he Doe Delendants o abidcby thc [JserAgrccmenl. By violating he ermsofthc Uscr

Agreement, nd I-inkcdln's express ffons to combat heir activitics, he Doe Defbndants

unla*firlly gainedaccesso and ntcrl'ered Dd ntermeddlcdwifh Linkedln, ts websile, omputcr

systcms, nd ts servers.

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85. 'l he Doe Defcndanls'unauthorizgdnterlerencewith and accesso l-inkcdln, ts

wcbsite,computcrsystems, nd ts seNcrs,anong othcr'halms, educes ,inkcdln's capacity o

service ts uscrsbccauset occupies ndusesLinkedln's resources.

86. 'lhe DoeDefcndants' onductconstitutesrespasshat ha$harmedand will

continuco hamr , inkedln.As a result., inkccllDasbeen ndwil l continuco bedamagcd.

87. l,irtl<cdln assufl'erecl ndwill continue o sui'ier rreparahlchamr,and ts rencdy

at law is not itscll adequateo conlpcnsatet ibr injuries nilicted by the l)oc l)ctcnclants.

Accordingly., inkcdln s eDlit lcdo injurrct ivcclict ' .

sIXl ' t t cl.AlM t'oR ttELIItF

MisnDpropriat ion88. Linkccilncallcgcsnd ncoryoratcsy rclcrcnccrl lol lhc prcccding alagraphs.

t39. t . iDkodln as nvestcd ubstantialime,abof, ki l l , ncl ir)oncialcsoufcesnto hc

crcation ndnraintonilncel l , iDkcdln,tscornplitcrystcms udscncrs, ncluding yslcm ud

scn'cr capacily, s wcll as thc contcnl on thc I-inkcdln websilc, vhich is tinrcscnsilir.e.

90. Wilhoutauthorizatior,hc )oc )clandants rongll l ly cccsscd inkcdln's

wcbsilc, omputcr yslcnrsnd scf\,cls. ndobtaiDcdirla roul hc Linkcdlnsitcwithouthaving

to rnokehc substiLDLialrlvcsl,ncntn t in1c,irbof, ki l l ,and inancialcsourccsradc y LinkcdlD.

g L On nli)rnldt ionndbelicl, hc )oc )cf indants ompctowith , inkcdln ndhavc

nradcor itrlend o nr.rke ata 'rom he Linkcdln sitc availablc o thcir riustonrcrs nd othcl third

part ics.As such. hc )oc )cl_endants'scol-l, inkedln's omputcr ystcnls ndservcrs,ncluding

syslemandscNcr oi]paoity, s well asdirta iom lhe Linl(edln si1c, onstilulesiee ridingon

Lirkeclln's ubstanlialnvestmcnlf l imc,cl lbrt,andexpense.

92. As a rcsult f this misdppropriat ion,hc DocDcfendants rongfully ompete,

and-/or nableothcrs o compete, ,ith Linkcdln, and Linkcdln hasbeen brced o cxpend

additional imc and resourccs,ncludingbut not limited to, nvestigating nd respondingo the

Doc Dclendants'activil.ies.

93. LiDkcdlnhasbeenand rvill oonlinue o be danagedas hc rcsult ofthe Doc

Defendan{s' ctso misappropdation.

COMPLAINT



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94. Linkcdlnhas uffered ndwill continueo sufcr ineparablcnjury,and ts remedy

at a$'isnot tselfadequateo comperNatet fbr injuriesnflictedby theDoeDefendants.

PRAYERT'ORRELIEF

WIIEREFORE, inkedlnprays hatjudgment c e ered n its avorandagainst

theDocDcf'cndanls,s bllowsr

1. A preliminarl,njunction ndpermancrltnjunclion njoinilgand

rcstrainingll DoeDefendants,heiremployecs,eprescntatives,gents,ndall personsr cntities

actingn conccrtwith thcmduring hependcncyfthis action nd herealler crpetuallyiom

accessingI usingLinkedln'swcbsjtc or any0onmercial ulposewhatsoever,

2. An ordcr c<luiringheDoeDcfcndantso dcstroy ll documents,ata, nd

othcr tems, lcclronic r olherwisc,n thcirpossession,ustody, r control,hatwcrcwroDgfully

copiediorr l ., inkedln'sebsitc,

3. An award o Linkedlnof rcstitution rd damagcs,nch.tdirrg,utnot imited

to. compcnsatory,tatutory,reble amages,|rdpunitive amagcs,spcrrnitled y aw;

4. An awardo Linkcdlr l i lsoosts fsuit, ncluding,utnot imiled o,

reosonablcllorDey's'bcs, spermitted y aw; 1d

5. Sucholher cliefas hcCourtdeemsjust ndpropcr.

DIiMANDTOR.'URYTIIIAL

LinkcdlnTerebycmandsjury rialolall ssuesn theabovc-captionedctionhatare

triablco ajury.

DATED:January, 2014 MLINGEI{, OLLF]S OLSON

Altomeysfor Linkedln Coryortation

linkedin v. does cfaa and dmca

Documents