In 2022, Strike 3 Holdings LLC of Delaware expanded its copyright protection procedures to include Hawaii. Since the beginning of June 2022, Strike 3 has filed 135 lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Honolulu to combat alleged piracy of the company’s adult films. 

In collaboration with Christian Kamau and his firm, Virtuesq, which prides itself on “merging modern legal expertise with the spirit of Hawaii”, this litigation campaign has been vigorous. Court records reveal that nearly all but about two dozen of these cases have likely settled, indicating an aggressive and largely successful legal strategy by the company.

Who is Strike 3 Holdings?

Strike 3 Holdings is an adult entertainment company known for its aggressive pursuit of piracy lawsuits in U.S. federal courts. The company has already filed a record-breaking 2,000 cases in the first half of this year and is well on its way to breaking its previous record of 3,699 cases in 2023. Often described as a “copyright troll” and self-dubbed the “Steven Spielberg of porn”,  Strike 3 Holdings targets alleged piracy of its films distributed on its brand sites “Tushy,” “Blacked,” and “Vixen.”

The company claims in court documents that its legal actions are intended to protect its cinema, which it asserts has had a positive global impact. In court documents, Strike 3 also claims to be “famous for redefining adult content, creating high-end, artistic, and performer-inspiring motion pictures produced with a Hollywood style budget and quality”. However, critics including lawyers and judges see it differently. They argue that Strike 3 coerces individuals into quick settlements to avoid the public embarrassment of being associated with downloading and sharing adult content via BitTorrent.

Why the Controversy?

Strike 3 Holdings’ legal strategy begins with filing a lawsuit against an unnamed John Doe defendant, identified only by his or her IP address. The company’s lawyer then requests a court’s permission to subpoena the internet service provider for the subscriber’s name, which the court usually grants. After obtaining the name, Strike 3’s lawyer often files a motion to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, indicating that the case has been settled or the company has decided to move on. 

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia criticized Strike 3 and other “copyright trolls,” characterizing them as bullies who target the vulnerable and retreat at the first sign of resistance. “If a Billy Goat Gruff moves to confront a copyright troll in court, the troll cuts and runs back under its bridge,” Lamberth wrote. “Perhaps the trolls fear a court disrupting their rinse-wash-and-repeat approach: file a deluge of complaints; ask the court to compel disclosure of the account holders; settle as many claims as possible; abandon the rest.” 

Although there have been some notable cases where the defendant has taken the case to trial, fought back, and won, it seems that overall Strike 3’s copyright policy is financially beneficial, leading them to continue filing thousands of lawsuits yearly.

Contact Rosenblum Law Today

If you have been served with a cease-and-desist letter, demand letter, subpoena, or lawsuit from Strike 3 or any other company accusing you of copyright infringement, contact Rosenblum Law today. Our experienced attorneys can use the best legal strategies to keep you out of a lawsuit, protect your anonymity, and keep your settlement costs as low as possible. Reach out to 888-815-3649 or email us for a free consultation today.