Global Media Network; William Scales v. Apple Music

Background

William Scales filed this action pro se, meaning without a lawyer, in his own name and in the name of his company, Global Media Network (GMN). The opinion states that an earlier order barred Scales from filing future civil actions without paying filing fees in this court, either in his own name or in his companies’ names, unless he first obtained permission from the court. That restriction took effect on July 23, 2025.

Scales did not pay the filing fees or ask for permission to file this action. Because the fees were unpaid, the court assumed for purposes of this order that he was seeking to proceed without paying filing fees. The court also noted that GMN could not proceed without a lawyer or seek that status because it is an artificial entity. The opinion states that the court had previously warned Scales about filing cases for artificial entities without counsel.

Ruling

Judge Laura Taylor Swain dismissed the action without prejudice because Scales failed to comply with the earlier filing-restriction order. The order therefore did not decide the underlying dispute with Apple Music. The court directed the Clerk of Court to enter judgment.

The court also certified under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to proceed without paying filing fees for purposes of an appeal.

Classification

This is a procedural order. The court dismissed the action for failure to comply with a filing restriction and did not reach the merits of the claims.