Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe subscriber assigned IP address 72.69.224.49
- 7:25-cv-07403
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 2
In Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe, the court allowed early subpoenas to identify the subscriber assigned an IP address.
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC, the John Doe defendant associated with IP address 72.69.224.49, Verizon Fios, and any other internet service provider identified in response to a subpoena.
What happened
In Strike 3 Holdings, LLC v. John Doe subscriber assigned IP address 72.69.224.49, Strike 3 Holdings asked to serve a subpoena before the parties held their required early case conference. The request sought information identifying the subscriber assigned the listed IP address.
The court found that Strike 3 Holdings had shown good cause and allowed it to serve Verizon Fios with a subpoena for the defendant’s true name and address. The plaintiff may also subpoena another internet service provider identified in response to a subpoena. The plaintiff may use the information only to protect and enforce the rights described in its complaint.
The order also required Verizon Fios to notify the defendant if Verizon Fios qualifies as a cable operator under federal law. The court entered the order on October 6, 2025; the judge’s name is not legible in the provided text.
The detailed version
- Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe subscriber assigned IP address 72.69.224.49 · No. 7:25-cv-07403
- Oct. 6, 2025
Background
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC filed a motion seeking permission to serve a third-party subpoena before the parties’ Rule 26(f) conference. The subpoena was directed to Verizon Fios, identified in the order as the internet service provider, and sought the true name and address of the defendant associated with IP address 72.69.224.49.
Ruling
The court found that Strike 3 Holdings had established “good cause” to serve the subpoena. It authorized the plaintiff to serve Verizon Fios with a subpoena under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45 and required the plaintiff to attach a copy of the order.
The order also authorized Strike 3 Holdings to serve a Rule 45 subpoena on any other internet service provider identified in response to a subpoena as providing internet services to one of the defendants. The information obtained from a subpoena served on Verizon Fios may be used only to protect and enforce the rights described in the complaint.
If Verizon Fios qualifies as a “cable operator” under 47 U.S.C. § 522(5), the order requires it to comply with 47 U.S.C. § 551(c)(2)(B) by sending a copy of the order to the defendant to provide the required notice. The provided text does not identify the judge by name; the signature is not legible.
Read the full 2-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.