Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe Subscriber Assigned IP Address 73.202.250.102
- Joseph Spero
- 3:26-cv-08676
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 3
In Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe, Judge Spero allowed early subpoenas seeking the subscriber’s identity from Comcast and other internet providers.
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC; the unidentified subscriber associated with IP address 73.202.250.102; Comcast Cable Communications, LLC; any other internet service provider identified through the subpoenas; and subscribers whose information is sought.
What happened
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC sued an unidentified subscriber associated with IP address 73.202.250.102 and asked to identify that person before the parties’ required early case meeting. It sought permission to subpoena Comcast Cable Communications, LLC.
The order allows Strike 3 Holdings to subpoena Comcast for the defendant’s true name and address. It also allows subpoenas to other internet providers identified through the process. The providers must notify affected subscribers, who may challenge the subpoenas within 30 days.
Judge Joseph C. Spero found good cause for the early subpoenas and issued the requested order. The order requires providers to preserve the requested information and limits Strike 3 Holdings’ use of disclosed information to protecting its rights under the Copyright Act.
The detailed version
- Strike 3 Holdings v. John Doe Subscriber Assigned IP Address 73.202.250.102 · No. 3:26-cv-08676
- Joseph Spero
- Sept. 14, 2026
Background
Strike 3 Holdings, LLC asked for permission to serve a third-party subpoena before the parties held the conference required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f). The subpoena seeks the true name and address of the defendant associated with IP address 73.202.250.102.
Ruling
The court found that Strike 3 Holdings had shown “good cause” to serve the subpoena. It authorized Strike 3 Holdings to serve Comcast Cable Communications, LLC with a subpoena under Rule 45 seeking the defendant’s true name and address. A copy of the order must accompany the subpoena.
The court also authorized Strike 3 Holdings to serve the same type of subpoena on any internet service provider identified in response to a subpoena as providing internet service to the defendant. The order treats the authorized subpoenas as court orders permitting disclosure under 47 U.S.C. § 551, subject to the statute’s requirements.
Notice and Challenges
Each internet service provider has 30 days after service to notify each subscriber whose information is sought by providing a copy of the subpoena and the order. Each subscriber and provider then has 30 days after service on that person or entity to file a motion challenging the subpoena, including a motion to quash or modify it. If no timely challenge is filed, the provider has 10 days to produce the responsive information.
Providers must preserve the subpoenaed information while awaiting production or final resolution of a timely motion to quash. Information disclosed in response to a subpoena may be used only to protect Strike 3 Holdings’ rights under the Copyright Act. The order also states that information concerning any current or proposed defendant must be filed under seal and not otherwise disclosed.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.