Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 1 of 22

1 Damien J. Marshall (pro hac vice forthcoming)

[email protected]
2 BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP
55 Hudson Yards, 20th Floor
3 New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 446-2300
4 Facsimile: (212) 446-2350

5 Mark C. Mao (SBN 236165)

[email protected]
6 Matthew Chou (SBN 325199)
[email protected]
7 BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP
44 Montgomery Street, 41st Floor
8 San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone: (415) 293-6800
9 Facsimile: (415) 293-6899
L L P

10 Menno Goedman (SBN 301271)

[email protected]
11 BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP
F L E X N E R

1401 New York Avenue, N.W.

D . C .

12 Washington, D.C. 20005

Telephone: (202) 237-2727
13 Facsimile: (202) 237-6131
W A S H I N G T O N

14 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Ripple Labs Inc.

S C H I L L E R

and Bradley Garlinghouse

15

16 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

17 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

B O I E S

18 RIPPLE LABS INC., a Delaware corporation; No. 3:20-cv-02747

and BRADLEY GARLINGHOUSE,
19 an individual,
COMPLAINT FOR:
20 Plaintiffs,
(1) Violations of the Lanham Act for
21 v. Trademark Infringement
22 YOUTUBE, L.L.C., a Delaware company (2) Violations of California’s Statutory
and Common Law Right of
23 Defendant. Publicity
24 (3) Violations of California’s Unfair
Competition Law
25
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
26

27

28

COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 2 of 22

1 INTRODUCTION

2 Plaintiffs Ripple Labs Inc. and Bradley Garlinghouse, by and through their attorneys, bring this

3 Complaint against Defendant YouTube, L.L.C. for injunctive relief and damages. Plaintiffs allege as

4 follows:

5 1. Over the past several months, Ripple and Mr. Garlinghouse have suffered—and continue

6 to suffer—irreparable harm to their public image, brand, and reputation as a direct consequence of

7 YouTube’s deliberate and inexplicable failure to address a pervasive and injurious fraud occurring on its

8 platform.

9 2. This fraud—often and dubiously named “the XRP 1 Giveaway” (the “Scam”)—is a third-

10 party attack on Ripple’s brand, Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation, and XRP holders worldwide. To be sure,
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11 the Scam—a pervasive and extended course of conduct detailed in the allegations that follow—often
F L E X N E R

12 relies upon spear phishing attacks, hacked YouTube accounts, and the misappropriation of Mr.
D . C .

13 Garlinghouse’s likeness and Ripple marks. But it also depends on, and thrives because of, YouTube’s
W A S H I N G T O N

14 complacency and unwillingness to take seriously Ripple’s repeated demands for action.
S C H I L L E R

15 3. The Scam has been replicated many times over by numerous, unidentified bad actors.

16 Each day that passes brings new iterations of the same essential Scam, each of which leaves countless

17 victims in its wake. While Plaintiffs cannot know the precise number of defrauded individuals, the
B O I E S

18 scope of the harm is vast. Millions of people have viewed the Scam. A single instance of the Scam

19 reportedly resulted in $15,000 of stolen XRP. To date, Plaintiffs believe and allege that the Scam has

20 defrauded victims out of millions of XRP valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

21 4. The Scam has also irreparably harmed Ripple’s brand and Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation.

22 By infringing on Ripple’s protected trademarks and misappropriating Mr. Garlinghouse’s image and

23 likeness, the Scam fosters the false belief that Ripple and Mr. Garlinghouse are somehow associated

24 with or to blame for the Scam (they are not), and introduces profound uncertainty and confusion into the

25 broader digital asset market.

26 5. Ripple has repeatedly demanded that YouTube take action to stop the Scam and prevent

27 further harm. Yet YouTube refuses, even where the same scheme is replicated time and again on its
1
28 XRP is the digital asset native to the XRP Ledger, an open-source, distributed-ledger technology.
1
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 3 of 22

1 platform. YouTube’s response has been woefully inadequate and incomplete. As a result, Ripple and

2 Mr. Garlinghouse continue to suffer substantial reputational harm.

3 6. YouTube can—and must—do better. YouTube regularly touts its robust tools for self-

4 regulating content on its platform, which purportedly include “cutting-edge machine learning

5 technology” and a sprawling network of human reviewers. But in this case, faced with a pervasive

6 Scam, YouTube chose, and continues to choose, inaction.

7 7. YouTube’s inaction undermines its public commitments. YouTube’s Community

8 Guidelines purport to ban “scams,” which are defined as “[c]ontent offering cash gifts, ‘get rich quick’

9 schemes, or pyramid schemes[.]” Ex. 1. As an example of an impermissible “scam,” YouTube cites

10 content that “make[s] exaggerated promises, such as claims that viewers can get rich fast.” Id.
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11 YouTube’s Community Guidelines thus bar precisely the sort of content at issue in this case. Yet
F L E X N E R

12 YouTube has ignored Ripple’s repeated demands for action and instead enabled the Scam to flourish.
D . C .

13 8. Not only has YouTube failed to stop the Scam, YouTube has also substantially assisted it.
W A S H I N G T O N

14 9. First, YouTube has profited from the Scam by aiding and abetting the scammers.
S C H I L L E R

15 YouTube, after it was informed about the Scam on countless occasions, sold and helped the scammers

16 disseminate advertisements—so-called “video discovery ads”—to get more YouTube visitors to view

17 and click on videos perpetuating the Scam. Ex. 2. Every such video posted on YouTube generates
B O I E S

18 revenue by providing a vehicle through which YouTube can deliver Scam ads on behalf of the

19 scammers. YouTube maintains its business by maximizing advertising revenue. It has succeeded:

20 YouTube generated more than $15 billion in revenue last year through ads alone and is growing at a

21 breakneck annual pace of about 36 percent. Ex. 3 at 29.

22 10. Second, YouTube has expressly (but falsely) validated the Scam as legitimate. By

23 awarding a “verification badge” to a hacked channel that was impersonating Plaintiffs in furtherance of

24 the Scam, YouTube communicated to hundreds of thousands of viewers and subscribers that the hacked

25 account was “the official channel of a creator, artist, company, or public figure.” This was completely

26 false and profoundly harmful.

27 11. YouTube’s refusal to take appropriate remedial action compels Ripple to seek relief from

28 the Court. The Court should compel YouTube to fulfill its legal obligations, to discontinue its policy of
2
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 4 of 22

1 willful inaction, and to prevent further irreparable harm to Ripple’s brand and Mr. Garlinghouse’s

2 reputation, which, in turn, will prevent further financial injury to the individuals who are duped by the

3 Scam. Absent a court order obligating YouTube to act, the Scam will undoubtedly continue to flourish

4 and create countless more victims.

5 PARTIES

6 12. Plaintiff Ripple Labs Inc. is a leading enterprise blockchain company founded on a

7 simple but powerful idea: to enable financial institutions to instantly and reliably send money across

8 borders for fractions of a penny. Ripple’s global payments network has over 300 enterprise customers

9 across 40 countries. Ripple employs more than 450 individuals in nine global offices. Ripple is a

10 Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California.
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11 13. Plaintiff Bradley Garlinghouse is the CEO of Ripple and resides in California.
F L E X N E R

12 14. Defendant YouTube is a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of
D . C .

13 business in San Bruno, California.

W A S H I N G T O N

14 JURISDICTION
S C H I L L E R

15 15. The Court has federal question jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331, over Ripple’s

16 first cause of action for contributory liability for trademark infringement in violation of the Lanham Act,

17 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1).
B O I E S

18 16. The Court has supplemental jurisdiction, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367, over Ripple’s

19 second and third state law causes of action—for misappropriating the right of publicity and for violating

20 California’s Unfair Competition Law—because each of these claims arises out of the same nucleus of

21 operative fact as Ripple’s federal claim.

22 17. Venue is proper in the Northern District of California pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).

23 18. The Court has general personal jurisdiction over YouTube because the company’s

24 principal place of business is at 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, California, 94066.

25 FACTS

26 A. Ripple’s success and the value of its marks.

27 19. Ripple was created in 2012 to realize its founders’ vision of a world where money can

28 move as quickly and securely as information—a concept referred to as the Internet of Value.
3
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 5 of 22

1 20. Ripple offers a suite of enterprise software products to make the Internet of Value a

2 reality. These products facilitate interbank communications and transaction settlement, source liquidity

3 for financial institutions, and offer a payment interface where corporations, payment providers, and

4 banks can seamlessly and transparently make global payments. As of 2020, Ripple counts more than

5 300 financial institutions as customers.

6 21. XRP is the digital asset native to the XRP Ledger, an open-source, distributed-ledger

7 technology. Ripple’s customers can use XRP for sourcing liquidity in cross-border transactions, thereby

8 ensuring instant settlement, lower exchange fees, and more efficient use of working capital.

9 22. Mr. Garlinghouse became CEO of Ripple in 2017. In this role, Mr. Garlinghouse serves

10 as the public face of Ripple. He is a trusted and respected voice on Ripple and is a public thought leader
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11 on issues relating to financial technology and digital assets.

F L E X N E R

12 23. As Ripple has grown, so too has the value of Ripple’s brand. Ripple owns trademarks
D . C .

13 that include, but are not limited to, “Ripple,” “Ripple Labs,” and the company’s distinctive triskelion
W A S H I N G T O N

14 logo, which consists of three connected circles.

S C H I L L E R

15 24. These marks are registered as follows:

16

17
B O I E S

18

19 Serial: 86577810 Serial: 85774758

Registration: 4850428 Registration: 4453543
20 Date: Nov. 10, 2015 Date: Dec. 24, 2013
21

22

23

24
Serial: 86052926 Serial: 86581262
25 Registration: 4528771 Registration: 4841452
Date: Aug. 30, 2013 Date: Oct. 27, 2015
26

27

28
4
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 6 of 22

1 25. The terms “Ripple” and “Ripple Labs” are registered as standard character marks, such

2 that the single word mark protects the phrase regardless of the font, size, or color used. The triskelion

3 logo trademark is registered and protected without regard to color. All of Ripple’s registered trademarks

4 are distinctive, non-functional, and have no secondary meaning.

5 26. Ripple’s brand and marks define its identity and are at the core of how the company

6 represents itself to the public.

7 B. YouTube has the means to stop the Scam, but refuses to do so.

8 27. YouTube is a video-sharing platform that generates $15 billion in annual revenue,

9 making it one of the internet’s largest publishers. YouTube’s primary source of revenue comes from

10 selling ads to third parties. Although these ads come in several varieties, the source of revenue is
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11 essentially the same: YouTube profits from its users and creators.
F L E X N E R

12 28. YouTube enables its users to view, post, and comment on video content. All of this
D . C .

13 occurs on YouTube’s platform, hosted at www.YouTube.com.

W A S H I N G T O N

14 29. YouTube “creators”—the term for users who post videos—can also set up their own
S C H I L L E R

15 “channel,” which makes it easier for users to find all of a creator’s content in one place. These channels

16 allow creators to develop a following. The most popular YouTube channels have amassed more than

17 one hundred million subscribers worldwide. Because of this reach, YouTube is a valuable tool for
B O I E S

18 reaching vast audiences.

19 30. YouTube has robust tools to self-regulate content on its platform. There is no doubt that

20 YouTube is capable of identifying, flagging, and removing fraudulent content, including content similar

21 to the kinds of videos at issue in the Scam. YouTube regularly touts these capabilities and, in particular,

22 highlights its ability to use these tools to detect misleading and fraudulent scams. Ex. 4.

23 31. YouTube’s Community Guidelines purport to bar “scams” and “other deceptive practices

24 that take advantage of the YouTube community.” Ex. 1. Included in YouTube’s definition of “scams”

25 is “content offering cash gifts, ‘get rich quick’ schemes, or pyramid schemes (sending money without a

26 tangible product in a pyramid structure).” Id. As an example of a prohibited scam, YouTube cites

27 content that makes “exaggerated promises, such as claims that viewers can get rich fast,” promotes

28
5
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 7 of 22

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Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 10 of 22

1 37. For example, YouTube profits from the Scam by knowingly selling paid ads on behalf of

2 the fraudsters who are impersonating Ripple and Mr. Garlinghouse. These ads—so-called “video

3 discovery ads”—are designed by YouTube to appear at the top of its search result page alongside

4 organic search results. Such ads were presented to YouTube by the scammers, as ad units and creatives

5 showing the fraud and pointing to the Scams, after YouTube was repeatedly informed of the schemes.

6 YouTube then approved them, uploaded them, endorsed them, and optimized them to attract as many

7 YouTube users and clicks as possible, based on its algorithms and search engine optimization

8 techniques. These advertisements are presented to YouTube users who search for terms such as, among

9 others, “Ripple” and “Brad Garlinghouse”:

10
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11
F L E X N E R

12
D . C .

13
W A S H I N G T O N

14
S C H I L L E R

15 38. When a YouTube user clicks on the ad, the user is taken directly to a YouTube channel
16 running the Scam, usually some permutation of what is discussed herein. YouTube is paid to optimize

17 the ads by revenue share. Here, YouTube sought to yield as many clicks as possible for the fraudsters,
B O I E S

18 and to optimize its own revenue. YouTube thus knowingly aids the Scam and profits from it.

19 39. YouTube has also actively promoted the Scam through its use of “verification badges.”
20 40. Take the case of popular YouTube creator MarcoStyle, who at the time of the incident
21 owned a channel with approximately 361,000 subscribers. MarcoStyle’s YouTube account was hacked

22 on November 3, 2019. Ex. 9. Thereafter, the name of his YouTube channel was changed from

23 “MarcoStyle” to “Edwinsyah,” and the channel’s profile image was modified to feature a picture of Mr.

24 Garlinghouse. Several days later—with hackers still in control—YouTube inexplicably awarded the

25 channel a verification badge, which YouTube purports to reserve for channels that are “authentic.” Ex.

26 10. This one instance of the Scam resulted in at least $15,000 of stolen XRP.

27

28
9
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 11 of 22

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Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 12 of 22

1 46. At Ripple’s direction, its vendor utilized a proprietary platform to rapidly detect, verify,

2 and respond to new occurrences relating to the Scam.

3 47. Since November 2019, Ripple has submitted 49 takedown demands to YouTube that

4 relate directly to the Scam. An additional 305 takedown demands were served on YouTube in

5 connection with accounts and channels that were impersonating Mr. Garlinghouse or infringing on

6 Ripple’s brand, likely for the purpose of monetizing the Scam.

7 48. YouTube ignored or otherwise failed to address many of these takedown demands.

8 Where YouTube took action, it did so belatedly. The following is a representative sample of YouTube’s

9 deficient responses:

10 • On November 12, 2019, Ripple submitted a takedown notice to YouTube regarding a hacked
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YouTube channel with 21,600 subscribers that falsely claimed to be “Brad Garlinghouse [Ripple
11 CEO]” and actively promoted the Scam. Ripple sent 13 additional takedown notices to
F L E X N E R

12 YouTube in connection with this channel. The channel remained active for more than two
D . C .

months until finally being taken down on or around February 19, 2020.
13
• On January 2, 2020, Ripple submitted a takedown notice to YouTube in connection with a
W A S H I N G T O N

14 hacked YouTube channel belonging to YouTube creator Festinha do Rodil with 327,000
S C H I L L E R

subscribers. Ex. 12 at 5. YouTube took corrective action three weeks later on January 22, 2020.
15

16 • On January 21, 2020, Ripple submitted a takedown notice to YouTube regarding a channel that
promoted the Scam. Ripple submitted 8 additional takedown notices to YouTube in connection
17 with this channel. The channel remained active on YouTube until on or around March 18, 2020.
B O I E S

18 • On January 27, 2020, Ripple submitted a takedown notice to YouTube in connection with a
19 hacked YouTube channel belonging to verified YouTube creator BestGuyEver with 96,400
subscribers. Ex. 13. The channel posted several videos promoting the Scam. YouTube delayed
20 until February 3, 2020 to take corrective action.

21 49. Meanwhile, new iterations of the Scam continue to appear on YouTube, often amassing

22 thousands of views and creating more victims by the day. For example, in the lead up to filing this

23 Complaint, the following content was visible on YouTube:

24 • Content posted on March 19, 2020 by YouTube user “Ripple Inc” promoting the Scam. 3 As of
April 20, 2020, the video had been viewed 14,761 times.
25

26

27
3
28 Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v60eXopL3yI (last visited Apr. 20, 2020).
11
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 13 of 22

5 • Content posted on April 11, 2020 by YouTube user “XRP Official” promoting the Scam. 4 Three
days later, the video had been viewed 1,710 times.
6

10 • Content posted on April 19, 2020, by YouTube user “Ripple Labs” promoting the Scam. 5 As of
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April 20, 2020, the video had been streamed 20,385 times.
11
F L E X N E R

12
D . C .

13
W A S H I N G T O N

14
S C H I L L E R

15

16 50. In addition to these specific remedial failures, YouTube has also failed entirely to take

17 proactive steps to prevent the fraud from continuing to occur. As a result, new iterations of the Scam
B O I E S

18 appear on YouTube almost every day.

19 51. A recent instance of the Scam—which occurred months after YouTube was put on

20 notice—involves the YouTube channel of popular creator Mesa Sean. Mesa Sean controls a YouTube

21 channel that had, at the time, 282,000 subscribers. On March 31, 2020, hackers took control of Mesa

22 Sean’s YouTube channel, changed the name of the channel to “Ripple Foundation,” misappropriated

23 Mr. Garlinghouse’s image, and began posting videos falsely promoting a fictitious XRP giveaway. 6

24 52. In another recent instance of the Scam in late March, a scammer hacked or created a

25 YouTube channel named “Brad Garlinghouse” that misappropriated Mr. Garlinghouse’s name and

26 4
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5cLQvEGE1k (last visited Apr. 20, 2020).
5
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svt-bmZeOto (last visited Apr. 20, 2020).
27 6
Mesa Sean (@MesaSean), Twitter (Mar. 31, 2020, 12:32 PM), available at
28 https://twitter.com/MesaSean/status/1245026128638730241 (last visited Apr. 14, 2020).
12
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 14 of 22

1 image, and began posting videos promoting the Scam. One concerned YouTube user attempted to

2 notify YouTube of this instance of the Scam. Despite this notification, YouTube did not immediately

3 take down the channel, and the next day the same YouTube user was receiving ads—promoted by

4 YouTube through its “video discovery ads”—for a video on this fraudulent channel that already had

5 85,000 views.

10
L L P

11
F L E X N E R

12
D . C .

13
W A S H I N G T O N

14
S C H I L L E R

15

16

17
B O I E S

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26 53. Each instance of the Scam is substantially similar. The hacked YouTube accounts adopt

27 a name that incorporates Ripple and/or Mr. Garlinghouse; they misappropriate Ripple trademarks or Mr.

28 Garlinghouse’s likeness as their user “image”; they post video content relating to Ripple and/or Mr.
13
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 15 of 22

1 Garlinghouse; and they use the terms “XRP” and “Giveaway” prominently throughout the videos.

2 There is no question that YouTube has the capacity to take down any and all accounts that carry the

3 indicia of the Scam. What YouTube lacks is the will to do so.

4 E. YouTube’s deliberate inaction irreparably harms Ripple’s brand and Mr.

Garlinghouse’s reputation, and victimizes countless others.
5

6 54. YouTube’s deliberate inaction has irreparably harmed—and continues to irreparably

7 harm—Ripple’s brand and Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation. YouTube’s inaction has also injured

8 countless individuals who fell victim to the Scam. These harms will continue to grow in scope and

9 severity absent intervention by the Court.

10 55. For the past several months, Ripple has received an onslaught of correspondence from
L L P

11 victims demanding that Ripple take responsibility for the Scam, including by making them whole.
F L E X N E R

12 Many of these messages ascribe culpability for the Scam to Ripple and Mr. Garlinghouse, and otherwise
D . C .

13 demonstrate the reputational harm at stake:

W A S H I N G T O N

14 • A message asserting that the Scam involves “a youtube page made by Ripple” and that “[o]ur
trust over [Ripple] is questioned”;
S C H I L L E R

15
• A message emphasizing the threat of “a big SCAM” and warning to “be carefull [sic] [of] your
16 reputation”;
17
• A message stating “that these kind of actions and pages [are] hurting your reputation as a
company” and that “you as a company should prevent these fraudulences”;
B O I E S

18

19 • A message stating the Scam “is becoming an epidemic,” warning that the Ripple name will get
“hurt,” and accusing that “[n]othing is getting done about it, as more victims pile up”;
20
• A message reporting a loss of XRP, noting that the Scam “cannot be good for the brand,” and
21 demanding Ripple “take corrective action”;
22
• A message asking if Ripple “tolerate[s] false accounts” before proclaiming that “Ripple itself is
23 not reliable”;

24 • A message notifying Ripple of a hacked YouTube channel and stating that “many people are
blaming your company for hacking other user’s accounts”; and
25

26 • A message accusing Ripple and Mr. Garlinghouse of being the entities responsible for the
hacking of popular YouTube channels.
27

28
14
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 16 of 22

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Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 17 of 22

1 60. The harm to Ripple’s brand and Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation is irreparable and

2 unquantifiable. YouTube’s continued refusal to timely address the fraud perpetrated on its platform can

3 and must be stopped.

4 CLAIMS FOR RELIEF

5 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF

6 Contributory Trademark Infringement

7 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1)

8 61. Plaintiffs repeat and re-allege all allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 60,

9 inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.

10 62. Scammers have created fake accounts and/or used hacked accounts to infringe Ripple’s
L L P

11 valid and protected trademarks. These fake and/or hacked accounts and their channels prominently
F L E X N E R

12 display Ripple’s trademarks, so that the accounts falsely and misleadingly present to YouTube users as
D . C .

13 official Ripple accounts.

W A S H I N G T O N

14 63. These fake and/or hacked accounts display and use—and therefore infringe upon—
S C H I L L E R

15 several of Ripple’s protected trademarks, including “Ripple,” “Ripple Labs,” and Ripple’s triskelion

16 logo. The trademarks often accompany CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s name and likeness and Ripple-related

17 videos, such as interviews of Mr. Garlinghouse or other Ripple executives. The use of Ripple’s
B O I E S

18 trademarks and Mr. Garlinghouse’s likeness in these accounts has caused customer confusion. This

19 confusion has led individuals to fall victim to the Scam because they (erroneously) understood these

20 accounts to be legitimate and formally affiliated with Ripple. This confusion will continue absent a

21 court order.

22 64. YouTube also generates revenue from the infringing conduct, including after it was

23 informed of the Scam. YouTube has sold—and will continue to sell—paid ads to the fraudsters engaged

24 in the infringing conduct. When a YouTube user clicks on such a “video discovery ad,” he or she is

25 taken directly to a YouTube channel that is running the Scam. YouTube thus profits from the

26 infringement of Ripple’s marks.

27 65. YouTube knew, or had reason to know, that the hacked accounts infringed on Ripple’s

28 trademarks. YouTube had actual knowledge of many fake and/or hacked accounts that were engaged in
16
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 18 of 22

1 the Scam by virtue of Ripple’s repeated takedown notices. Moreover, YouTube had and currently has

2 constructive knowledge of the Scam because each iteration of the Scam was and is substantially similar

3 to all the others, and Ripple alone has sent hundreds of takedown notices to YouTube dating back to

4 November 2019.

5 66. Ripple, its security vendor, and/or Plaintiffs’ other agents have reported to YouTube that

6 the hacked accounts are infringing on Ripple’s marks. Yet many accounts continue to infringe on

7 Ripple’s protected marks while perpetuating and profiting from the Scam.

8 67. Many media sources have publicly reported that YouTube hosts fake Ripple accounts that

9 perpetuate, promote, and profit from the Scam.

10 68. Owners of hacked YouTube accounts have publicized their plight on platforms such as
L L P

11 Twitter and received responses from YouTube staff.

F L E X N E R

12 69. YouTube directly controls and monitors the instrumentality used by Scammers to
D . C .

13 infringe Ripple’s trademarks. That instrumentality is the YouTube platform, which hosts, displays,
W A S H I N G T O N

14 filters, and develops in part the infringing accounts and videos.

S C H I L L E R

15 70. YouTube can and regularly does remove accounts, channels, and videos from its platform

16 for trademark infringement.

17 71. YouTube monitors its platform for trademark infringement through algorithms and
B O I E S

18 human review.

19 72. Despite its knowledge and ability to ban trademark infringers and remove infringing

20 content, YouTube continues to provide its platform and services to the Scammers.

21 73. YouTube thus is liable for contributory trademark infringement under Lanham Act § 32,

22 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1).

23 74. Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief to halt YouTube’s contributory infringement, which

24 irreparably harms Plaintiffs and has no adequate remedy at law. Plaintiffs also request any and all

25 available damages.

26 SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF

27 Statutory and Common Law Misappropriation of the Right of Publicity

28 Cal. Civil Code § 3344

17
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 19 of 22

1 75. Plaintiffs repeat and re-allege all allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 74,

2 inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.

3 76. Many hacked accounts purport to be official accounts of Ripple’s CEO, Plaintiff Brad

4 Garlinghouse. They appropriate his identity by displaying his name, photo, likeness, and videotaped

5 interviews of him.

6 77. Scammers use Mr. Garlinghouse’s identity to solicit people to transfer XRP or other

7 cryptocurrencies in furtherance of the Scam.

8 78. Moreover, YouTube itself uses these accounts—and the videos they post—to increase

9 traffic to its platform and to serve advertisements that generate revenue for YouTube. YouTube has also

10 sold advertising space directly to the bad actors perpetrating the Scam.
L L P

11 79. Mr. Garlinghouse has not consented to YouTube’s use of his likeness on the hacked
F L E X N E R

12 accounts and their channels. And Mr. Garlinghouse and/or his agents have informed YouTube of his
D . C .

13 non-consent.
W A S H I N G T O N

14 80. Many media sources have publicly reported that hacked YouTube accounts have
S C H I L L E R

15 appropriated Mr. Garlinghouse’s likeness.

16 81. YouTube thus knows that the operators of hacked accounts are violating Mr.

17 Garlinghouse’s right to publicity.

B O I E S

18 82. YouTube also gives these hacked accounts substantial assistance or encouragement by

19 hosting, displaying, recommending, and developing in part the accounts and their videos.

20 83. For example, YouTube awarded a verification badge to at least one hacked channel that

21 appropriated a photo portrait of Mr. Garlinghouse for its profile picture (a.k.a. channel icon). A

22 verification badge communicates, among other things, that a channel “represent[s] the real creator,

23 brand, or entity it claims to be” because YouTube has “check[ed] different factors to help verify [the

24 channel owner’s] identity.” Ex. 10. Through this communicative conduct, YouTube is responsible for

25 the creation, development, and presentation of new content and information to its users.

26 84. YouTube has thus violated, and continues to violate, Mr. Garlinghouse’s right of

27 publicity under both California Civil Code § 3344(a) and the common law.

28
18
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 20 of 22

1 85. This ongoing violation irreparably harms Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation and Ripple’s

2 goodwill, which Plaintiffs have been committed to protecting and developing.

3 86. The irreparable harm to Mr. Garlinghouse’s reputation is evidenced by victim

4 complaints, news articles, and false associations suggested on Wikipedia, amongst other sources.

5 87. Plaintiffs thus seek injunctive relief to halt this irreparable harm, for which there is no

6 adequate remedy at law.

7 88. Plaintiffs also request any and all available damages.

8 THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF

9 Violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law

10 California Business & Professions Code § 17200

L L P

11 89. Plaintiffs repeat and re-allege all allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 88,
F L E X N E R

12 inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.

D . C .

13 90. YouTube engages in contributory trademark infringement and violations of the statutory
W A S H I N G T O N

14 and common law rights of publicity. These are each unlawful business practices under California
S C H I L L E R

15 Business and Professions Code § 17200.

16 91. By providing substantial assistance and encouragement to hacked accounts perpetrating

17 the Scam, YouTube also engages in fraudulent business practices under § 17200.
B O I E S

18 92. The hacked accounts commit fraud by soliciting people to send XRP to a virtual currency

19 wallet in exchange for a benefit that does not materialize.

20 93. YouTube knows these accounts commit fraud because it has seen media reports and

21 received takedown demands from Plaintiffs, owners of hacked accounts, and Scam victims.

22 94. YouTube gives substantial assistance or encouragement to the fraud by hosting,

23 displaying, recommending, and developing in part the hacked accounts and their videos.

24 95. YouTube also gives substantial assistance or encouragement to the Scam by selling

25 “video discovery ads” to the bad actors who control and operate the hacked and/or fake accounts

26 impersonating Ripple and/or Mr. Garlinghouse. By selling such ads, YouTube ensures that more

27 YouTube users will engage with the hacked and/or fake accounts, thereby increasing the Scam’s reach.

28
19
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 21 of 22

1 96. For example, YouTube has vouched for at least one hacked account by awarding its

2 channel a verification badge. This communicated to YouTube’s vast viewership that the channel was an

3 authentic and official channel belonging to Ripple and/or Mr. Garlinghouse. This promoted the false

4 belief that the hacked YouTube accounts could be trusted.

5 97. YouTube’s conduct also constitutes unfair business practices under § 17200.

6 98. YouTube’s unlawful, fraudulent, and unfair business practices irreparably harm

7 Plaintiffs, who seek injunctive relief because there is no adequate remedy at law, and because an

8 injunction “may be necessary to prevent the use or employment by any person of any practice which

9 constitutes unfair competition.” Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203.

10 99. Plaintiffs further seek any and all available damages awards, including restitution.
L L P

11 PRAYER FOR RELIEF

F L E X N E R

12 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for the following relief:

D . C .

13 A. For injunctive relief, as follows: A preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining and
W A S H I N G T O N

14 restraining Defendant YouTube, and all persons or entities in concert with them, during the pendency of
S C H I L L E R

15 this action and perpetually thereafter from:

16 1. Violating and providing assistance in violation of the Lanham Act, in connection

17 with Ripple’s protected marks;

B O I E S

18 2. Refusing to apply its content regulation and moderation screening tools to prevent

19 the Scam from being perpetuated;

20 3. Ignoring and delaying its response(s) to takedown notices concerning the Scam;

21 4. Profiting off of the Scam in any manner, including through the receipt of monies

22 for paid advertisements and/or through the delivery of advertisements to accounts and channels that

23 infringe on Ripple’s marks;

24 5. Verifying accounts perpetuating the Scam;

25 6. Awarding fraudulent channels verification badges; and

26 7. Violating and providing assistance in the violation of Mr. Garlinghouse’s right of

27 publicity, in connection with accounts or channels perpetuating the Scam.

28
20
COMPLAINT
Case 3:20-cv-02747 Document 1 Filed 04/21/20 Page 22 of 22

1 B. An award to Plaintiffs of damages, including but not limited to, compensatory, statutory,

2 and punitive damages, as permitted by law and in such amounts to be proven at trial.

3 C. For a recovery in restitution equal to any unjust enrichment enjoyed by Defendant

4 YouTube.

5 D. An award to Plaintiffs of reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

6 E. For pre- and post-judgment interest as allowed by law.

7 F. For any such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

9 Dated: April 21, 2020 Respectfully Submitted,

10
L L P

By: /s/ Mark C. Mao

11 Damien J. Marshall (pro hac vice forthcoming)
F L E X N E R

[email protected]
12
D . C .

BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP

55 Hudson Yards, 20th Floor
13 New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 446-2300
W A S H I N G T O N

14 Facsimile: (212) 446-2350

S C H I L L E R

15 Mark C. Mao (SBN 236165)

[email protected]
16 Matthew Chou (SBN 325199)
[email protected]
17 BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP
44 Montgomery Street, 41st Floor
B O I E S

18 San Francisco, CA 94104

Telephone: (415) 293-6800
19 Facsimile: (415) 293-6899
20 Menno Goedman (SBN 301271)
[email protected]
21 BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP
1401 New York Avenue, N.W.
22 Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: (202) 237-2727
23 Facsimile: (202) 237-6131
24
Attorneys for Plaintiffs Ripple Labs Inc.
25 and Bradley Garlinghouse

26

27

28
21
COMPLAINT