Then, on October 19, 2016, Kartina and the Channels caught wind of the agreement between Matvil and Actava. More specifically, Actava provided box-top technology and attracted customers, and Matvil provided the Russian-language content, which it was authorized to distribute. Unbeknownst to Kartina and the Channels, by September 8, 2016, Matvil and Actava had entered into a partnership by which Actava would contribute the hardware and Matvil the software. Three months after the Settlement Agreement, Matvil emerged as a competitor of Kartina - one licensed to distribute and provide Internet Protocol Television, including the Channels' content. Master Call Corporation, and Rouslan Tsoutiev (collectively, 'Plaintiffs'). Plaintiffs name Joint Stock Company 'Channel One Russia Worldwide' ('Channel One'), Closed Joint Stock Company 'CTC Network' ('CTC'), Close Joint Stock Company 'New Channel' ('New Channel'), Limited Liability Company 'Rain TV-Channel' ('Rain TV'), Limited Liability Company 'Comedy TV' ('Comedy TV'), Open Joint Stock Company 'ACCEPT' ('ACCEPT') (collectively, the 'Channels'), and Kartina Digital GmbH ('Kartina') (collectively, 'Defendants') as Defendants in this action.Īctava sues in conjunction with Master Call Communications, Inc. In exchange for a litigation ceasefire, Actava, a Plaintiff in this action, agreed to pay for the perceived infractions as well as refrain from broadcasting, copying, or otherwise distributing Channels' content.

After extensive litigation, a foreshadowing of sorts, the Parties reached a Settlement Agreement enforced via two court-ordered Stipulated Injunctions. Kartina and the Channels, the Defendants in this case, sought swift justice by way of two lawsuits alleging violations of copyright and trademark law. ('Actava') - a company allegedly intercepting and re-transmitting the Channels' content - as a target of their investigation. Kartina quickly identified Actava TV Inc. In 2014, Kartina Digital GmbH ('Kartina'), an Internet Protocol Television distributor, hired lawyers to investigate the potential infringement of Russian-language television broadcasts individually owned and operated by multiple Russian-language television channels (the 'Channels').

Kartina tv forum