Joe Boyle specializes in commercial litigation and intellectual property matters, with a focus on handling copyright, signal theft, and piracy-related cases across the United States. He represents over 200 television channels, as well as television distributors and companies that provide security and conditional access measures to protect television content. Joe also serves as outside counsel to the International Broadcaster Coalition Against Piracy (IBCAP).
Joe’s experience extends to both domestic and international entertainment law issues, including the distribution of international sports programming, foreign-language television programming, and disputes over media distribution rights. Joe is experienced with enforcement actions during live sporting events such as the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, where his team secured emergency court orders to shut down multiple websites illegally streaming matches to the public.
Joe and his team recently won a multi-day bench trial in Florida federal court against a streaming set-top box distributor, receiving a judgment of $600,000 plus attorney fees. He and his team have led over 30 lawsuits involving illegal streaming of copyrighted content or circumvention of encryption systems resulting in numerous $50 million to $100 million judgments against foreign manufacturers and domestic product distributors.
Joe’s appellate work includes a recent oral argument before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals leading to the court upholding a $100 million judgment in favor of his clients against intellectual property infringers from China and Hong Kong, and the defendants’ petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court was denied after briefing.
RECOGNITION
- Texas Super Lawyers, 2014 – 2024
- Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition, 2011 – 2013
- Houston’s “Top Lawyers”, H Texas magazine, 2011 – 2021
- HNB named a “Go-To” Law firm by In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies magazine
COURT ADMISSIONS
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
- Unites States District Court, District of Colorado
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Jadoo TV, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-01891-CRB (N.D. Cal.). Won summary judgment for client on June 13, 2023 against a company and its CEO for illegally transmitting television channels and content exclusively licensed to DISH, and finding them liable for direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement. Case involved a company that sells set-top boxes and mobile applications that consumers use to receive television channels and video-on-demand content. The final judgment entered against Jadoo TV its CEO awarded significant statutory damages for registered works, $14,550,000, and also for unregistered works $10,419,911. As part of a separate settlement agreement, Jadoo TV and its CEO agreed to transfer all Jadoo TV customer lists to DISH, transfer all Jadoo TV trademarks and domain names to DISH, and pay DISH $1,500,000.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. DataCamp Ltd., Case No. 1:22-cv-00993 (N.D. Ill.). Obtained a preliminary ruling in favor of client on July 14, 2023, indicating the United Kingdom company would likely be liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement based on its acts and those of its customers. Case involved a company that provides content delivery network (CDN), dedicated servers, and network services being used by eleven different pirate services. The company settled the lawsuit on January 24, 2024, paying $3,000,000 and implementing a takedown and repeat infringer policy.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Hammo (ElafnetTV), Case No. 6:21-bk-02336-GER (M.D. Fla.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on January 18, 2023, finding the defendant liable for contributory copyright infringement, with damages award of $16,050,000, order of non-dischargeability, and a permanent injunction. Case involved an individual who filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and was a reseller and distributor of set-top boxes and subscription services which transmitted copyrighted content without permission in violation of the Copyright Act.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Alfa TV Inc. (ElafnetTV) et al., Case No. 6:20-cv-1896-PGB-DCI (M.D. Fla.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on January 11, 2023, finding the defendants liable for contributory copyright infringement, with damages award of $16,050,000, and a permanent injunction. Case involved a reseller and distributor of set-top boxes and subscription services which transmitted copyrighted content without permission in violation of the Copyright Act.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Alghafir (Super Arab IPTV) et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-01678 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained final judgment in client’s favor on November 28, 2022, with damages award of $2,100,000 and a permanent injunction. Case involved the China operator and resellers and distributors of the Super Arab streaming service which transmits copyrighted content without permission in violation of the Copyright Act. The operator was found liable for direct copyright infringement and the resellers and distributors were found liable for contributory copyright infringement.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Vigneswaran (ChitramTV), Case No. 4:21-cv-00859 (S.D. Tex.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on November 15, 2022, finding the Canadian reseller and distributor of the ChitramTV streaming service liable for contributory copyright infringement, awarding $950,000 in damages, and a permanent injunction.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Istar Co. et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-12219 (E.D. Mich.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on November 4, 2022, finding the Iraq company and its CEO operating the Istar streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement, awarding damages of $15,700,000, entering a permanent injunction including the company’s service providers, and website seizure.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Atlas Elecs. Inc. et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-12219 (E.D. Mich.). Won final judgment in client’s favor on July 15, 2022, finding the company and its President reselling and distributing the Istar streaming service liable for contributory copyright infringement, awarding damages of $5,740,000 and entering a permanent injunction.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Fraifer (UlaiTV) et al., Case No. 8:16-cv-02549-TPB-TBM (M.D. Fla.). Obtained final judgment in client’s favor on December 13, 2021, finding the operator and CEO of the UlaiTV streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement, awarding $600,000 in damages, a permanent injunction, and attorney’s fees and costs in an amount to be determined. The operator and CEO of the UlaiTV service appealed to the Eleventh Circuit where briefing is complete.
DISH Network L.L.C. et al. v. UVCONN, Inc. (ZummTV) et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-01904 (W.D.N.Y.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on December 2, 2021, finding the operators of the ZummTV streaming service liable for violations of the Federal Communications Act and awarding $4,413,000 in damages. A permanent injunction was also entered against ZummTV and their set-top boxes and domains were transferred to HNB’s client.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. ChitramTV, Case No. 4:21-cv-00859 (S.D. Tex.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on November 15, 2021, finding the operator of the ChitramTV streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement and awarding $31,050,000 in damages. A permanent injunction was also entered against ChitramTV and its service providers, their domains have been transferred to HNB’s client, and any future domains used to infringe are also to be transferred.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Omar (Universe IPTV) et al., Case No. 4:20-cv-02958 (S.D. Tex.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on September 30, 2021, awarding $7, 050,000 in damages against Mohamed Omar and Hossam Abd Elghany of Egypt, and Moustafa Maatouk of Germany for operating the Universe IPTV streaming service and liable for direct and contributory copyright infringement. A permanent injunction was also entered against the operators, their domains have been forfeited, and any future domains used to infringe are to be forfeited.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Khalid (Freetvall.com), Case No. U.S. 4:19-cv-04563 (S.D. Tex.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on February 23, 2021, finding the Pakistan operator of fifteen websites providing links to television channels liable for contributory copyright infringement, awarding $16,800,000 in damages, a permanent injunction including service providers, and the transfer of the domains to our client
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Serverlogy Corp. (East IPTV), Case No. 1:19-cv-01262-RGA (D. Del.). Obtained judgement in client’s favor on February 3, 2021, awarding $2,100,000 in damages against Ahmad Al Shahman for its direct copyright infringement in operating the East IPTV streaming service and $600,000 against its CDN for its contributory copyright infringement in knowingly permitting its servers to be used to transmit copyrighted content. A permanent injunction was also entered against the operator of the East IPTV service and the CDN, their domains have been forfeited, and any future domains used to infringe are to be disabled.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Easybox IPTV, Case No. 4:19-cv-02994 (S.D. Tex.). Won a final judgment in client’s favor on February 5, 2020, finding the operators of the Easybox IPTV streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement and awarding $9,900,000 in damages. The court also ordered all domain accounts, domain names, and services provided by third-party providers related to transmitting copyrighted work to be disabled immediately.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Attyah (Tarboosh TV), Case No. 1:19-cv-00542-CMH-MSN (E.D. Va.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on January 13, 2020, finding the reseller and distributor of the Tarboosh TV service liable for contributory copyright infringement, awarding $2,400,000 in damages and a permanent injunction.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Hasweh (Spider TV), Case No. 8:17-cv-03817 (D. Md.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on July 12, 2019, finding the Jordan operator of the Spider TV streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement and awarding $1,200,000 in damages. A permanent injunction was also entered against the operator of the Spider TV service including service providers and the transfer of the domains to our client.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Rana Technology Inc. (Family Phone) et al., Case No. 18-cv-3857 (E.D.N.Y.). Obtained final judgment in client’s favor on March 20, 2019, finding a company and its CEO who were resellers and distributors of the Shava IPTV service liable for contributory copyright infringement, and awarding $1,600,000 in damages. The court also entered a permanent injunction barring further unauthorized marketing, selling, or distribution of Shava set-top boxes and television subscription services.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Goyal Group Inc. et al., Case No. 18-cv-3857 (E.D.N.Y.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on March 20, 2019, finding a company and its CEO who were resellers and distributors of the Shava IPTV service liable for contributory copyright infringement and entering a permanent injunction barring further unauthorized marketing, selling, or distribution of Shava set-top boxes and television subscription services.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. ABC 1 NYC Inc. (ABC Wireless) et al., Case No. 18-cv-3857 (E.D.N.Y.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on March 20, 2019, finding a company and its CEO who were resellers and distributors of the Shava IPTV service liable for contributory copyright infringement and entering a permanent injunction barring further unauthorized marketing, selling, or distribution of Shava set-top boxes and television subscription services.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. East West Audio Video Inc. et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-9768-FMO-(KSx) (C.D. Cal.). Won final judgment in client’s favor on March 20, 2019, finding a company and its CEO who were resellers and distributors of the Jadoo TV service liable for contributory copyright infringement and entering a permanent injunction.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Mo’ayad Al Zayed Trading Est. (Tiger Star) et al., Case No. 4:17-cv-03909 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained client an award of immediate and daily contempt sanctions on March 12, 2019, totaling $890,000 as of June 20, 2019, and an amended order against service providers and seizing additional domains.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Lool Tech Co., Ltd. (Lool) et al., Case No. 4:16-cv-01771 (S.D. Tex.). Won client an award of contempt sanctions on January 18, 2019, in the amount of $40,897.82. The sanctions were against a China company, its executive director, and a Canadian reseller and distributor for violating a permanent injunction by continuing to transmit copyrighted content on the Lool streaming service and sell the Lool set-top box and service.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Durrani (ZemTV) et al, Case No. 4:17-cv-01618 (S.D. Tex.). Acquired a final judgment in client’s favor on October 24, 2018, finding a United Kingdom developer of the ZemTV add-on for the Kodi media player liable for direct copyright infringement and awarding $650,000 in damages. A permanent injunction was also entered against the developer of the ZemTV add-on including service providers.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Mo’ayad Al Zayed Trading Est. (Tiger Star) et al., Case No. 4:17-cv-03909 (S.D. Tex.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on August 24, 2018, finding a Jordan company and its executive director operating the Tiger Star streaming service liable for direct copyright infringement and awarding $1,200,000 in damages. The court also entered a permanent injunction including service providers and the transfer of the company’s domains to our client
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Dima Furniture Inc. (Spider TV), Case No. 8:17-cv-03817 (D. Md.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on May 23, 2018, finding a company and its president who were resellers and distributors of the Spider TV streaming service liable for contributory copyright , awarding $600,000, and enjoining further infringement.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. EllasTV, Inc. et al, Case No. 1:16-cv-04813 (ND Ill.). Won summary judgment for client and a final judgment was entered on March 28, 2018 against a company and its President for violations of the Federal Communications Act (“FCA”), awarding $700,000 in damages and attorney’s fees, and entering a permanent injunction. The defendants used a receiver to decode the client’s channel and redistribute it over their own subscription service in violation of the anti-trafficking provision of the FCA.
Times Content Limited v. Does (Smartcric.com and Crickethdlive.com), Case No. 4:17-cv-01287 (S.D. Tex.). Won a preliminary injunction against operators of websites streaming the IPL tournament on May 5, 2017, ordering service providers to cease providing services for the websites, and ordering the registries and registrars to transfer the domains to a holding account through the end of the IPL tournament. Secured a final judgment and permanent injunction in client’s favor on June 7, 2017, finding the operator of the websites liable for direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement, entering a permanent injunction, and transferring the domains to our client.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Lool Tech Co., Ltd. (Lool) et al., Case No. 4:16-cv-01771 (S.D. Tex.). Obtained final judgment in client’s favor on March 17, 2017, finding a China company and its executive director operating the Lool streaming service liable for direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement and awarding $1,050,000 in damages. A permanent injunction was also entered against the defendants including their service providers terminating any form of use of web or file hosting, domain name registration or accounts, and the transfer of defendant’s domains to our client.
DISH Network L.L.C. et al. v. ShavaTV et al, Case No. 1:15cv706 (E.D. Va.). Obtained final judgment in clients’ favor on January 24, 2017, finding the Canada operators of the Shava IPTV service liable for direct copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and unfair competition, awarding $25,650,000, and entering a permanent injunction. Won a contempt order in clients’ favor on February 22, 2018, broadening the injunction to include the defendants’ service providers and the transfer of the defendants’ domains to our client.
Nagravision S.A. v. Zhuhai Gotech Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., Case No. 4:15-cv-00403 (S.D. Tex.). Secured final judgment in client’s favor on August 18, 2016, finding the defendants liable for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and Federal Communications, with damages award of $101,851,800, permanent injunction, product impoundment order, and website seizure. Case involved a Swiss based encryption provider (Nagravision) asserting claims for operation of an illicit key-sharing service operated by 2 Chinese companies and their Hong Kong affiliate, using servers located in the United States. Judgment upheld on appeal to the Fifth Circuit, and the defendants’ petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court was denied after briefing.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. TV Net Solutions, LLC et al., Case No. 6:15-cv-01707-CEM-TBS (M.D. Fla.). Won final judgment in client’s favor on June 15, 2016, awarding $4,975,000 against a company and its CEO who were resellers and distributors of the TV Net Solutions streaming service. The defendants were found liable for breaching a settlement agreement that resolved a case brought against them for copyright infringement.
DISH Network L.L.C. v. Global Satellit IPTV Scandinavian AB et al., Case No. 6:12-cv-01629 (M.D. Fla.). Acquired final judgment in client’s favor on November 26, 2014, finding the Sweden company transmitting content for the TV Net Solutions streaming service and its president liable for direct copyright infringement, awarding $956,649 in damages, and entering a permanent injunction.