The complaint
SoundAdvice, Inc. v. John Doe and Meta Platforms, Inc., No. 8:26-cv-02641 (M.D. Fla., Tampa Division), was filed September 10, 2026 (19 pages). The plaintiff is SoundAdvice, Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Brandon, Florida, that produces music-industry events and educational programs. The defendants are John Doe, alleged on information and belief to be a natural person whose identity is unknown, and Meta Platforms, Inc. The complaint requests declaratory relief and demands a jury trial. (Compl. caption; paras. 5 to 7.)
What it alleges
SoundAdvice alleges that it used a single portrait photograph of a recording engineer in its event promotion under a signed license dated March 3, 2026 from the company that holds the rights, and that neither that company nor the photographer complained. It alleges that beginning in February 2026 Meta disabled @soundadvice.club under its repeat-infringer policy, removed a post from @soundescape.club, and later disabled the replacement account @soundadviceclub, all on copyright reports about that photograph. It alleges, on information and belief, that Doe submitted the reports under the photographer's identity and knew they were false, and it alleges the photographer has confirmed in a sworn declaration that he filed nothing. It also alleges that Meta refused to identify the reports, withheld the report number its counter-notification form requires, rejected a retraction, and on August 24, 2026 gave notice that the main account would be permanently deleted. (Compl. paras. 1 to 2, 6, 14 to 36, 41.)
The two counts
Count I, against Doe, alleges knowing material misrepresentation under 17 U.S.C. 512(f). Count II, against Meta, seeks a declaration under 28 U.S.C. 2201 and 2202 that SoundAdvice's counter-notifications are effective under 17 U.S.C. 512(g)(3), that Meta has received no notice of a suit under 512(g)(2)(C), that Meta must restore the removed material and reinstate the three accounts, and that the strikes from the reports cannot support a repeat-infringer determination under 17 U.S.C. 512(i). SoundAdvice asks for damages, costs, and attorney's fees against Doe and for the declaration and related relief against Meta. (Compl. paras. 38 to 52; Prayer A to D.)
Docket activity
The docket shows an order of recusal on September 21, 2026 and a reassignment the next day. It shows a motion for a temporary restraining order (ECF No. 7), an order on that motion on September 25, 2026 (ECF No. 8), and a registry-of-the-court entry on September 28. In October it shows a filing docketed as "Expedite" on October 1 (ECF No. 13), a preliminary injunction motion (ECF No. 15), an October 8 order on that motion (ECF No. 17) and notice of hearing, a filing docketed as "Preliminary Injunction" on October 10 (ECF No. 19), motions to continue and for more time to respond, an October 16 order on those motions, an October 19 notice rescheduling the hearing, and an October 29 motion for an extension of time to answer or respond to the complaint (ECF No. 23). Those orders and filings are not available for free online. (ECF Nos. 5, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17 to 20, 23; minute entries of Sept. 22, Sept. 28, Oct. 8, Oct. 16, and Oct. 19, 2026.)