MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 1020
1. The parties.....................................................1020
2. Jurisdictional facts .............................................1021
B. Procedural Background.............................................1021
1. Foreign Candy’s Complaint .....................................1021
2. Tropical Paradise’s Motion To Dismiss...........................1022
II. LEGAL ANALYSIS.....................................................1022
A. Personal Jurisdiction...............................................1022
1. Arguments of the parties ........................................1022
2. Applicable standards............................................1024
a. Rule 12(b)(2) standards......................................1024
b. Due process requirements....................................1025
c. Internet contacts............................................1026
3. Analysis .......................................................1081
a. Nature and quality of contacts...............................1031
b. The quantity of contacts.....................................1032
c. The relationship of the contacts with the cause of action........1033
d. Interest and convenience of the forum.........................1034
e. “Effects ” in this forum......................................1034
f. “Fair play and substantial justice ” in the totality of the circumstances ............................................1035
4. Jurisdictional discovery.........................................1035
a. Arguments of the parties.....................................1035
b. Analysis....................................... 1036
5. Summary ......................................................1036
B. Venue.............................................................1037
1. Arguments of the parties ........................................1037
2. Analysis .......................................................1037
III. CONCLUSION.........................................................1038
In this action by a candy importer against a fruit juice seller, involving federal and state law claims of trademark, trade dress, and copyright infringement and unfair competition, the fruit juice seller’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue exemplifies the collision between modern conceptions of a “global marketplace” and long-standing constitutional conceptions of due process. The United States Supreme Court recognized, a decade and a half ago, that “[t]he Internet is ‘a unique and wholly new medium of worldwide human communication,’ ”
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Factual Background
Because this case is before me on a motion to dismiss, and no jurisdictional discovery has been authorized or conducted, the factual background is necessarily drawn — at least in the first instance — from the factual allegations in the plaintiffs Complaint (docket no. 1). On a Rule 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, however, I may also consider affidavits and exhibits presented with the motion and in opposition to it. See Dairy Farmers of Am., Inc. v. Bassett & Walker Int’l, Inc.,
1. The parties
The Foreign Candy Company (Foreign Candy), the plaintiff in this action, alleges that it is an Iowa corporation with its principal place of business in Hull, Iowa, and that it is engaged in the business of importing, distributing, and selling candy products. Foreign Candy alleges that it is the exclusive owner of a number of registered trademarks, including the following: “RIPS,” Registration No. 2,848,847 (the '847 Mark); “LET ‘ER RIP,” Registration No. 2,738,693 (the '693 Mark); and “RIP ROLLS,” Registration No. 2,763,991 (the '991 Mark). Foreign Candy describes these marks collectively as “the RIP Marks.” See Complaint, Exhibits A-C. Foreign Candy also alleges that it is the owner of the trade dress (Foreign Candy Trade Dress) embodied in the packaging, label, and the like, used in connection with its RIPS Products. See Complaint, Exhibit E. Further, Foreign Candy alleges that it has applied for and been issued copyright certificates of registration for various embodiments of its packaging (Foreign Candy’s Packaging) used in connection with the RIPS Products, consisting of certificates of registration bearing Registration Nos. TX' 7-446-536, TX 7-452-638, TX 7-451-463, and TX 7-452-521, with effective dates of September 7, 2011, September 8, 2011, September 9, 2011, and September 15, 2011, respectively.
Tropical Paradise, Inc., doing business as Cool Tropics (Tropical Paradise), the defendant in this action, alleges in its Motion To Dismiss (docket no. 5) that it is a New York corporation headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. Foreign Candy alleges, and Tropical Paradise has not yet disputed, that Tropical Paradise sells, offers for sale, distributes, and advertises fruit juice packs available in a variety of fruit flavors under a Cool Tropics brand name (the Cool Tropics Products). Foreign Candy alleges that Tropical Paradise has adopted, used, and continues to use the term “RIPS” and the phrase “LET IT RIP!,” Complaint, Exhibit D, in connection with the sale, offering for sale, distribution, and advertising of the Cool Tropics Products.
The gravamen of Foreign Candy’s trademark infringement claims is its allegation that, from about 2009 to the present, Tropical Paradise has offered and continues to offer for sale, through its dealers and distributors, the Cool Tropics Products that contain marks identical to or confusingly similar to Foreign Candy’s RIP Marks, but that those products are
2. Jurisdictional facts
Foreign Candy alleges in its Complaint that Tropical Paradise operates and conducts business in the Northern District of Iowa and has and is conducting business and has committed acts of infringement of Foreign Candy’s RIP Marks in this judicial district. Tropical Paradise disputes these allegations and avers, instead, that it is not registered to do business in Iowa; has no registered agent for service of process in Iowa; has no offices in Iowa; does not rent or own real estate in Iowa; and has no customers or employees in the state. Indeed, Tropical Paradise avers that it has not sold even a single item in the State of Iowa in at least the last ten years. Tropical Paradise also contends that none of the allegedly infringing or wrongful conduct at issue in Foreign Candy’s Complaint occurred in Iowa, and Foreign Candy has not even alleged that it did.
In its Response (docket no. 13) to Tropical Paradise’s Motion To Dismiss, Foreign Candy avers that, on Tropical Paradise’s website (www.cool-tropics.com), Tropical Paradise advertises the Cool Tropics Products as “NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!” with a direct link to an online retailer’s website (www.coffeecow.com), operated by CofeeCow.com. Foreign Candy alleges that CoffeeCow.com has been and continues to be a distributor of the Cool Tropics Products, and that customers may direct that the Cool Tropics Products purchased on CoffeeCow.eom’s website be shipped to Iowa by selecting “Iowa” from a drop-down menu listing U.S. states. Indeed, Foreign Candy’s president, CEO, and owner, Peter W. De Yager, avers that, on or about November 12, 2012, before Foreign Candy’s Complaint was filed on January 10, 2013, he clicked the link on the Tropical Paradise website to the online retailer, proceeded through the required steps, and purchased and had shipped to his home in Hull, Iowa, and later received, various Cool Tropics RIPS Products. See Response, Exhibit C. In its reply, Tropical Paradise asserts that its website is not interactive, but simply provides a link to an unaffiliated third party’s website to purchase Cool Tropics Products.
B. Procedural Background
1. Foreign Candy’s Complaint
Beginning in about 2009, the parties engaged in unsuccessful attempts to resolve their disputes, involving various exchanges of correspondence between their respective attorneys. On January 10, 2013, Foreign Candy filed its Complaint (docket no. 1) initiating this action for trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, false designation of origin, false representation and description, and other unfair competitive conduct by Tropical Paradise, in violation of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.; Sections 32 and 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1125(a), respectively; the Iowa Trademark Act, Chapter 548 (Iowa Code) and Iowa unfair competition at common law; copyright in
2. Tropical Paradise’s Motion To Dismiss
On April 11, 2013, Tropical Paradise filed a pre-answer Motion To Dismiss (docket no. 5), seeking dismissal of Foreign Candy’s Complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction and improper venue, pursuant to Rules 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, respectively, accompanied by an affidavit of Fadi S. Massabni, the CEO of Tropical Paradise. On May 13, 2013, Foreign Candy filed its Response To Motion To Dismiss Complaint (docket no. 13), accompanied by three exhibits, consisting of “screen shots” from www.cool-tropics.com, www. coffeecow.com, and an affidavit by Mr. De Yager, accompanied by its own exhibit, consisting of a packing slip for Cool Tropics Products that Mr. De Yager ordered online from www.coffeecow.com and had shipped to his address in Iowa. Foreign Candy’s brief in support of its Response included a request that, if I determine that Foreign Candy has not made a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise, I grant Foreign Candy the opportunity to conduct jurisdictional discovery, because the facts known to date give rise to additional unknown facts that are solely under the control of Tropical Paradise and are otherwise difficult, if not impossible, to determine without formal discovery. On May 30, 2013, Tropical Paradise filed its Reply Brief In Support Of Motion To Dismiss (docket no. 19), reiterating that there is no basis for the exercise of personal jurisdiction over it and asserting that jurisdictional discovery is not appropriate in this case.
No party requested oral arguments on Tropical Paradise’s Motion To Dismiss in the manner required by applicable local rules, and I do not find that oral arguments are necessary, in light of the sufficiency of the parties’ briefing and other written submissions. Therefore, I will deem the Motion To Dismiss fully submitted on the parties’ written submissions.
II. LEGAL ANALYSIS
A. Personal Jurisdiction
Tropical Paradise seeks dismissal of Foreign Candy’s Complaint, first, on the ground that this court lacks personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise. Foreign Candy disputes that contention.
1. Arguments of the parties
Tropical Paradise asserts that it lacks sufficient “minimum contacts” with Iowa to support “general” jurisdiction, and Foreign Candy does not argue otherwise. Tropical Paradise also asserts that it lacks sufficient “minimum contacts,” from which any of Foreign Candy’s claims arise, for the exercise of “specific” jurisdiction to be proper, a contention that Foreign Candy does dispute. More specifically, Tropical Paradise argues that it has not engaged in any business transaction in Iowa for at least ten years. It also argues that, while it maintains a general information website,
In contrast, Foreign Candy contends that consideration of the pertinent factors demonstrates that exercising specific personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise would comport with due process. Foreign Candy argues that the nature and quality of Tropical Paradise’s contacts with Iowa through its website are sufficient, because that website has a link to a distributor’s website, where the Cool Tropics Products can be purchased, raising it above a merely “passive” website into an “active” website. Foreign Candy asserts that other courts have found that- sales through a website that included the forum as a potential shipping destination, like Tropical Paradise’s distributor’s website does, were sufficient for the defendant to reasonably anticipate being haled into the forum. Indeed, Foreign Candy contends that its CEO made an online purchase and had Cool Tropics Products shipped to Iowa. Foreign Candy also argues that courts within this Circuit have recognized that a single purchase by a plaintiffs counsel in the forum was sufficient contact with the forum for personal jurisdiction purposes, although Foreign Candy does not cite any decisions so holding by any such courts. Foreign Candy argues, next, that there is a strong relationship between its causes of action and Tropical Paradise’s contacts, because the contacts through the website involve the sale of infringing products, so that those sales directly cause the alleged harm to Foreign Candy, a forum resident. Foreign Candy also argues that the interest of the forum state and the convenience of the parties also weigh in favor of personal jurisdiction here over Tropical Paradise, because Iowa has a significant interest in giving an Iowa resident a convenient forum to adjudicate injuries by out-of-state actors, and Tropical Paradise has not asserted what alternative forum might be more appropriate.
In addition, Foreign Candy argues that the “effects” test warrants the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise in this case, because Tropical Paradise has continued infringing activity even after notice from Foreign Candy, from as early as 2009, that Tropical Paradise’s activities were causing effects in Iowa by injuring an Iowa resident. Indeed, Foreign Candy asserts that, because Tropical Paradise had such notice, it knew that its continuing infringing activity would have a potentially devastating impact on Foreign Candy in Iowa.
In reply, Tropical Paradise reiterates that its website is merely “passive,” so that it cannot be the basis for the exercise of personal jurisdiction in Iowa. Tropical Paradise contends that its website is not even a “middle ground” website, because it does not allow for the direct purchase of its products. Rather, Tropical Paradise contends, any purchase was from another independent online retailer, although that retailer could be reached by a link from Tropical Paradise’s website. Tropical Paradise argues that its website does not provide for any other interaction or exchange of information between customers and Tropical Paradise’s website, but only allows visitors to provide contact information to the company so that the company may contact them via telephone or e-mail.
2. Applicable standards
It does not appear that the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has ever held that personal jurisdiction in a copyright or trademark case is a matter governed by Federal Circuit law rather than the law of the regional circuit. Therefore, I will apply Eighth Circuit standards to the personal jurisdiction issue presented here.
a. Rule 12(b)(2) standards
As the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently explained, “Personal jurisdiction over a defendant represents the power of a court to enter ‘a valid judgment imposing a personal obligation or duty in favor of the plaintiff.’ ” Viasystems, Inc. v. EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co., KG,
As the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently explained,
“To allege personal jurisdiction, ‘a plaintiff must state sufficient facts in the complaint to support a reasonable inference that the defendant] can be subjected to jurisdiction within the state.’ ” Wells Dairy, Inc. v. Food Movers Int'l, Inc.,607 F.3d 515 , 518 (8th Cir.) (quoting Dever v. Hentzen Coatings, Inc.,380 F.3d 1070 , 1072 (8th Cir.2004)), cert. denied, -U.S. -,131 S.Ct. 472 ,178 L.Ed.2d 289 (2010). “If the defendant controverts or denies jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving facts supporting personal jurisdiction.” Id. Its “showing must be tested, not by the pleadings alone, but by the affidavits and exhibits presented with the motions and in opposition thereto.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).
Dairy Farmers of Am., Inc. v. Bassett & Walker Int’l, Inc.,
Although I may consider affidavits and other matters outside of the pleadings on a Rule 12(b)(2) motion, the pleader’s burden, in the absence of an evidentiary hearing, is only to make a “minimal” prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction, and I “must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the [pleader] and resolve all factual conflicts in its favor in deciding whether the [pleader] has made the requisite showing.” K-V Pharm. Co. v. Uriach & CIA S.A,
b. Due process requirements
The exercise of personal jurisdiction is only permissible when it comports with due process. See, e.g., K-V Pham. Co.,
Contacts with the forum state must be sufficient that requiring a party to defend an action would not “offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” [International Shoe Co., 326 U.S.] at 316,66 S.Ct. 154 ,90 L.Ed. 95 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “The ‘substantial connection’ between the defendant and the forum State necessary for a finding of minimum contacts must come about by an action of the defendant purposefully directed toward the forum State.” Asahi Metal Indus. Co. v. Super. Ct. of Cal.,480 U.S. 102 , 112,107 S.Ct. 1026 ,94 L.Ed.2d 92 (1987) (internal citations omitted).
We developed a five-factor test to evaluate whether a defendant’s actions are sufficient to support personal jurisdiction: (1) the nature and quality of the contacts with the forum state; (2) the quantity of those contacts; (3) the relationship of those contacts with the cause of action; (4) [the state’s] interest in providing a forum for its residents; and (5) the convenience or inconvenience to the parties. See, e.g., Precision Const. Co. v. J.A. Slattery Co., Inc.,765 F.2d 114 , 118 (8th Cir.1985) (noting that the first three factors are of primary importance and the last two of secondary importance).
Myers,
Furthermore, although “ ‘[p]ersonal jurisdiction can be specific or general,’ ” Dairy Farmers of Am., Inc.,
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals recently clarified that it does not adhere to a “proximate cause standard” for the required connection between the defendant’s contacts with the forum and the plaintiffs cause of action. See id.
Rather, we have said specific jurisdiction is warranted when the defendant purposely directs its activities at the forum state and the litigation “result[s] from injuries ... relating to [the defendant’s] activities [in the forum state.]” Steinbuch v. Cutler,518 F.3d 580 , 586 (8th Cir.2008). We have also emphasized the need to consider “the totality of the circumstances in deciding whether personal jurisdiction exists[,]” K-V Pharm. Co. v. J. Uriach & CIA S.A,648 F.3d 588 , 592-93 (8th Cir.2011) (citing Johnson,614 F.3d at 794 ). This stance is consistent with other circuits which have focused on the need to adopt a flexible approach when construing the “relate to” aspect of the Supreme Court’s standard. See Nowak [v. Tak How Invs., Ltd.,94 F.3d 708 ,] 716 [ (1st Cir.1996) ] (“By this approach, we intend to emphasize the importance of proximate causation, but to allow a slight loosening of that standard when circumstances dictate. We think such flexibility is necessary in the jurisdictional inquiry: relatedness cannot merely be reduced to one tort concept for all circumstances.”).
Myers,
c. Internet contacts
The primary basis on which Foreign Candy asserts that specific personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise is appropriate is Tropical Paradise’s purported Internet contacts with this forum. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has considered on only a few occasions when contacts via a website will satisfy due process. In its earliest significant discussion on the issue, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals noted,
The great majority of these cases have adopted the analytical framework of Zippo Manufacturing Co. v. Zippo Dot Com, Inc.,952 F.Supp. 1119 , 1124 (W.D.Pa.1997). In Zippo — also a case of specific jurisdiction — the court examined the few eases that had previously addressed the issue of whether a Web site could provide sufficient contacts for specific personal jurisdiction. It applied the results of these cases to the traditional personal jurisdiction analytical framework, noting that “the likelihood that personal jurisdiction can be constitutionally exercised is directly proportionate to the nature and quality of the commercial activity that an entity conducts over the Internet.”952 F.Supp. at 1124 . In order to measure the nature and quality of the commercial activity, the court created a “sliding scale” to measure the likelihood of personal jurisdiction. It noted:
At one end of the spectrum are situations where a defendant clearly does business over the Internet. If the defendant enters into contracts with residents of a foreign jurisdiction that involve the knowing and repeated transmission of computer files over the Internet, personal jurisdiction is proper. At the opposite end are situations where a defendant has simply posted information on an Internet Web site which is accessible to users in foreign jurisdictions. A passive Web site that does little more than make information available to those who are interested in it is not groundsfor the exercise [of] personal jurisdiction. The middle ground is occupied by interactive Web sites where a user can exchange information with the host computer. In these eases, the exercise of jurisdiction is determined by examining the level of interactivity and commercial nature of the exchange of information that occurs on the Web site.
Id. (citations omitted).
Lakin v. Prudential Sec., Inc.,
Subsequently, the court considered internet contacts in cases that did involve assertions of “specific” personal jurisdiction. In Johnson v. Arden,
The www.ComplaintBoards.com site lands on the “mere posting” end of the scale. Although InMotion represents www.ComplaintsBoard.com as an “interactive” website, users may actually only post information. There is no interaction between users and a host computer; the site merely makes information available to other people. The website’s accessibility in Missouri alone is insufficient to confer personal jurisdiction.
Johnson,
The Johnsons argue that Heineman sells cats and kittens throughout the United States, including in the State of Missouri via advertising on www.BoutiqueKittens. com, thus creating specific personal jurisdiction. However, under Zippo, whether specific personal jurisdiction could be conferred on the basis of an interactive website depends not just on the nature of the website but also on evidence that individuals in the forum state accessed the website in doing business with the defendant. Zippo,952 F.Supp. at 1125-26 . Although www. BoutiqueKittens.com may be characterized as interactive, there is no evidence in the record that Heineman engaged in any transaction or exchange of information with a Missouri resident via www. BoutiqueKittens.com, or that a Missouri resident ever accessed the website. We decline to confer personal jurisdiction based on only the possibility that a Missouri resident had contact with Heine-man through www.BoutiqueKittens. com.
Johnson,
Another decision of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Viasystems, Inc. v. EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co., KG,
Even if [certain] scattered marketing statements could support an inference that the two companies have a legally recognized agency relationship, St. Georgen cannot be held responsible for the statements on www.ebm-papst.com for the simple reason that this website is owned and operated not by St. Georgen, but by its corporate parent, ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG (“Mulfingen”).
Viasystems,
Other courts and commentators have applied a traditional three-factor test of personal jurisdiction even in cases involving Internet contacts, although some of those courts inform their analysis of those traditional factors with concerns raised in Zippo, because such a traditional test “ ‘seems fully applicable to jurisdiction questions generated by new technologies.’ ” Pervasive Software, Inc. v. Lexware GmbH & Co. KG,
Using the three-factor test, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has explained,
“Website interactivity is important only insofar as it reflects commercial activity, and then only insofar as that commercial activity demonstrates purposeful targeting of residents of the forum state or purposeful availment of the benefits or privileges of the forum state.” Shamsuddin v. Vitamin Research Prods.,346 F.Supp.2d 804 , 813 (D.Md.2004). A corporation’s sales to forum residents must be more than “‘isolated’” occurrences for the assertion of jurisdiction to satisfythe requirements of due process. Burger King [Corp. v. Rudzewicz], 471 U.S. [462,] 475 n. 18, 105 S.Ct. 2174 ,85 L.Ed.2d 528 [ (1985) ] (citation omitted).
Pervasive Software, Inc,,
One conclusion we might draw from [the fact that internet sales and services can be provided to customers anywhere] is that a physical geographical nexus is simply less important in cases where the alleged harm occurred over the Internet. Such a conclusion would not necessarily be inconsistent with due process. After all, the geographical relationship between claim and contacts is only one facet of the constitutional inquiry. The plaintiff must still prove that the defendant had constitutionally sufficient contacts with the forum and that the defendant’s contacts were temporally and substantively related to the lawsuit. Without that showing, the mere fact that the defendant allegedly caused harm by conducting business or advertising over the Internet is not adequate to establish jurisdiction in the plaintiffs chosen forum state.
uBID, Inc.,
Applying a test based on traditional factors, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals recognized that, as a general matter, “the sale of products on a third-party website simply cannot support the exercise of personal jurisdiction,” because it does not demonstrate the defendant’s “purposeful availment” of the privilege of doing business in the forum that is required by due process. Arpaio,
Trintec refers to the availability of Pedre products on non-Pedre websites, but those sites would support jurisdiction only if Pedre had some responsibility for the third party’s advertising of Pedre products on non-Pedre sites. See, e.g., Jung v. Ass’n of Am. Med. Colls.,300 F.Supp.2d 119 , 132 n. 5 (D.D.C.2004) (distinguishing cases where personal jurisdiction is based upon defendant’s activities on its own website from situation where third party’s website was used); GTE [New Media Servs. Inc. v. Bell-South Corp.], 199 F.3d [1343,] 1352 [ (D.C.Cir.2000) ] (indicating the importance of “knowing] for certain which defendants own and operate which websites” in determining jurisdiction). Although some of the non-Pedre websites contain hyperlinks to Pedre.com, it is unclear exactly how much, if any, control Pedre has over the contents of these third-party sites.
Trintec Indus., Inc. v. Pedre Promotional Prods., Inc.,
The cases cited by Foreign Candy are not to the contrary. In 3M Co. v. Mohan, Civil No. 09-1413 (ADM/FLN),
Mohan clearly did business over the Internet when he created a website that allowed customers to 1) browse products online, 2) select items to purchase, 3) direct that the products be shipped to Minnesota by selecting Minnesota from a drop-down menu listing U.S. states, and 4) pay for the products online via a credit card. (Schultz Aff. Exs. 2-3.)
Mohan.,
In Mohan, the district court also observed,
Further supporting a finding of personal jurisdiction, Mohan also does significant business over the Internet via the commercial interactive website ebay.com (over 2,100 transactions) and the national website Amazon.com — both of whichinclude Minnesota as a sMpping destination for purchases.
Mohan,
3. Analysis
a. Nature and quality of contacts
Here, as to “the nature and quality of the [defendant’s] contacts with the forum state,” the first factor in the five-factor test of personal jurisdiction in this Circuit, see Myers,
There is also no evidence here — from the “screen shots” provided by Foreign Candy — that Tropical Paradise “created the ‘face’ of [CoffeeCow.com’s] website such that a user would reasonably believe” that the user was actually making a purchase from Tropical Paradise itself. Compare Arriaga v. Imperial Palace, Inc.,
Thus, even viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Foreign Candy, Foreign Candy has failed to meet its “minimal” burden of proof to show that this factor weighs in favor of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise in this forum, see K-V Pharm. Co.,
b. The quantity of contacts
The second factor in the five-factor test of personal jurisdiction in this Circuit is “the quantity of those, contacts with the forum state.” Myers,
Thus, even viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Foreign Candy, Foreign Candy has failed to meet its “minimal” burden of proof to show that this second factor weighs in favor of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise in this forum, see K-V Pharm. Co.,
c. The relationship of the contacts with the cause of action
The third factor in the five-factor test of personal jurisdiction in this Circuit involves specifically the kinds of considerations that led me to reject the single sale to plaintiffs representative as sufficient contact with the forum for purposes of personal jurisdiction, because the third factor is “the relationship of those contacts with the cause of action.” Myers,
Thus, even viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Foreign Candy, Foreign Candy has failed to meet its “minimal” burden of proof to show that this third factor weighs in favor of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise in this forum, see K-V Pharm. Co.,
d. Interest and convenience of the forum
The remaining factors in the five-factor test of personal jurisdiction in this Circuit — requiring consideration of the forum state’s interest in providing a forum for its residents and the convenience or inconvenience of the forum to the parties — are the less important ones. Myers,
e. “Effects” in this forum
Foreign Candy argues, apparently in the alternative, that the “effects test” warrants the exercise of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise in this case, because Tropical Paradise has continued infringing activity even after notice from Foreign Candy, from as early as 2009, that Tropical Paradise’s activities were causing effects in Iowa by injuring an Iowa resident. This argument is untenable.
The “effects test” was set out in Calder v. Jones,
Due process allows a state to assert personal jurisdiction over a defendant based on the in-state effects of defendants’ extraterritorial tortious acts only if those acts “(1) were intentional, (2) were uniquely or expressly aimed at the forum state, and (3) caused harm, the brunt of which was suffered — and which the defendant knew was likely to be suffered — [in the forum state].” Johnson,614 F.3d at 796 (alteration in original) (quoting Lindgren v. GDT, LLC,312 F.Supp.2d 1125 , 1132 (S.D.Iowa 2004)).
Additionally, even if the effect of [the defendant’s] alleged statement was felt in Missouri, we have used the Colder test merely as an additional factor to consider when evaluating a defendant’s relevant contacts with the forum state. In Dakota, we declined to grant personal jurisdiction solely on the basis of forum state effects from an intentional tort. [Dakota Indus., Inc., 946 F.2d] at 1391 (“In relying on Colder, we do not abandon the five-part [Aftanase[ v. Economy Baler Co.,343 F.2d 187 (8th Cir.1965)]] test.... We simply note that Colder requires the consideration of additional factors when an intentional tort is alleged.”). We therefore construe the Colder effects test narrowly, and hold that, absent additional contacts, mere effects in the forum state are insufficient to confer personal jurisdiction. See Hicklin Eng’g, Inc. v. Aidco, Inc.,959 F.2d 738 , 739 (8th Cir.1992) (per curiam).
Johnson,
Here, as in Viasystems, even assuming that Foreign Candy could satisfy factors (1) and (3) of the “effects test,” nothing here suggests that Tropical Paradise’s allegedly infringing activity was “uniquely or expressly aimed at the forum state,” where Tropical Paradise does not, itself, conduct any business and has had no direct sales in or other contacts with Iowa. See Viasystems, Inc.,
f. “Fair play and substantial justice” in the totality of the circumstances
Finally, due process requires that “[c]ontacts with the forum state must be sufficient that requiring a party to defend an action would not ‘offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice,’ ” Myers,
Consideration of the relevant factors leads to the conclusion that, on this record, dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction over Tropical Paradise is appropriate.
4. Jurisdictional discovery
a. Arguments of the parties
In its Response to the Motion To Dismiss, Foreign Candy argues that, if I determine that it has failed to make a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction, I should grant Foreign Candy the oppor
In its Reply, Tropical Paradise argues that jurisdictional discovery is not appropriate where Foreign Candy has only offered speculation or conclusory assertions about contacts with a forum state. Tropical Paradise argues that it has no contacts with Iowa, that Foreign Candy’s arguments to the contrary are specious, leaving it with no basis for establishing personal jurisdiction other than speculation or eonclusory assertions; and that discovery would be completely unavailing, because Tropical Paradise has no contacts with Iowa and has had no sales in Iowa for at least ten years. Thus, Tropical Paradise asserts that Foreign Candy is asking for a “fishing expedition.”
b. Analysis
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that “ ‘[w]hen a plaintiff offers only speculation or conclusory assertions about contacts with a forum state, a court is within its discretion in denying jurisdictional discovery.’ ” Viasystems, Inc.,
Here, Foreign Candy asserted that Tropical Paradise had sufficient contact with this forum, because of an Internet purchase by Foreign Candy’s CEO from the website of a third-party retailer, but offered no evidence that Tropical Paradise had any control over or affiliation with the third-party retailer. In response, Tropical Paradise offered an affidavit averring that CoffeeCow.com, the third-party retailer, is not affiliated in any way with Tropical Paradise. See Defendant’s Reply (docket no. 19), Second Affidavit Of Fadi S. Massabni, ¶ 8 (“CoffeeCow is not an affiliate of Tropical Paradise.”).
Foreign Candy has not rebutted that affidavit in any way, or even attempted to do so, and has offered nothing but speculative and conclusory assertions that Tropical Paradise might have some other contacts with Iowa, not any documentary evidence that provides any inference of additional contacts that Tropical Paradise might have with Iowa. Under these circumstances, Tropical Paradise is not entitled to any jurisdictional discovery. See Viasystems, Inc.,
5. Summary
In this case, even viewing the totality of the facts in the light most favorable to Foreign Candy, Foreign Candy has failed to meet its “minimal” burden of proof to
B. Venue
1. Arguments of the parties
In its Motion To Dismiss, Tropical Paradise seeks dismissal of Foreign Candy’s Complaint, in addition or in the alternative, for improper venue, pursuant to Rule 12(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Tropical Paradise asserts that venue is improper under any subdivision of 28 U.S.C. § 1391, as to Foreign Candy’s Lanham Act claims, and that venue in copyright disputes pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a) is improper, because that statute has been construed to make venue coextensive with personal jurisdiction, and personal jurisdiction is lacking. In Response, Foreign Candy argues that venue and personal jurisdiction are coextensive, so that venue is proper in this forum for the same reasons that personal jurisdiction is proper.
2. Analysis
The parties are correct that, in this case, venue is coextensive with personal jurisdiction. Under § 1391(b)(1), venue is proper where a defendant “resides,” but under § 1391(e)(2), a corporate defendant “resides” where it is subject to personal jurisdiction. Section 1391(b)(2) is inapplicable, because Foreign Candy does not argue, and I cannot find, that a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to Foreign Candy’s claims occurred in this judicial district. Section 1391(b)(3) provides that, if there is no other district where the action may be brought, venue is proper in a district in which the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has recognized that, because the statute makes where the defendant “resides” equivalent to where the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction, “[i]f personal jurisdiction exists at the commencement of the action, then venue is proper under 29 U.S.C. § 1391(b).” Dakota Indus., Inc.,
Similarly, § 1400(a), the provision establishing venue in copyright cases, provides that venue is proper “in the district in which the defendant or his agent resides or may be found.” 28 U.S.C. § 1400(a). Courts have construed this provision as also making venue proper only where personal jurisdiction is proper. See, e.g., Brayton Purcell, L.L.P. v. Recordon & Recordon,
Therefore, in addition or in the alternative, that part of Tropical Paradise’s Motion To Dismiss seeking dismissal for lack of proper venue is also granted.
III. CONCLUSION
Upon the foregoing, neither personal jurisdiction nor venue is proper in this district. Furthermore, I find that jurisdictional discovery is inappropriate in the circumstances presented here.
THEREFORE,
1. Tropical Paradise’s April 11, 2013, Motion To Dismiss (docket no. 5) is granted, and this matter is dismissed in its entirety pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2) for lack of personal jurisdiction and Rule 12(b)(3) for improper venue; and
2. Foreign Candy’s request for jurisdictional discovery in its May 13, 2013, Response To Motion To Dismiss Complaint (docket no. 13) is also denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Notes
. Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union,
. See, e.g., Pervasive Software, Inc. v. Lexware GmbH & Co. KG,
. It is not clear whether or not the reach of a state's long-arm statute is relevant to the personal jurisdiction inquiry in an action against a non-resident defendant that is not based on diversity of citizenship. Cf. Dairy Farmers of Am., Inc.,
. See, e.g., Celorio v. Google, Inc.,
. See AFTG-TG, L.L.C. v. Nuvoton Tech. Corp., 689 F.3d 1358, 1366-67 (8th Cir.2012) (although indicating a reluctance to read the concurrence by Justice Breyer in J. McIntyre Mach., Ltd. v. Nicastro, - U.S. -,
Indeed, in cases in which personal jurisdiction was based on one or only a veiy few sales by the defendant to customers in the forum state, jurisdiction was not based on a contact manufactured by the plaintiff or anyone affiliated with the plaintiff, and the circumstances showed more than the single sale as the basis for the exercise of personal jurisdiction. See P.S. Products, Inc. v. Maxsell Corp., No. 4:12CV00214 SWW,