MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: The deadline to file a joint initial status report is extended to and including August 1, 2025, at the request of plaintiff's attorney. Mailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: On June 3, 2025, plaintiff filed a memorandum of law 16 and evidence in support of joinder of the two defendants named in Schedule A 12 to the amended complaint 11. Plaintiff points out that two numbers on the packaging of defendants' accused products are identical. See Mem. 6. Different language surrounding these numbers, however, and other numbers beneath the respective bar codes on the accused products' packaging differ. See id. In addition, the significance of the identical numbers has not been adequately explained on this record. For example, identical numbers may, or may not, indicate that the products came from a common manufacturer, which is generally an insufficient reason to join two sellers as defendants. See Shenzhen Jisu Tech. Co. v. Schedule A Defs., 2025 WL 972866, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 1, 2025) (citing Pathway IP LLC v. Schedule A Defs., 2025 WL 815648, at *4-5 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 13, 2025)); Este Lauder Cosmetics Ltd. v. Schedule A Defs., 334 F.R.D. 182, 188 (N.D. Ill. 2020). Moreover, the screenshots attached to plaintiff's amended complaint list a different company name and mailing address (with a different postal code) for each defendant. Compare ECF No. 12-1 at 3, with id. at 21. For these reasons, the court cannot definitively determine whether joinder comports with Rule 20(a)(2) at this juncture, where defendants have not appeared or been served, and no discovery has been taken. Plaintiff may proceed against both defendants on the condition that plaintiff must supplement the record with an explanation of the significance of the identical numbers shown on pages five and six of its memorandum of law 16 dated June 3, 2025. If plaintiff requires discovery to supplement the record, it should so indicate in the joint initial status report due July 2, 2025. See ECF No. 8. Mailed notice

SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Liu Feng MEMORANDUM OF LAW REGARDING PROPER JOINDER

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: Plaintiff is instructed to file a memorandum of law justifying joinder of the defendants named in amended Schedule A to their complaint 12. Plaintiff's memorandum of law on joinder is due by and including June 3, 2025. Mailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: Plaintiff's motion 13 for leave to file certain documents under seal on a temporary basis is granted. The Clerk is instructed to maintain the seal on all presently sealed documents until further order of court. Mailed notice

MOTION by Plaintiff Liu Feng for leave to file Under Seal Plaintiffs Amended Schedule A, Amended Exhibit A, and Exhibit B to the First Amended Complaint

SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Liu Feng to First Amended Schedule A to Complaint, Amended Exhibit A, and Exhibit B

附件：

1:(Exhibit B)
2:Amended Exhibit A

First AMENDED complaint by Liu Feng against The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations identified in Schedule A

附件：

1:Amended Exhibit A
2:(Exhibit B)
3:Amended Schedule A

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: Plaintiff's May 8, 2025, deadline 6 to file a memorandum of law justifying joinder of the eleven defendants has come and gone, and nothing has been filed. Accordingly, plaintiff is ordered to amend its complaint by and including May 23, 2025, and eliminate all improperly joined defendants under Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2) and Bailie v. Schedule A Defendants, 734 F. Supp. 3d 798 (N.D. Ill. 2024). Mailed notice

STANDING ORDER IN "SCHEDULE A" CASES Signed by the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 5/1/2025.Mailed notice

ORDER: An initial status report is due on or before July 2, 2025. Counsel and parties are directed to familiarize themselves with the pretrial procedures in Judge Gottschall's case management packet, which is available from the court's website at https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov. Please pay particular attention to the requirement to exchange initial disclosures within fourteen days of the parties' initial discovery planning conference and the court's requirement that the parties are to explore settlement opportunities and identify areas of agreement prior to the filing of the first status report.If, by the due date of the scheduled status report, defendants have not been served, plaintiff should email chambers_gottschall@ilnd.uscourts.gov to reset the status date. Counsel in cases removed from another court should follow these procedures to the extent applicable. See the order and Judge Gottschall's case management packet for further details. Signed by the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 5/1/2025. Mailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: Plaintiff's motion 3 for leave to file certain documents temporarily under seal is granted. The Clerk is instructed to maintain the seal on all presently sealed documents until further order of court. Mailed notice

ORDER Signed by the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall on 5/1/2025.Mailed notice

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall: Enter order. In accordance with the order, plaintiff has until and including May 8, 2025, to show cause why joinder of the eleven defendants comports with Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2). Mailed notice

MAILED patent report to Patent Trademark Office, Alexandria VA.

CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order.

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Joan B. Gottschall. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Heather K. McShain. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 1).

MOTION by Plaintiff Liu Feng for leave to file Under Seal Plaintiffs Schedule A, Exhibit A, and Exhibit B to the Complaint

SEALED DOCUMENT by Plaintiff Liu Feng Schedule A to Complaint, Exhibit A, and Exhibit B

附件：

1:(Exhibit B)
2:Exhibit A

COMPLAINT filed by Liu Feng; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-23405523.

附件：

1:(Civil Cover Sheet)
2:Exhibit B
3:Exhibit A
4:Exhibit Schedule A