No. 24-1299

Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., a California Corporation v. Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-06-24
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)
Tags: civil-liability communications-decency-act internet-platforms product-misrepresentation section-230 third-party-content
Key Terms:
Trademark Patent Privacy
Latest Conference: 2025-11-14 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does Section 230 confer immunity on internet platforms when they knowingly permit, facilitate, and profit from third-party promotion and sale of misrepresented products on their websites?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. In early 2022, Plaintiff Planet Green, Inc. (“Planet Green”), a U.S.-based remanufacturer of printer ink cartridges, provided Defendants Amazon.com, Inc., Amazon.com Services LLC, and Amazon Advertising LLC (collectively “Amazon”) with detailed evidence of sellers on its we bsite that falsely promoted, advertised, and sold printer ink cartridges they misrepresented as remanufactured when they are actually newly-manufactured replicas of original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) products. After more than a year of extensive discussions, Amazon chose to take no effective corrective action, instead claiming that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (“CDA”), 47 U.S.C. § 230 (“Section 230”) immunized it from liability for third-party product listings. The unlawful sales and promotions persist today. Amazon’s Section 230 defense succeeded in both the District Court and the Ninth Circuit because Planet Green’s claims involved third-party content and products. Does Section 230 confer immunity on internet platforms when they knowingly permit, facilitate, and profit from third-party promotion and sale of misrepresented pro ducts on their websites? 2. Amazon itself is a central player in the promotion, advertising, and sale of misrepresented ink cartridges on its website. Among other activities, Amazon’s algorithms collect and analyze data about the online activities of its users and target advertising and product recommendations to them through direct communications over Amazon’s website and other web platforms, and via email. The lower courts held that Amazon’s algorithm-driven recommendations and targeted advertising were protected by Section 230 because they support third-party product listings. ii Does Section 230 immunize internet platforms from civil claims based on their own conduct, including using algorithms to generate targeted advertising and product recommendations for their users?

Docket Entries

2025-11-17
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-29
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/14/2025.
2025-10-29
Reply of Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., a California corporation submitted.
2025-10-29
Reply of petitioner Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., a California corporation filed. (Distributed)
2025-10-29
Reply of petitioner Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., filed. (Distributed)
2025-10-10
Brief of Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Amazon.com Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and Amazon Advertising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company in opposition submitted.
2025-10-10
Brief of respondents Amazon.com, Inc., et al. in opposition filed.
2025-08-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 10, 2025, for all respondents.
2025-08-21
Motion of Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Amazon.com Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and Amazon Advertising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company for an extension of time submitted.
2025-08-21
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 10, 2025 to October 10, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-08-11
Response Requested. (Due September 10, 2025)
2025-08-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-14
Waiver of Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Amazon.com Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and Amazon Advertising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company of right to respond submitted.
2025-07-14
Waiver of right of respondent Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Amazon.com Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and Amazon Advertising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company to respond filed.
2025-06-18
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 24, 2025)

Attorneys

Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Amazon.com Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and Amazon Advertising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
Moez Mansoor KabaHueston Hennigan LLP, Respondent
Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., a California corporation
John Charles UlinTroyGould PC, Petitioner