Strike 3 Litigation

Silence on the Docket: Where Has the Strike 3 Gravy Train Gone?

For those of us who have been following the steady stream of federal copyright lawsuits, a curious quiet has fallen over the court dockets since September 16, 2025. For weeks now, the legal machine that has been churning out “John Doe” cases almost daily has come to a grinding halt. So, what happened? Let’s speculate on a few of the most likely reasons.

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The Federal Government Shutdown

The most plausible theory for the sudden silence is a federal government shutdown. If a new budget deal wasn’t reached, many non-essential government services, including large parts of the federal court system, would be put on hold. This would mean that while some judges and staff might continue working for a short period on essential tasks, new civil filings would cease.

In this scenario, the Strike 3 legal team would effectively be furloughed from their core business. We can only imagine the scene: lawyers sitting at their desks, briefcases packed, staring at a frozen federal e-filing portal, anxiously awaiting the call to restart the “gravy train.” It’s a logistical nightmare for a business model built on relentless volume, and a stark reminder that even the most efficient legal machine is subject to the whims of legislative gridlock.

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A Souring EconomY

Another potential reason for the sudden stop could be a downturn in the economy. The Strike 3 business model relies heavily on a high rate of settlement from anonymous defendants. If a recession has hit, or if consumer confidence has plummeted, fewer people might have the discretionary income to pay a settlement fee rather than fight a lawsuit.

If the financial reward for each case drops below a profitable threshold, the entire operation could be put on hold. It’s a classic case of supply and demand: when the supply of willing payers dries up, the machine stops producing. The cost of filing and pursuing a lawsuit must still be met, and if the return on investment is no longer there, it’s smarter to wait for better times.

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The Calm Before the Storm?

Whatever the reason, the current quiet is a stark contrast to the months of daily filings we’ve witnessed. It could be a temporary pause, a chance for the legal team to regroup and recalibrate. Or, it could be a sign of a larger, systemic issue. Only time will tell if the “gravy train” has been permanently derailed or is just waiting on the next track. For now, the digital ghosts of “John Doe” can rest easy, but they should probably keep their firewalls up.