Storey v Planet Arkadia: Substituted Service via Social Media in Virtual World Copyright Dispute

In Storey v Planet Arkadia Pte Ltd, the High Court of Singapore addressed the issue of substituted service via electronic means in a copyright dispute. David Ian Andrew Storey, the plaintiff, alleged copyright infringement and breach of contract against Planet Arkadia Pte Ltd and its directors, Dobson David Michael and Peter Lawrence Dobson. Unable to serve Dobson David Michael personally, Storey applied for substituted service via email, Skype, Facebook, and an internet forum. The court, after considering the efficacy of electronic means and compliance with established requirements, allowed the application for substituted service.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Application for substituted service through email, Skype, Facebook and arkadiaforum.com allowed.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Singapore court allows substituted service via email, Skype, Facebook, and internet forum in a copyright dispute over the virtual world, Planet Arkadia.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
David Ian Andrew StoreyPlaintiffIndividualApplication for substituted service allowedWon
Planet Arkadia Pte LtdDefendantCorporationApplication for substituted service allowedLost
Dobson David MichaelDefendantIndividualApplication for substituted service allowedLost
Peter Lawrence DobsonDefendantIndividualApplication for substituted service allowedNeutral

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Zhuang WenXiongAssistant RegistrarYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Andy Leck Kwang HeeWong & Leow LLC
Cheah Yew KuinWong & Leow LLC
Faith Lim YuanWong & Leow LLC

4. Facts

  1. Plaintiff, David Ian Andrew Storey, is a professional online gamer and freelance software developer.
  2. First defendant, Planet Arkadia Pte Ltd, develops computer games.
  3. Second defendant, Dobson David Michael, is the managing director of the first defendant.
  4. Third defendant, Peter Laurence Dobson, is a director of the first defendant.
  5. Plaintiff alleges copyright infringement and breach of contract.
  6. Plaintiff was unable to serve the second defendant personally in Australia.
  7. Plaintiff applied for substituted service through email, Skype, Facebook, and an internet message board.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Storey, David Ian Andrew v Planet Arkadia Pte Ltd and others, High Court — Suit No 1092 of 2015 (Summons No 1030 of 2016), [2016] SGHCR 7

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Suit filed (Suit No 1092 of 2015)
Hearing date
Judgment date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Substituted Service
    • Outcome: The court allowed substituted service through email, Skype, Facebook, and an internet message board.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Service via electronic means
      • Service via social media
      • Impracticability of personal service

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Delivery up of in-game land

9. Cause of Actions

  • Copyright Infringement
  • Breach of Contract

10. Practice Areas

  • Litigation

11. Industries

  • Online Gaming
  • Software Development

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Porter v FreudenbergN/AYes[1915] 1 KB 857EnglandCited for the principle that the proposed method of substituted service must, in all reasonable probability, be effective to bring knowledge of the writ to the defendant.
Consistel Pte Ltd v Farooq NasirN/AYes[2009] 3 SLR(R) 665SingaporeCited to support the proposition that substituted service cannot be used to circumvent Order 11 of the Rules of Court.
Humpuss Sea Transport Pte Ltd (in compulsory liquidation) v PT Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi TBKN/AYes[2015] 4 SLR 625SingaporeCited regarding the procedure for service ex juris and the potential challenges to substituted service ex juris.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
O 62 r 5 of the Rules of Court (Cap 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Substituted service
  • Electronic service
  • Social media service
  • Planet Arkadia
  • Entropia Universe
  • Virtual world
  • Online gaming

15.2 Keywords

  • substituted service
  • social media
  • Facebook
  • Skype
  • copyright
  • virtual world
  • Planet Arkadia
  • Entropia Universe

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Substituted Service95
Civil Procedure90
Civil Practice90
Social media80
Instant messaging70
Service of document70
Jurisdiction30
Online gaming20
Computers and Software20
Copyrights10
Breach of Contract10

16. Subjects

  • Civil Procedure
  • Service of Process
  • Social Media
  • Copyright