Can you sue people you don't know for something they haven't done yet?

A company that has a contract with Billy Joel to sell officially authorized Billy Joel concert clothing and tchotchkes yesterday filed a pre-emptive lawsuit against 200 John and Jane Does and "XYZ Company" to keep them from trying to sell Joelware outside the singer's concert next Thursday at Fenway Park.

Defendants John Does 1-100, Jane Does 1-100 and XYZ Company who are sued herein under fictitious names because their true names and capacities are unknown at this time. This complaint will be amended when their true names and capacities are ascertained.

In its lawsuit, filed in US District Court, Bravado International Group Merchandising Services, Inc. of Los Angeles, says it knows the bandits will try to hawk their wares because it's happened before at other Billy Joel performances.

The Unauthorized Merchandise sold and to be sold by Defendants is generally of inferior quality. The sale of such merchandise has injured and is likely to injure the Plaintiff’s reputation for high quality goods.

Also, yeah, their sale means less money for the company and Joel.

Bravado wants a judge to order the unknown Does to knock it off and, since that clearly hasn't stopped them before, order the local US Marshal and state and local police to seize any of the counterfeit goods they run across.