Record Labels Settle in Case to Force ISPs to Terminate Internet for Pirates

In a story that feels directly out of 2006, a lawsuit brought by major record labels that sought to ensure that Internet service providers start their customers on the Internet for piracy violations were resolved before going to court, According to Ars Technica. The case, brought by Sony Music, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group against Frontier Communications, will not go ahead, but it is not clear what are the terms of the agreement.

The trial began in 2021 and saw the labels complaining that Frontier essentially chose not to recognize complaints of copyright, choosing to provide “known impulsers with continuous access and use to its network” rather than ending their accounts, which would have been the preference for copyright holders. The case followed a successful prosecution against Cox Communications, also brought by record companies, which won companies a damage fee of $ 1 billion And, According to some defendersDefine a dangerous preliminary preliminary that would remove ISPs as too zealous by taking measures in response to complaints against copyright, which could reduce internet access for innocent users.

It is not clear if the settlement between frontier and the record companies will see the one abandon all terrain when it comes to acting against users who are accused of having violated copyright via hacking. The carrier too recently installed A similar case subject to this by several film companies before this case could be judged. The border, in particular, is being acquired by Verizon And is probably motivated to set all activities to allow this purchase to move forward.

As for the general “encouragement” in which ISPs are now to engage in strict hacking repression, which could ultimately be summed up in a decision of the Supreme Court. Cox and record companies went back and forth on the original decision of a billion dollars, with Cox Win a call last year On the grounds that he did not directly benefit financially from the authorization to violate copyright on his network. However, the court noted that the company voluntarily contributed to the violation by not acting, which kept in place the incitement to the ISPs to end the clients accused of hacking to avoid responsibility.

COX A asked for the Supreme Court To take up the question, judge that copyright holders have gone too far in their requests. The Internet supplier has argued that it should not have to prevent users who have simply been accused of content hacking, and has considered that allegations are often unreliable and that the cup of accounts would mean everyone’s start -up in an internet household, not just the violating part. The Trump administration has Throw his weight behind Cox’s positionEncouraging the court to find in favor of the ISP. At the same time, legislators increase the possibility of Drafting of legislation This would require the ISPs blocking access to sites that offer hacked content.