LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – Altice USA, the company behind the Optimum broadband and cable brand, has settled a $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit filed by major music industry players. The lawsuit, initiated in December 2022 by BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Group (UMG), Capitol Records, and Concord Music Group, accused Altice of disregarding rampant copyright violations by its subscribers, allowing the company to profit from the infringements.
The plaintiffs claimed that Altice’s inaction had caused significant harm to their businesses and to the artists and songwriters they represent. They alleged that Altice ignored the violations and benefited financially from them, contributing materially to the infringement.
Despite this settlement, Altice continues to face legal challenges. In December 2023, Warner Records and Sony Music Publishing filed a similar lawsuit alleging that Altice’s internet subscribers directly infringed upon over 10,700 copyrighted works. This new legal action could potentially cost Altice more than $1.6 billion in damages, with the plaintiffs seeking the maximum statutory fine of $150,000 per violation.
Altice has pledged to vigorously defend against the claims in this case, citing a defense under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that could potentially limit or preclude damages.
These legal actions are part of a broader effort by the music industry to crack down on online piracy. Music companies have shifted their focus from peer-to-peer file-sharing services to internet service providers (ISPs), viewing them as critical players in curbing illegal activities.
In recent months, several ISPs, including Verizon, Bright House Networks, Grande Communications, and Cox Communications, have faced similar lawsuits. Cox, for example, was ordered to pay approximately $1 billion in damages in a 2019 case but had the award overturned by a federal appeals court earlier this year. Cox has since petitioned the US Supreme Court to review the case, arguing that the ruling could lead to households and businesses being disconnected from the internet.
