Cox Communications accused of complicity in music piracy, copyright infringement

For years, the record industry has had to contend with the millions of acts of copyright infringement that go hand-in-hand with music piracy, often suing — not always successfully — the most prolific thieves and uploaders for intellectual property theft. Now, two music companies are setting their sights on the telecom provider that they accuse of helping facilitate these thefts in the first place.

Digital Trends reports that BMG Rights Management and Round Hill Music are suing Cox Communications "for lack of of account termination for repeat copyright infringements," charging that 200,000 Cox subscribers continue to enjoy active internet service with the provider despite having committed over 7 million cases of music copyright infringement. The plaintiffs have been reportedly tracking BitTorrent downloads over the past two years to gauge the severity of music piracy occurring right under Cox's nose — piracy that, the companies claim, Cox continues to turn a blind eye to. For instance, one specifically tracked IP address was found to have violated over 54,000 music copyrights in just 64 days. Cox was notified for every single one of these downloads, yet did not act.

While other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) agreed to a Six Strike Program last year that would identify and penalize users that illegally downloaded copyright material, Cox opted for its own Graduated Response program instead, "which allows a subscriber to keep an account even after 12 complaints of copyright infringement, as long as the subscriber contacts Cox's Customer Safety Department 'to find a solution to the complaints.'" Because of this, BMG and Round Hill claim, Cox account holders can continue to steal songs and other copyright material and expect no reprisal from their service provider.

Whether you own a major telecom company or just a small startup, remember to always employ a reputable business attorney that can expertly maneuver around legal troubles, particularly in cases of IP theft.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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