Cable provider Altice has reached an agreement to disclose personal information of 100 broadband subscribers accused of music piracy to Warner and other record labels, according to a recent court order.
The subscribers in question were previously flagged through copyright notices from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) or third parties. Under the agreement, Altice will notify affected customers that their names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses will be shared with the plaintiffs unless they file an objection within 30 days.
The court has classified this personal information as "highly confidential" and restricted its use to attorneys only within the scope of this specific legal case.
This development stems from a December 2023 lawsuit filed against Altice in Texas federal court. Record labels claim the internet service provider (ISP) failed to take action against repeat copyright infringers despite receiving over 70,000 infringement notices between February 2020 and November 2023. Some individual subscribers allegedly received hundreds of notices, with one IP address accumulating 926 violations.
The lawsuit alleges Altice "knowingly contributed to massive copyright infringement" by not terminating these repeat offenders, prioritizing profits over legal obligations.
This case represents part of a broader legal campaign by content owners against ISPs. A similar lawsuit against Cox Communications resulted in a $1 billion jury verdict in 2019, though that award was later vacated and awaits a new trial.
ISPs have pushed back against aggressive copyright enforcement, arguing that mass account terminations could unfairly impact innocent users sharing the same connection. They also question the reliability of automated copyright notices.
The case continues as discovery proceeds, with Altice's earlier attempt to dismiss the lawsuit denied in September 2024.