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Bright House Doesn't Directly Profit From Pirating Subscribers, Court Rules
A federal court in Florida has dismissed the vicarious copyright infringement claims against ISP Bright House Networks. The company is being sued by a group of prominent record labels who argue that the Internet provider directly profited from piracy. The court disagrees, characterizing the accusations as "a sort of 'dog-whistle' theory."
Last year a group of music industry giants, including Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros, sued Bright House Networks for failing to disconnect pirating subscribers.
Bright House is owned by Charter, which was sued in a separate complaint simultaneously. In both cases, the music companies demanded compensation for their alleged losses.
The lawsuits, which are part of a broader legal campaign against ISPs, have continued on their own paths since. Both Bright House and Charter submitted motions to dismiss the claims. For Bright House, this resulted in a victory late last week.
In February, the ISP submitted a motion to dismiss the vicarious copyright infringement claims. Bright House refuted the claim that it profited directly from pirating subscribers, something which the court now agrees.
Dismissal of vicarious liability claim (PDF).
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday July 18 2020, @05:01PM (8 children)
then these lawsuits won't happen
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 18 2020, @06:37PM (5 children)
Nationalize! Make the post office useful and even less profitable by making them administer the nationwide infrastructure. It would be a great move if ethics and law meant anything for government agencies.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by fustakrakich on Saturday July 18 2020, @07:33PM (4 children)
The post office is profitable, and pretty damn reliable, but it is under attack by the 2006 pension law, and the money being paid into that pension is being diverted to pay down the "Debt"®
The post office also used to offer basic banking services until 1965, something I wish more people would demand, to combat the thievery in the regular banks and check cashing services
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 18 2020, @08:36PM (3 children)
The post office is profitable, and pretty damn reliable?
Bullfuckingshit. I've lived here for 20 years and my mail is always mixed in with the neighbors mail. They can't look at a fucking number on a letter and match it to the one on a house.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday July 18 2020, @09:26PM
My favorable anecdote (and statistics) kicks your negative anecdote's ass!
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 1) by MIRV888 on Sunday July 19 2020, @01:12AM
It's been totally reliable for me for 30 years.
Sorry about your luck.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 23 2020, @09:25AM
They handle 48% of the world's mail, around 140 billion pieces of mail, over 160 million delivery points, and all you can complain about is they get one address off between your neighbor and you? Sounds pretty reliable to me.
Also, I just learned that there are some interesting stats and information like that on https://facts.usps.com [usps.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday July 20 2020, @02:46PM (1 child)
Reform Copyright -- then these lawsuits won't happen.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Monday July 20 2020, @06:18PM
Let's do both... Personally, I believe that common carrier status will have a bigger impact that goes way beyond copyright
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday July 18 2020, @08:03PM (1 child)
We need our representatives to remember who they represent. I could loan them a hatchet, to start chopping these mafiosa rent seekers off at the knees.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday July 19 2020, @12:49AM
Your representatives are quite aware of who they represent.
Follow the money and you can figure out who that is.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 19 2020, @03:56PM
next up: sueing the government for building roads and car makers for providing getaway cars and oil companies for making fuel for said car after a bank heist ...