ISP Frontier Settles with Major Labels After Multi-Year Copyright Infringement Battle

Several major record labels have settled their copyright infringement lawsuit with internet provider Frontier after a multi-year legal battle.

Major record labels, including UMG, Sony Music, and Warner Music, have settled their piracy liability lawsuit with internet provider Frontier after a lengthy, multi-year legal battle. All parties agreed in a public notice to bear their own costs, while the details of the settlement remain undisclosed. The settlement comes a few weeks after another similar lawsuit, filed by film companies, was settled ahead of trial.

Frontier, which only emerged from bankruptcy three years ago, was fighting a pair of similar piracy liability lawsuits filed by music and film companies. Both were scheduled to go to trial in the spring, but were settled beforehand.

The music companies, spearheaded by UMG, reached a settlement with Frontier this week. In a notice submitted to the New York federal court, all parties agreed that all claims were settled with prejudice—meaning the claims cannot be refiled in the future. Last month, the movie companies’ lawsuit was settled on undisclosed terms.

Several prominent music and movie companies have filed lawsuits against internet providers in recent years for failing to take action against subscribers who commit piracy. Chiefly, the companies assert that ISPs like Frontier have failed to terminate the accounts of subscribers who repeatedly engage in copyright infringement by pirating IP— in violation of DMCA requirements. Lawsuits like this action against Frontier have resulted in millions owed by providers like Cox and Grande.

The settlement arrives just days after the U.S. government recommended the Supreme Court hear Cox’s case seeking to overturn a ruling in favor of the music companies. However, there is nothing to suggest that stance impacted the Frontier lawsuit’s settlement. Should the Supreme Court take action, that outcome would affect similar lawsuits against ISPs.

Meanwhile, several U.S. lawmakers are working on legislation against pirate sites, under which ISPs would be tasked with ensuring access to such sites is blocked. Some ISPs are open to the idea, as long as they’re granted “retrospective immunity” in the process.