Record labels sue Frontier Communications for copyright infringement

By Emmanuel Legrand

US ISP Frontier Communications has been sued in the Southern District of New York by a group of 15 record labels, including the three majors – Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music – for not taking action against customers who are using Frontier's network to “illegally download and distribute” unlicensed music via BitTorrent and other file-sharing platforms. 

  The labels argue that Frontier did not take action after being notified of copyright infringement by “flagrant and serial infringers.” Plaintiffs claim that they've sent over 20,000 DMCA copyright notices to Frontier without reaction from the ISP. 

  The lawsuit reads: “Despite these alleged policies, and despite receiving thousands of DMCA Notices from Plaintiffs’ representatives, and thousands of similar notices from other copyright owners, Frontier knowingly permitted specifically identified repeat infringers to continue to use its network to infringe.” 

Repeated acts of infringement

  It added: "The infringement notices sent by Plaintiffs and other copyright owners advised Frontier of its subscribers’ blatant and systematic use of Frontier’s Internet service to illegally download, copy, and distribute copyrighted works through illicit BitTorrent sites and other online file-sharing services. 6. Frontier failed to adequately respond to these notices. It deliberately refused to take reasonable measures to curb its subscribers from using its service to infringe on the copyrights of others, including Plaintiffs, despite having direct knowledge of particular subscribers engaging in specific, repeated acts of infringement."

  Plaintiffs seek relief for copyright infringement claims that accrued starting on May 1, 2021 and ask for trial by jury.

  Frontier denied any wrongdoing in a statement sent to Law Street Media: “Frontier is not alleged to have done anything directly to infringe any copyright owner’s rights, and in fact has terminated many customers about whom copyright owners have complained. Frontier believes that it has done nothing wrong and will vigorously defend itself.”