Charter Communications sues RIAA

America's third largest cable provider has become the latest ISP to sue the RIAA over its use of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) subpoenas.

On September 24, the RIAA demanded that St Louis-based Charter Communications hand over the identities of 109 customers the Big Five record labels claimed had infringed their copyrights. However, it now seems the number of Charter clients the RIAA wants to haul into court has swelled.

Says a dc.internet.com story here, Charter, "wants a U.S. district court to quash the approximately 150 subpoenas the RIAA is seeking from Charter to reveal the names of subscribers who allegedly downloaded and then shared copyrighted music through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

"Verizon (Quote, Chart) and SBC Communications (Quote, Chart) have already gone to court to try to stop the subpoenas filed against their Internet subscribers. SBC has yet to have a hearing on the matter while Verizon lost in district court and is appealing the decision. In addition, several individuals named in the subpoenas have gone to court against the RIAA.

"While Verizon and SBC have turned over the names requested by the RIAA while they seek relief in court, Charter has refused to do so. Tom Hearity, vice president and associate general counsel for Charter, said Friday his company has not released a 'single datum of information' to the RIAA."