Internet service provider RCN faces a new multi-million dollar piracy lawsuit from indie film distributor Screen Media Ventures (SMV), adding to its ongoing legal battles with major music companies.

Under US copyright law, internet providers must terminate accounts of repeat copyright infringers in "appropriate circumstances," though these requirements remain unclear. Several providers, including Cox and Grande Communications, have faced substantial damages, with cases under appeal.

SMV initially attempted to join an existing lawsuit against RCN but was denied due to concerns about case expansion. In response, SMV filed a separate lawsuit, arguing that combining the cases would have been more efficient for the court system.

The lawsuit cites 324 copyrighted works affected by RCN's alleged failure to address piracy through account termination. Potential damages could reach $48.6 million, though SMV is likely to focus on the most frequently pirated works.

Key demands in SMV's lawsuit include:

• Termination of subscriber accounts receiving more than three copyright infringement notices within 72 hours
• Blocking access to known piracy websites identified by the US Trade Representative
• Compensation for lost sales due to online piracy

The case highlights the ongoing tension between content creators and internet service providers over piracy enforcement responsibilities, with RCN now facing pressure from both music and film industry plaintiffs.

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