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What is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
Charter Communications is registered under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 ("DMCA") (See 17 U.S.C. §512). Under the DMCA, copyright owners have the right to notify Charter Communications if they believe that a Charter customer has infringed the copyright owner’s work(s).
Violations of federal Copyright law can result in civil and/or criminal liability, including payment of monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees to the copyright owner. See 17 U.S.C. §§ 504-506. In addition, Charter's Acceptable Use Policy explicitly prohibits copyright infringement by Charter High-Speed Internet subscriber.
For more information regarding the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, visit the United States Copyright Office at http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html.
Charter’s Acceptable Use Policy can be viewed by clicking on the following link: http://www.charter.com/Visitors/Policies.aspx?Policy=6
What is a "Notice of Copyright Infringement"?
Charter Communications receives notices from copyright holders or its representative organization stating that a Charter High-Speed Internet subscriber has used or acquired copyrighted work(s) without authorization from the copyright holder. This notice is called a "Notice of Copyright Infringement."
In compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Charter Communications will forward the Notice of Copyright Infringement to the offending party.
No personally identifiable customer information is shared with the copyright owner unless required by law.
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What should I do if I receive a Notice of Copyright Infringement?
Charter Communications request that you take immediate action to stop copyright infringement.
The Parent File Scan is an online scan that can locate any copyrighted material and peer-to-peer file sharing programs from your computer.
Visit http://www.respectcopyrights.org to scan your computer.
Also, while it is not required, it is recommended that you remove any peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs. Although, having a P2P program on your computer is not illegal, it could expose your computer to security risks.
What if I believe I did not download the infringing item the copyright holder is accusing me of?
It is possible that the activity occurred without your permission or knowledge by an unauthorized user, a minor who may not fully understand the copyright laws, a result of a computer virus, or even an unsecured wireless router. However, as a Charter Internet account owner, you can be held responsible for this activity.
If you have more than one computer in the household, check every computer for the infringing material. Ensure that every computer in your household is running a current antivirus and firewall program. Ensure that your operating system is up-to-date with the latest security patches. Finally, if you have a wireless router, ensure it is secured with a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
If the above does not apply, and you believe that a copyright holder has accused you in error, you may file a DMCA Counter-Claim with Charter Communications’ designated agent.
For more information on how to file a Counter-Claim, visit:
http://www.charter.com/Visitors/Policies.aspx?Policy=10
Can my High-Speed Internet service be suspended or terminated because of copyright infringement?
If Charter receives more than one Notice of Copyright Infringement on the customer’s part, the customer may be deemed a ‘repeat copyright infringer.’ Charter Communications reserves the right to terminate or suspend the accounts of ‘repeat copyright infringers.’
Charter's Acceptable Use Policy explicitly prohibits copyright infringement by Charter High-Speed Internet subscribers.
Charter’s Acceptable Use Policy can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.charter.com/Visitors/Policies.aspx?Policy=6
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