Time Warner Cable (now Charter Communications) has added the threat of account disconnections to the company's copyright infringement notices. As part of the Copyright Alert System, ISPs consistently forward on claims of copyright infringement. They also dole out some light "punishment" for repeat offenders that usually includes temporary throttling or forcing users to click through a few warnings acknowledging receipt of copyright "educational" materials.
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Though Torrent Freak notes that Time Warner Cable has added some new language to their newest copyright warnings that threaten user disconnection.
"In addition, in accordance with our acceptable use policy, your internet service may be subject to termination at our sole discretion if we continue to receive credible allegations that your internet connection has been used to share copyrighted content without permission of the copyright owner," an updated paragraph in the letter sent to consumers reads.
That said, it's rare for an ISP to actually disconnect copyright infringers.
Time Warner Cable may have updated the language to make it more visible after Cox was recently found liable for not doing enough to policy piracy on its network. Cox did threaten to kick customers off the network, but the courts found this threat to be largely theatrical in nature. ISPs are concerned that they may facing losing safe harbor protections under the DMCA in the wake of the case.
Though the entertainment industry is also likely negotiating with ISPs to toughen up the system, first implemented back in 2013.
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