In a legal battle set to impact the future of digital content distribution, Verizon finds itself at the center of a high-stakes lawsuit filed by three of the world’s leading music giants: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group. The lawsuit claims that Verizon was allegedly facilitating and allegedly profiting from customers’ alleged music piracy, underscoring the ongoing struggle between content creators and internet service providers over the responsibilities and liabilities of digital piracy.

According to Billboard, the labels claim that Verizon has allegedly been “[..] infringing more than 17,000 songs; if a judge awarded the maximum penalty for each of those songs, the damages could total more than $2.5 billion.” This highlights the financial liability that Verizon allegedly faces, with damages potentially exceeding over $2.5 billion if the company is found guilty and accountable for the alleged 17,000 songs.

Additionally, allegedly taking funds away from top-label music artists, through the means of alleged shared piracy of their respective content. This court case is aimed at forcing internet providers to enforce more proactive steps in preventing piracy on their networks. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly set a precedent for how ISPs and content creators navigate the complex landscape of digital rights and responsibilities in the internet age.