Judge: Comcast doesn't have to identify subscribers who stole porn

Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) succeeded in quashing four subpoenas that had been filed by adult film companies that wanted the cable MSO to identify 88 of its high-speed Internet subscribers who are accused of downloading copyrighted porn videos through BitTorrent's file-sharing servers.

"The four subpoenas are quashed. Civil case closed," a judge at a U.S. District Court in Illinois wrote in a one-page order.

The ruling will help Comcast reduce the amount of time and expenses required to respond to the subpoenas, which were filed by adult film distributors AF Holdings, Pacific Century International, Sunlust Pictures and First Time Videos. It is also helping the MSO generate positive stories on technology news outlets such as Gizmodo, which have praised Comcast for fighting the subpoenas.

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