Comcast Settles P2P Throttling Case

Earlier this week Comcast decided to settle a class action lawsuit broght forth by several customers who were using popular P2P programs like Ares, BitTorrent, eDonkey, FastTrack or Gnutella P2P protocols. P2P users claimed wrong doing by the Cable company stating Comcast’s practice of throttling P2P connections was “data discrimination”.

Comcast, looking to stave off what could be a more damning judgment has given up on at least one of the court cases its facing and agreed to settle to the tune of $16M USD.  According tot he terms of the settlement Comcast won't admit any wrong doing instead handing over approximately $16/person affected.

Comcast stands by their throttling approach stating it has every right to "manage" its traffic and says the settlement was because it wanted to "avoid a potentially lengthy and distracting legal dispute that would serve no useful purpose."

Despite the fact they won't admit wrong doing the good news is that Comcast subscribers who "live in the United States or its Territories, have a current or former Comcast High-Speed Internet account, and either used or attempted to use Comcast service to use the Ares, BitTorrent, eDonkey, FastTrack or Gnutella P2P protocols at any time from April 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008; and/or Lotus Notes to send emails any time from March 26, 2007 to October 3, 2007" are entitled to a $16 piece of the settlement pie.

For more details on joining the settlement visit the Hart v Comcast of Alamenda P2P Settlement Website