(CN) - Time Warner must pass along subpoenas to its subscribers as part of a gay erotica website's efforts to identify 59 internet users who hacked the site and stole copyrighted videos.
U.S. District Judge William Gallo of San Diego, Calif., granted a motion Tuesday for immediate discovery filed by the site's operator, Liberty Media. The company seeks the Internet Protocol addresses of 59 unknown defendants. Because there was no other identifying information available, the company is allowed to serve subpoenas on the service providers to find out the defendants' identities.
Gallo gave Time Warner seven days to attempt quashing the subpoena or to notify the subscribers in question about Liberty's investigation. Once notified, the subscribers can contest the subpoena themselves.
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