US: Judge overturns $6.3 million jury verdict in CableTV antitrust case

A judge has reversed a lower court ruling against Cox in a set-top box case in Oklahoma and the $6.31 million judgment that went with it.

An Oklahoma federal jury decided last month that Cox had violated antitrust laws when it tied premium cable service to set-top rentals, awarding $6.31 million in damages to the customers who sued.

But Cox appealed, as it had signaled it would, and the decision has been reversed.

“The Court finds that Plaintiff failed to offer evidence from which a jury could determine that any other manufacturer wished to sell set-top boxes at retail or that Cox had acted in a manner to prevent any other manufacturer from selling set-top boxes at retail,” U.S. District Court Judge Robin Cauthron said in the decision. “Because of this, there is no evidence that Defendant foreclosed any competition.”

Cox had asked the court for the post-verdict judgment that the jury had erred and Judge Cauthron agreed, finding in favor of Cox.

Full content: The Hollywood Reporter

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