The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a high-profile dispute that could redefine the legal responsibilities of internet service providers when their subscribers engage in digital piracy. The case centers on a nearly $1 billion copyright infringement judgment previously issued against Cox Communications, one of the nation’s largest broadband providers.
The long-running conflict began when several major record labels and music publishers representing some of the industry’s biggest brands filed a lawsuit accusing Cox of ignoring repeated warnings that some of its customers were illegally sharing copyrighted music through peer-to-peer networks. A federal jury found the company liable in 2019, issuing one of the largest copyright verdicts ever recorded in the United States. A federal judge later adjusted the total to roughly $990 million.
In 2024, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the finding that Cox could be held responsible for contributing to copyright violations, noting evidence that the company sometimes restored service to customers accused of repeatedly infringing copyright. However, the appeals court instructed the lower court to reconsider exactly how the damages were calculated.
The Supreme Court will now examine a central question: Should an internet service provider be held accountable for piracy committed by customers when the company does not have specific knowledge of each infringement?
Cox maintains that it operated within the rules of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a law that protects service providers from liability if they act quickly when notified of potential infringements. Company representatives argue that they responded to takedown requests and therefore remained within the boundaries of federal safe-harbor guidelines.
The music companies involved in the lawsuit take a different position. They argue that Cox failed to implement an effective system for addressing repeat offenders, claiming the company maintained a “business-as-usual” approach even while knowing that certain accounts were consistently flagged for piracy. According to the plaintiffs, this inaction removed the protections normally offered by the DMCA.
The case has attracted attention from across the technology and telecommunications industries. Several major internet providers and trade organizations have filed briefs supporting Cox, warning that a ruling against the company could push providers to monitor customer behavior much more aggressively raising concerns about privacy and increasing operational costs. On the other side, artists’ groups and copyright advocates say a strong ruling is necessary to curb widespread online piracy.
A final decision from the Supreme Court is expected before the end of the Court’s current term in June 2026. Legal experts say the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for how copyright laws are enforced online and could influence how providers manage digital rights compliance for years to come.
