Supreme Court Rules Against Record Labels in Music Piracy Case

Unanimous decision sides with Cox Communications in billion-dollar copyright dispute

Mar. 26, 2026 at 5:15am

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The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favor of Cox Communications in a copyright dispute brought by major record labels. The court overturned a $1 billion jury verdict that had held the internet service provider liable for music piracy carried out by its subscribers, stating that merely providing internet service, even with general awareness of potential copyright infringement, is insufficient to make the ISP a copyright infringer.

Why it matters

This landmark Supreme Court decision could significantly shift the landscape of anti-piracy efforts, moving the focus away from targeting internet service providers and toward other tactics such as going after large-scale uploaders, pursuing overseas piracy services, and seeking court orders to block access to repeat-offender websites.

The details

The case stemmed from years of notices sent by record labels and their anti-piracy vendors to Cox, alleging that specific subscribers were illegally sharing copyrighted songs through peer-to-peer networks. Sony and other labels argued that Cox contributed to infringement by allowing repeat offenders to remain online, even after receiving large volumes of notices. A Virginia jury in 2019 found Cox liable and awarded $1 billion in statutory damages to the major record labels.

  • The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the case on March 25, 2026.
  • A Virginia jury had previously found Cox liable and awarded $1 billion in damages in 2019.

The players

Cox Communications

An American internet service provider that was the defendant in the copyright dispute with major record labels.

Sony

One of the major record labels that brought the copyright infringement lawsuit against Cox Communications.

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What’s next

Industry experts predict that the ruling will prompt record labels to explore new strategies for combating music piracy, such as targeting large-scale uploaders, pursuing overseas piracy services, and seeking court orders to block access to repeat-offender websites.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision in favor of Cox Communications represents a significant victory for internet service providers, as it establishes that merely providing internet access, even with knowledge of potential copyright infringement, is not enough to hold an ISP liable for the actions of its subscribers. This ruling could have far-reaching implications for the future of anti-piracy efforts in the music industry.