Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Cox in Music Piracy Case

Justices say ISP not liable for users' illegal downloads, rejecting record labels' claims.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:55pm

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In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that internet service provider Cox Communications is not liable for the copyright infringement of its customers who illegally downloaded music. The court reversed a previous jury verdict and lower court rulings that had sided with record labels like Sony Music who sued Cox for not doing enough to deter or cut off customers engaged in illegal downloading.

Why it matters

The ruling is a major victory for internet service providers, who had warned that holding them responsible for users' copyright violations could lead to widespread disruptions in internet access. The decision affirms that ISPs are not required to act as 'copyright police' and police their users' online activities.

The details

The Supreme Court sided with Cox, saying the company 'neither induced its users' infringement nor provided a service tailored to infringement.' The record labels had sued Cox, claiming the ISP did not do enough to deter or cut off customers who downloaded music illegally. A previous jury verdict and lower court rulings had partially upheld the labels' claims, but the Supreme Court unanimously reversed those decisions.

  • The Supreme Court issued its ruling on March 29, 2026.

The players

Cox Communications

A major internet service provider that serves over 6 million homes and businesses across more than a dozen states.

Sony Music Entertainment

One of the world's largest record label companies, which led the lawsuit against Cox over illegal music downloads by the ISP's customers.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, which unanimously ruled in favor of Cox in this copyright infringement case.

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The takeaway

This Supreme Court ruling is a significant win for internet service providers, establishing that they cannot be held liable for the copyright infringement of their customers. The decision affirms that ISPs are not required to actively police user activity and terminate service based on mere accusations of infringement, providing important protections for internet access and the free flow of information online.