Supreme Court Sides With Cox, Rejects Labels’ $1B Piracy Claims

The U.S. Supreme Court just handed a major win to internet providers but raised new questions about who’s responsible for online piracy.

In a unanimous ruling, the Court said Cox Communications cannot be held liable for users downloading pirated music, even if the company knew it was happening, according to Reuters and AP. That undercuts a years-long push by major record labels to force ISPs to police their customers.

The case involved more than 50 music companies accusing Cox of ignoring thousands of copyright complaints tied to over 10,000 songs. A previous $1 billion verdict against Cox is now effectively wiped out.

But the decision stops short of giving ISPs total immunity. The Court said providers could still be liable if they actively encourage piracy.

The bigger impact may hit everyday users indirectly. Instead of cutting off internet access over accusations, ISPs now have less pressure to act aggressively—shifting the burden back onto copyright holders to chase individuals or platforms instead.

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