Supreme Court to Review Cox Communications Copyright Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a copyright dispute between Cox Communications and music labels, including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, after a $1 billion jury verdict against Cox for user piracy was overturned. 

Reuters reports the Court agreed to review Cox’s appeal, which challenges a lower court’s ruling holding Cox liable for copyright infringement by its internet users, despite the verdict’s reversal. The Court declined to hear the labels’ appeal seeking to reinstate the $1 billion award, leaving a new trial to determine damages.

The case, set for the Court’s next term starting in October, stems from a 2018 lawsuit by over 50 labels accusing Cox of failing to curb illegal music downloads via peer-to-peer protocols like BitTorrent. The labels claimed Cox ignored thousands of infringement notices and did not terminate repeat infringers or take adequate anti-piracy measures. 

A Virginia federal jury found Cox liable for over 10,000 copyright violations in 2019, awarding $1 billion. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the award but upheld Cox’s liability for secondary infringement, prompting Cox’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

Cox argues the 4th Circuit’s ruling creates “confusion, disruption, and chaos” online, potentially forcing ISPs to disconnect entire households or institutions based on unverified infringement claims. The labels, meanwhile, contested the 4th Circuit’s rejection of vicarious liability, arguing it conflicts with other federal appeals court rulings. The Trump administration supported Cox’s appeal in May, urging the Court to reject the labels’ petition.