Cox Communications has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s decision that held the company liable for copyright infringement committed by its subscribers. The dispute originated in 2018 when major music labels, including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, sued Cox, alleging that the company benefited from widespread copyright violations by its customers. In 2019, a Virginia jury imposed $1 billion in damages against Cox for infringing on over 10,000 music copyrights. However, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned this amount and ordered a new trial to reassess damages but upheld Cox’s liability if it failed to address piracy.
Cox argues that the ruling could force internet service providers to terminate service for large groups of users, including businesses and public facilities, based on unverified allegations of infringement. The company contends that this would necessitate extensive surveillance of subscribers and could undermine efforts to expand internet access, particularly in rural areas. With approximately 6.5 million customers, Cox maintains that only a small fraction were involved in the alleged piracy, emphasizing the potential negative impact on internet accessibility and service management.
