High Court Finds Internet Service Providers Are Not Liable for Individual Users’ Infringement
SCOTUS Protects Open Internet Access for Americans
ATLANTA – March 25, 2026 – The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in favor of Cox Communications, rejecting an attempt from Sony Entertainment to hold the internet service provider liable for the alleged copyright infringement of its subscribers.
Cox issued the below statement following the decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Entertainment, et. al.
“The Supreme Court’s unanimous opinion is a decisive victory for the broadband industry and for the American people who depend on reliable internet service. This opinion affirms that Internet service providers are not copyright police and should not be held liable for the actions of their customers — and after years of battling in the trial and appellate courts, we have definitively shut down the music industry’s aspirations of mass evictions from the internet.
Internet service providers provide the critical communications infrastructure for millions of Americans. Today’s decision allows us to focus on our goals of preserving open internet access, protecting consumers’ privacy, and ensuring that broadband remains a reliable resource for the families and businesses in the communities we serve.”
This content originally appeared in the Cox Communications newsroom.
