[FRIAM] Jacksparrow gets away again (sony v cox)
Gillian Densmore
gil.densmore at gmail.com
Wed Apr 1 19:38:34 EDT 2026
As it's world prank day I had to check wikipedia and snopes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications,_Inc._v._Sony_Music_Entertainment
Ok who ever had: parasitic internet cobal being going chaotic good
anti-hero on there Bingo card. Pls go invest a ton into the stock market.
I just have a 2% finders fee.
I didn't have: week of april 1 be when this timeline would be sane for just
a few days. On my bingo card.
Forwarding it along because it's news with a silver linning. that is
ridiculous it even went to trial, and wasn't rejected back in 2019. on the
other hand...
Based on the latest developments, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Cox
Communications on March 25, 2026, reversing a lower court decision that had
held the internet service provider (ISP) liable for $1 billion in damages
regarding copyright infringement by its users. [1
<https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/cox-communications-inc-v-sony-music-entertainment/#:~:text=Judgment:%20Reversed%20and%20remanded%2C%209%2D0%2C%20in%20an,an%20opinion%20concurring%20in%20the%20judgment%2C%20joined>,
2
<https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5799938-supreme-court-rules-cox-communications/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20is%20aimed%20at%2057%2C000%20Cox,found%20to%20infringe%20over%2010%2C000%20copyrighted%20works.>,
3
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications,_Inc._v._Sony_Music_Entertainment#:~:text=The%20Court%20issued%20its%20decision%20on%20March,Fourth%20Circuit's%20decision%20and%20remanding%20the%20case.>,
4
<https://www.mintz.com/insights-center/viewpoints/2251/2026-03-27-supreme-court-narrows-contributory-copyright-liability#:~:text=On%20March%2025%2C%202026%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Supreme,the%20scope%20of%20contributory%20copyright%20infringement%20liability.>,
5
<https://www.law360.com/articles/2357722/copyright-and-tm-cases-to-watch-in-the-second-half-of-2025#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Supreme%20Court%20picked%20up%20a,liable%20for%20the%20infringing%20activities%20of%20users.>
]
Here is the breakdown of the Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music
Entertainment case:
Key Case Details
- The Dispute: Sony Music Entertainment, along with other labels, sued
Cox in 2018, alleging that Cox did not adequately cut off internet access
for customers who were repeat infringers downloading copyrighted music.
- Original Verdict (2019/2024): A jury originally found Cox liable for
willful contributory and vicarious infringement, awarding $1 billion in
damages. In February 2024, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the
vicarious liability finding but upheld the contributory infringement
ruling, stating Cox knew of the piracy and didn't stop it.
- Supreme Court Ruling (March 25, 2026): The Supreme Court, in a 9-0
decision, reversed the Fourth Circuit's decision, finding that Cox was
not liable for contributory infringement.
- Impact: This ruling significantly limits the liability of ISPs for the
infringing activities of their users, protecting them from being held
responsible for piracy committed by subscribers simply because the ISP
provided the connection. [1
<https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-171_bq7d.pdf#:~:text=The%20jury%20found%20in%20favor%20of%20Sony,awarded%20$1%20billion%20in%20stat%2D%20utory%20damages.>,
2
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications,_Inc._v._Sony_Music_Entertainment#:~:text=Cox%20Communications%20was%20sued%20by%20multiple%20music,the%20labels'%20copyrighted%20music%2C%20arguing%20Cox%20financially>,
3
<https://www.debevoise.com/insights/publications/2025/12/supreme-court-faced-with-two-extremes-in-cox-comm#:~:text=2018).,materially%20contributing%E2%80%9D%20to%20copyright%20infringement?>,
4
<https://www.wiley.law/alert-Supreme-Court-Takes-Up-Cox-Communications-Copyright-Infringement-Case#:~:text=The%20court%20affirmed%20the%20district,a%20new%20trial%20on%20damages.&text=On%20August%2015%2C%202024%2C%20Cox,%C2%A7%20504(c)?%E2%80%9D>,
5
<https://newsroom.cox.com/2025-06-30-U-S-Supreme-Court-Agrees-to-Hear-Significant-Copyright-Case#:~:text=In%20February%202024%2C%20the%20Fourth,future%20for%20the%20next%20generation.>,
6
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications#:~:text=Cox%20Communications%2C%20Inc.,and%20home%20automation%20services%20company.>,
7
<https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5799938-supreme-court-rules-cox-communications/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20is%20aimed%20at%2057%2C000%20Cox,found%20to%20infringe%20over%2010%2C000%20copyrighted%20works.>
]
Summary Table
Aspect [1 <https://www.oyez.org/cases/2025/24-171>, 2
<https://business.cch.com/ipld/SP_2025-Supreme-Court-preview_09-29-2025_final.pdf>,
3 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDw5mbagfBc&t=127>, 4
<https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/cox-communications-inc-v-sony-music-entertainment/#:~:text=Judgment:%20Reversed%20and%20remanded%2C%209%2D0%2C%20in%20an,an%20opinion%20concurring%20in%20the%20judgment%2C%20joined>,
5
<https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5799938-supreme-court-rules-cox-communications/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20is%20aimed%20at%2057%2C000%20Cox,found%20to%20infringe%20over%2010%2C000%20copyrighted%20works.>
] Details
Case Name Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
Plaintiffs Sony Music Entertainment (and other music labels)
Defendant Cox Communications
Core Issue ISP liability for subscriber copyright piracy (Contributory
Infringement)
Outcome (March 2026) Supreme Court ruled 9-0 for Cox
Result Reverses $1 billion damage award; limits ISP liability
The decision is viewed as a major victory for internet service providers in
maintaining "safe harbor" protections against user-generated copyright
infringement. [1
<https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2026/03/25/supreme-court-cox-pirated-music/89314792007/#:~:text=Cox%20spokesperson%20Todd%20Smith%20called%20the%20decision,liable%20for%20the%20actions%20of%20their%20customers.%22>,
2
<https://nationaltoday.com/us/dc/washington/news/2026/03/29/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-cox-in-music-piracy-case/#:~:text=Why%20it%20matters%20The%20ruling%20is%20a,lead%20to%20widespread%20disruptions%20in%20internet%20access.>,
3
<https://www.wiley.law/alert-Supreme-Court-Takes-Up-Cox-Communications-Copyright-Infringement-Case#:~:text=The%20court%20affirmed%20the%20district,a%20new%20trial%20on%20damages.&text=On%20August%2015%2C%202024%2C%20Cox,%C2%A7%20504(c)?%E2%80%9D>
]
-
<https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5799938-supreme-court-rules-cox-communications/#:~:text=The%20lawsuit%20is%20aimed%20at%2057%2C000%20Cox,found%20to%20infringe%20over%2010%2C000%20copyrighted%20works.>
Supreme Court rules for Cox in copyright fight with Sony
Mar 25, 2026 — The lawsuit is aimed at 57,000 Cox customer accounts that
Sony says weren't cut off and were found to infringe over 10,000 copyrig...
[image: image.png]
The Hill
[image: image.jpeg]
-
<https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/cox-communications-inc-v-sony-music-entertainment/#:~:text=Judgment:%20Reversed%20and%20remanded%2C%209%2D0%2C%20in%20an,an%20opinion%20concurring%20in%20the%20judgment%2C%20joined>
Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment
Mar 26, 2026 — Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by
Justice Thomas on March 25, 2026. Justice Sotomayor wrote an opinion
concur...
[image: image.png]
SCOTUSblog
[image: image.jpeg]
-
<https://www.wiley.law/alert-Supreme-Court-Takes-Up-Cox-Communications-Copyright-Infringement-Case#:~:text=The%20court%20affirmed%20the%20district,a%20new%20trial%20on%20damages.&text=On%20August%2015%2C%202024%2C%20Cox,%C2%A7%20504(c)?%E2%80%9D>
Supreme Court Takes Up Cox Communications Copyright ...
Jul 8, 2025 — The court affirmed the district court's grant of summary
judgment against Cox for contributory copyright infringement on procedura...
[image: image.png]
Wiley Rein
[image: image.jpeg]
Show all
Dive deeper in AI Mode
AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
Web results
24-171 Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music ...
[image: image.png]
Supreme Court of the United States (.gov)
https://www.supremecourt.gov › opinions
<https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-171_bq7d.pdf>
8 days ago — The jury found in favor of *Sony* on both theo- ries, found
*Cox's* infringement willful, *and* awarded $1 billion in stat- utory
damages. The ...Read more
<https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-171_bq7d.pdf#:~:text=The%20jury%20found%20in%20favor,denied%20Cox's%20post%2Dtrial%20motion%20for>
27 pages
Missing: son | Show results with: son
<https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b78cf8500232fcdc&sxsrf=ANbL-n5XBBGJFi2oRRwn0soK_-53omp1gQ:1775086194083&q=%22son%22+vs+cox&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwih6qyw582TAxUGODQIHZMmNo0Q5t4CegQILxAB>
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