Chicago – December 02, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a high-stakes, billion-dollar copyright case that could reshape how internet service providers (ISPs) handle user misconduct online. At the center of the battle is Cox Communications, one of the nation’s largest ISPs, and a coalition of major music labels representing artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Givēon, and Doechii.
The music industry accuses Cox of failing to act after receiving repeated notices that certain users engaged in ongoing music piracy. According to the labels, Cox was alerted multiple times to specific IP addresses involved in copyright violations but refused to terminate those customers’ internet access despite its own 13-strike policy meant to address repeat offenders.
Court documents reveal internal messages from a Cox manager overseeing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) program stating to his team, “F the DMCA!!!” The labels argue this shows Cox prioritized profits over legal compliance and consumer responsibility.
A federal jury agreed, awarding the music coalition more than $1 billion in damages. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision, leading Cox to take its fight to the nation’s highest court.
Cox maintains it should not be held responsible for the illegal actions of its customers. The ISP notes that copyright infringement is prohibited in its terms of service, it earns no extra revenue from piracy, and fewer than 1% of its users are involved in copyright violations. According to Cox, its internal enforcement actions successfully stopped 95% of that small group.
The company warns that a ruling against them could force ISPs across the country to terminate internet access for entire households, businesses, universities, hospitals, and even smaller regional ISPssimply because someone connected to the network was accused of piracy.
The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether ISPs can be held financially liable for users who repeatedly share copyrighted material and could set a major precedent for digital rights, copyright enforcement, and the future of internet service in the U.S.
