The Supreme Court has agreed to review a copyright dispute between an internet service provider and a group of major music labels including Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner. A jury found Cox Communications liable for vicarious and contributory copyright infringement for taking inadequate steps to stop music piracy via its internet service and awarded $1 billion in damages. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed the finding of vicarious liability but upheld the contributory infringement verdict, mandating a retrial on damages. Cox and the music labels both appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed last month to take up the case.
The Supreme Court has allowed the Fourth Circuit’s decision on vicarious infringement to stand, granting review only on the question of whether Cox can be held liable for “materially contributing” to copyright infringement by being aware of pirate accounts and declining to terminate their access. The case has been deemed one of the most important cases of the next term, as reported by Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog. Oral argument has yet to be set, but is expected to take place by December 2025.
