Sony's failed war against Internet piracy may doom other copyright lawsuits

In a 9-0 Supreme Court decision, Cox Communications prevailed against Sony Music Entertainment in a landmark copyright case decided March 25, 2026, with the Court finding that internet service providers cannot be held contributorily liable for their users' copyright infringement. The ruling eliminates realistic secondary liability exposure for ISPs regardless of whether they take enforcement steps or know about user infringement. The decision has major implications for the $17.7 billion U.S. recorded music industry, significantly weakening copyright holders' ability to pursue enforcement actions against service providers.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-11