U.S. Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with internet service provider Cox Communications in its copyright fight with record labels over illegal music downloads by Cox customers.

The justices ruled unanimously that Cox bears no liability for the copyright violations of its customers, reversing a jury verdict and lower-court rulings.

“Cox neither induced its users’ infringement nor provided a service tailored to infringement,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court in an opinion that acknowledged that the record labels “have struggled to protect their copyrights in the age of online music sharing.”

The company, in a statement, praised the court for affirming that internet service providers “are not copyright police.”

The court acted in a lawsuit led by Sony Music Entertainment that said Cox did not do enough to deter or cut off customers who downloaded music they did not pay for.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had partially upheld a jury verdict against Cox, but it threw out its award of more than US$1 billion.

Cox Communications provides internet service to more than 6 million homes and businesses in more than a dozen states. The company warned of widespread disruptions in access if the justices ruled against it.

Cox said it could be required to terminate access for households, hospitals, universities and coffee shops based on a “couple accusations of infringement.”

Mark Sherman, The Associated Press