Cox Wins SCOTUS Piracy Case

A billion-dollar shadow just lifted from Cox Communications. In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court said Cox isn’t liable for its customers’ music piracy, reversing findings that had left it staring at hundreds of millions in damages. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that a company isn’t liable simply for offering internet access; intent to foster infringement is required, and Cox’s warnings, suspensions, and some terminations undercut that. That win lowers Cox’s legal overhang and could fuel momentum for a $34.5 billion Charter–Cox combination—if it can avoid a policy snapback.

Here’s the catch: it’s not a blank check. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson warned against overreading the decision, and RIAA’s Mitch Glazier wants policymakers to weigh in within 3–6 months. That scrutiny could show up at the FCC, in Congress, or as merger conditions, even as the ruling likely weakens Verizon’s separate suit, which has up to $2.6 billion at stake, per Bloomberg Law. Don’t expect ISPs to rip up policies; Cox’s documented warnings and suspensions mattered, so keep notice systems tight and termination a true last resort, especially on shared networks.

Based on reporting from Billboard and Bloomberg Law.

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