## Supreme Court Shields ISPs: No Liability for Music Piracy on Their Networks
The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous, definitive win for internet service providers, ruling they cannot be held liable for copyright infringement merely because their networks are used for piracy. In a 9-0 decision, the justices sided with Cox Communications against Sony Music Entertainment, rejecting the argument that an ISP's knowledge of potential infringement on its service is enough to establish liability. This ruling halts a major legal offensive by the music industry, which had sought massive damages from the broadband giant.

The case centered on whether Cox could be considered a direct infringer of copyrights for failing to take what Sony deemed 'adequate steps' to curb piracy by its subscribers. The Court's decision clarifies the legal threshold for holding passive infrastructure providers accountable for the actions of their users. It draws a clear line, insulating ISPs from secondary liability claims that do not demonstrate active participation or direct financial benefit from the specific infringing acts.

The ruling represents a significant setback for major record labels and copyright holders who have increasingly targeted internet gatekeepers in their anti-piracy campaigns. It reinforces legal protections for broadband providers, potentially limiting similar lawsuits against other ISPs and shaping the landscape for future copyright enforcement strategies. The decision underscores the Court's view that liability must be tied to more than mere provision of a general-purpose communication service, a precedent that will influence policy debates around platform accountability and digital copyright law.
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- **Source**: Deadline
- **Sector**: The Network
- **Tags**: Supreme Court, Copyright, Music Piracy, ISP Liability, Sony Music
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-03-25 15:56:57
- **ID**: 33597
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/33597