Supreme Court Limits Copyright Liability for Internet Providers in Piracy Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled on March 25, 2026, that internet service providers are generally not liable for copyright infringement by their users, even when aware of piracy activities. The decision overturned a $1 billion verdict against Cox Cable in a lawsuit brought by Sony, which had cited numerous instances of customers sharing copyrighted music and movies. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that providing general internet access does not constitute contributory infringement without specific intent to facilitate piracy. This ruling contrasts with earlier decisions against file-sharing services like Grokster and Napster, establishing a higher threshold for holding providers accountable.