Supreme Court rejects Sony's attempt to kick music pirates off the Internet

March 26, 2026

TL;DR

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Internet service providers (ISPs) are not liable for customer copyright infringement unless they actively induce it or tailor their services for infringement.
The ruling in favor of Cox Communications means ISPs do not have to conduct mass terminations of users accused of piracy to avoid large verdicts under the DMCA.
The court cited the 1984 Betamax case, stating that a service is only tailored to infringement if it lacks substantial noninfringing uses.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion, emphasizing that ISPs are not liable for merely providing a service with knowledge of potential infringement.
Digital rights groups and the Trump administration supported Cox's position, while the RIAA expressed disappointment.
Justice Sotomayor concurred but disagreed with the majority's limited reasoning, suggesting that other theories of secondary liability might still apply.

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