Sony to Supreme Court: Cox Should Have Taken Repeat Infringers Offline

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2025 – Cox Communications is trying to avoid liability for its customers’ music piracy by arguing that ISPs could be forced to shut off connections with many non-infringing users to get out of lawsuits. The music industry is telling the Supreme Court not to buy it.

Led by Sony Music Entertainment, a group of more than 50 record labels had sued the cable operator in 2018 for not taking repeat offenders offline quickly enough. A Virginia jury issued a $1 billion verdict against Cox, but the Fourth Circuit tossed the massive fine while ruling the ISP still had some liability.

The Supreme Court agreed this summer to hear Cox’s appeal – the company wants no liability whatsoever – and on Friday oral arguments were scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1.