Supreme Court Vacates Copyright Decision Against Astound Subsidiary
The Fifth Circuit had affirmed a $46 million penalty against Grande Communications.
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2026 – The Fifth Circuit has to reconsider its decision to uphold a $46 million penalty against a Texas broadband provider for copyright infringement, the Supreme Court said Monday.
“The judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for further consideration in light of” the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Cox v. Sony Music Entertainment, the Supreme Court wrote in a brief Monday order.
In the Cox case, decided March 25, justices ruled 9-0 that Cox could not be liable for copyright infringement by continuing to provide internet access after subscribers repeatedly infringed. The decision said an ISP would have to affirmatively intend for a user to pirate copyrighted material to be liable, and even knowledge that a prospective customer would use their connection to infringe repeatedly wouldn’t clear that bar.
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