Copyright and Internet Platforms

In a unanimous 9–0 decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court reversed a jury verdict and the Fourth Circuit’s partial ruling, holding that Cox bears no liability for its customers’ copyright violations. The Court clarified that an ISP is liable only if it intended its service to be used for infringement or its service was “tailored” for illegal activity—broadly shielding ISPs—drawing ire from RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier and prompting Cox to say ISPs “are not copyright police” and warn that an adverse ruling could have forced cutting off internet access for households, hospitals, universities and coffee shops.