Supreme Court Reviews $1 Billion Copyright Judgment: Is Your Business Liable for What Customers Do Online?

Understanding How the Cox Communications Case May Impact Wi-Fi Providers and the Necessity of Proactive Copyright Audits
 

RENO, NV / ACCESS Newswire / December 3, 2025 / The Supreme Court of the United States begins hearing oral arguments in a case that could set a new precedent for digital liability in American jurisprudence. Music record labels are currently facing off against internet service provider Cox Communications in a case worth a $1 billion judgment for copyright infringement by users.

LegalMatch.com, the largest online attorney-client matching service in the United States, suggests the case is of interest to several kinds of businesses, including local ISPs (Internet Service Providers) as well as coffee shops, universities, and coworking spaces that provide internet access or online platforms to third parties.

The case arose after music industry representatives sued Cox to hold it liable for the pirating behavior of its subscribers. The case centers on whether Cox ignored the thousands of notices it received about repeat infringers, as well as internal emails in which Cox employees appeared to ridicule the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Even though Cox is a large company, the principles addressed in court can be applied to smaller companies. Additionally, if the Supreme Court upholds the lower court’s opinion, companies that provide Wi-Fi internet services or companies that host content created by their users may see more focus on how they respond to infringement notifications.

An IP attorney or business attorney can help a business proactively address areas that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• DMCA Safe Harbor Audits: Lawyers can confirm if a business is compliant with complicated registration and “notice-and-takedown” requirements of the DMCA, which provide immunity for user infringements under the DMCA.

• Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Enforcement: Legal advice is needed to devise and implement a legally defensible and consistently applied enforcement procedure.

• Vicarious Liability: Today’s Supreme Court arguments are about whether businesses can avoid being vicariously liable for users’ infringing activities if they are explicit that they do not financially benefit from user infringements.

“Ignoring copyright notices or treating compliance as an afterthought is a liability strategy that businesses can no longer afford. Businesses must be responsive, compliant, and proactive,” says Ken LaMance, LegalMatch’s General Counsel.

Handling copyright liability in the digital age is complicated, and it is essential to consult with legal counsel. LegalMatch.com offers a service that connects business owners with qualified Intellectual Property lawyers and business lawyers who can ensure a business’s compliance framework will be strong enough to stand up under changing case law. Users can simply submit case details to the confidential platform, receive free attorney matches, and pick the one that they feel will work the best.

The platform also has an Online Law Library with thousands of articles available to readers about various legal topics, including IP protection. Have a LegalMatch attorney review your business now to avoid any unwanted legal surprises.

About LegalMatch.com
LegalMatch is the nation’s oldest and largest online legal lead-generation service. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, LegalMatch helps people find the right lawyer and helps attorneys find new clients. LegalMatch’s service is free to individuals and small businesses looking for legal help. For more information about LegalMatch, please visit our website or contact us directly.

Media Contact
Ken LaMance
press@legalmatch.com
(415) 946-0856

SOURCE: LegalMatch.com

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire