October Term 2025 · Docket 24-171
Should a broadband provider be liable for its users' copyright infringement?
Sony Music Entertainment argues Cox should be liable for its users' copyright infringement. Cox says it provides basic internet infrastructure and should not bear that responsibility.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Sony's advocate says liability extends to those who induce or cause infringement.
Cox's advocate says the lower court's ruling has no legal basis.
Justice Thomas asked whether the rule should be broad or narrow.
Chief Justice Roberts asked whether Cox's measures exceed what the law requires.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Sony Music Entertainment says Cox Communications should be liable for its users' copyright infringement. Cox says it merely provides basic internet infrastructure. Cox argues no tort or copyright theory supports holding it responsible.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2025.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-39
What each side wants
Sony Music Entertainment wants the Court to hold that providers who contribute to infringement can be liable.
Cox Communications wants the Court to reject that theory and affirm its position.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
What each side says
Sony's advocate says liability extends to those who induce or cause infringement.
Cox's advocate says the lower court's ruling has no legal basis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked whether the rule should be broad or narrow.
He also asked how the rule would apply to social media platforms.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
Why it matters
Chief Justice Roberts asked whether Cox's measures exceed what the law requires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 104, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 104, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-43
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.