Should people be restricted from accessing the internet for downloading music? This is the question that the U.S. Supreme Court will address on December 1, as reported by USA Today. In 2019, a jury mandated that Cox Communications pay $1 billion in damages to the music industry, but an appellate court subsequently reversed this ruling. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Cox’s appeal, claiming that it should not be held accountable for music piracy occurring on its network. In contrast, major record labels argue that Cox should be held responsible for failing to curb piracy, even if it did not actively facilitate it.

This case could have profound consequences for internet access, as the music industry asserts that companies like Cox should terminate internet access for IP addresses identified with illegal music downloads. Cox contends that this strategy is excessively harsh and could disproportionately affect homes and businesses because of one user’s behavior. They pointed to the scenario of a hospital losing internet connectivity due to music piracy, reinforcing their argument.

Cox is backed by significant organizations like the Department of Justice, the ACLU, and technology firms such as Google, indicating a high likelihood of favorable outcomes in the legal battles. Nevertheless, the results remain uncertain when it pertains to the Supreme Court.