Several major parties have filed amicus briefs supporting Cox Communications' Supreme Court petition in its ongoing copyright battle with Sony and other major music labels. This development adds new complexity to a case that could significantly impact internet access across the United States.

The case originated in 2018 when Sony Corp. and other music industry groups sued Cox Communications for copyright infringement committed by its users through online piracy. The labels argue that ISPs should be held liable for their users' piracy activities.

Key supporters of Cox's petition include:

• Altice USA (which recently settled its own copyright case with BMG)
• Frontier Communications
• Lumen Technologies
• Verizon
• Professor Alfred C. Yen

These parties urge the Supreme Court to review the case, arguing that the current ruling could threaten internet access for Americans. Cox's petition challenges a February decision that found the ISP liable for secondary copyright infringement due to inadequate handling of user piracy.

While the Court upheld Cox's liability, it rejected a $1 billion damages award to the labels and ordered a new trial to determine appropriate compensation. Cox argues that complying with the Court's decision would require terminating internet service for entire institutions and households based solely on unidentified users' alleged infringement.

The outcome of this case could set a crucial precedent for ISP liability and internet access rights in the United States, balancing copyright protection with public internet accessibility.

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