{"id":38271,"date":"2025-09-05T18:47:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T18:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicknowledge.org\/?p=38271"},"modified":"2025-09-05T18:47:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T18:47:19","slug":"public-knowledge-urges-supreme-court-to-keep-america-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicknowledge.org\/public-knowledge-urges-supreme-court-to-keep-america-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Knowledge Urges Supreme Court To Keep America Connected"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, Public Knowledge filed an amicus curiae<\/em> brief<\/a> with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Cox v. Sony<\/em>. The brief argues that broadband providers should not be liable for continuing to provide service to users, and should not be forced to disconnect their customers based on unverified suspicions of copyright infringement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brief explains that the Eastern District Court of Virginia misconstrued the law when it found that Cox was liable for secondary copyright infringement. The district court found that, by failing to swiftly disconnect users accused by mammoth record labels of copyright infringement, Cox itself became liable for those users\u2019 actions \u2013 even though the statute says otherwise. A jury awarded $1 billion in statutory damages, the largest award of statutory damages for copyright infringement ever handed down, and the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If affirmed by the Supreme Court, this ruling will set a dangerous precedent, causing broadband providers to cut off users more frequently, with less cause, in an effort to avoid the possibility of having to pay such hefty damages. This is particularly concerning as it could result in many Americans losing their only internet connection. There is little competition in the broadband industry; over one-third of Americans only have one broadband provider available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following may be attributed to Meredith Rose, Senior Policy Counsel at Public Knowledge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, three record labels worth a combined hundred billion dollars are telling the Supreme Court with a straight face that they have the power to force entire households<\/em> offline, without any reviews, checks, balances, or appeals. Think about that: three record companies believe they have the final say in whether you can apply for jobs, complete your homework, or see your doctor.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe reality is this: Courts and record labels have twisted the law. In 1998, Congress passed the \u2018Digital Millennium Copyright Act,\u2019 or DMCA. At the time, internet access was still a luxury good, and you got online by using special software that connected over your phone line. The law required that software services <\/em>terminate the accounts of \u2018repeat infringers.\u2019 This was a penalty, but \u2013 as anyone who remembers free AOL trial CDs could attest \u2013 not one that cut you off completely from modern telecommunications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow, telephone lines and software programs have been replaced by broadband, and record labels have twisted the law to try and keep up with the digital world. But nearly half of Americans have no \u2018backup\u2019 broadband provider. Being kicked off that connection leaves them unable to apply for jobs, access educational resources, and \u2013 for many rural Americans \u2013 receive healthcare. And all of this is done on bare accusations \u2013 no proof, no investigation, just the word of contractors paid by record companies to \u2018enforce copyrights.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis system is broken, and instead of fixing it, record labels are addicted to the shakedown. Broadband providers route traffic at the direction of users; they have no duty or ability to monitor their users\u2019 traffic, and no duty to take extreme measures, such as disconnection, to prevent hypothetical future copyright infringement. No one forces the power company to shut off electricity to the home of someone suspected of copyright infringement, though it would do just as much good. Record labels want the power to force America offline, and the Supreme Court shouldn\u2019t give it to them.\u201d

You may view the brief<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Public Knowledge filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Cox v. Sony. The brief argues that the Court should not treat broadband providers as copyright police.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":37283,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[9,12],"class_list":["post-38271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release","tag-broadband-access","tag-copyright-reform"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPublic Knowledge Urges Supreme Court To Keep America Connected - Public Knowledge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. 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