Justice Sonia Sotomayor Warns of ‘Two Extremes’ in Supreme Court Cox Copyright Case

Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned Monday that the Supreme Court is being asked to choose between “two extremes” as it considers whether Cox Communications can be held liable for music piracy by its users. During arguments, Sotomayor and other justices pressed Cox on its claim that awareness of customer infringement cannot trigger contributory copyright liability.

But the court also questioned whether holding the company responsible for failing to cut off infringers could jeopardize internet access for innocent users. The case, brought by major record labels, could expose Cox to as much as $1.5 billion in damages.

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