AIPLA Files Amicus Brief in Cox Communications, Inc. v Sony Music Entertainment

Arlington, VA. September 5, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) filed an amicus brief in support of neither party in Cox Communications, Inc. v Sony Music Entertainment, Supreme Court Case No. 24-171.  The brief argues that the Fourth Circuit correctly held that material contributing to copyright infringement by another can give rise to contributory copyright infringement.  AIPLA emphasized that material contribution is an essential, fact-specific inquiry that gives courts the flexibility to hold parties secondarily liable if they materially contribute to infringement, and that, in appropriate cases, a fact-finder may find that continuing to provide services to known, repeat infringers, constitutes contributory infringement.  AIPLA also argued that the Fourth Circuit correctly upheld the jury instruction on willfulness, noting that a jury could reasonably find willful infringement based on continuing to provide services with knowledge of repeat infringement by subscribers.

Click to the right to read the full brief.