Slowing Down the Internet Won't Stop Music Piracy.

The article focuses on the US Supreme Court case Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, which addresses the liability of internet service providers (ISPs) for user piracy under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The case examines whether Cox forfeited its "safe harbor" protection by inadequately responding to repeat copyright infringement notices, raising questions about the extent of precautions ISPs must take. The discussion highlights the complexity of cutting off infringing users, as many are part of larger entities like universities or hotels, where restricting access could harm innocent users. The article underscores the challenge of applying a 1998 law to today's high-speed internet environment, where faster connections facilitate both legal and illegal content access, complicating efforts to balance copyright enforcement with fair treatment of users.