The Supreme Court is considering a copyright case that could reshape how internet service providers police their networks.

At issue is whether Cox Communications should be held liable for contributory copyright infringement after a lower court found the company failed to adequately shut down accounts of users accused by Sony Music and other music labels of copyright infringement.

Shubha Ghosh, Crandall Melvin Professor of Law and director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute in the College of Law, is available to speak about the case and its broader implications. He says the core legal question is how much an internet service provider must do to police copyright infringement.

“Cox is arguing, in part, for a higher standard of intent or negligence to impose liability,” Ghosh says. “A lower standard would increase the costs of providing broadband and other internet services to the public.”

“Sony Music argues, following the lower court, that internet service providers like Cox are in a unique position to police the internet and protect copyrights in music and other high-value media,” Ghosh says. “At stake is a potential $1 billion judgment against Cox. But the bigger stakes are how internet services are provided to the millions of subscribers.”