Sony's failed war against Internet piracy may doom other copyright lawsuits

Sony’s failed war against internet piracy has resulted in a landmark court ruling that may doom other copyright lawsuits by questioning the legality of mass subpoenas and ISP takedown tactics. The ruling sets a precedent that could invalidate pending lawsuits from three major studios, effectively making this case more consequential than any earlier copyright battle for the streaming era. By naming Sony’s specific IP-matching failure, judges declared that mass surveillance without probable cause violates consumer protections.