CBS stops copyright claims against Stephen Colbert’s viral public access show

In May 2026, CBS decided to stop filing copyright claims against Stephen Colbert’s viral appearance on the public access show ‘Only in Monroe’. The move came shortly after Colbert wrapped his final episode of ‘The Late Show’, where he had spent recent years taking aim at the Trump administration.

Colbert's final CBS broadcast

Stephen Colbert taped his final episode of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS on May 25, 2026. The broadcast marked the end of an era, with Colbert known for his sharp commentary on politics and the entertainment industry. Just one day later, on May 26, 2026, he unexpectedly showed up in the spotlight of the public access show ‘Only in Monroe’ in Michigan, where he joined other celebrities, including Jeff Daniels, for an episode that quickly went viral.

Copyright issues with CBS

After the episode gained traction, CBS began filing copyright claims against social media users who shared clips of the broadcast. The situation sparked some controversy, as many people questioned the reasons behind the legal action. Independent journalist Matthew Keyes noted that CBS, under pressure from Paramount, the parent company of CBS, appeared to be trying to suppress screenings of ‘Only in Monroe’, even though the program did not use CBS intellectual property.

Developments around the copyright claims

In response to the criticism, a CBS spokesperson said the ‘Only in Monroe’ episode was funded and produced by CBS Studios and published on YouTube together with local broadcaster Monroe Community Media. CBS said it normally files copyright claims against unauthorized websites sharing protected material, but added that it would pause further enforcement of those claims for this specific episode while it reviewed the situation.

Colbert had previously used ‘Only in Monroe’ in 2015 to launch his show, making it symbolic that he brought his journey back there. The latest events have sparked debate over the balance between copyright and creative freedom, especially in the social media era, where instant access and sharing are the norm.