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| 02-24-2003 | Previous edition: 02-21-2003 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Purdue cracks down on downloadingBy Jenny JonesSenior Writer Students downloading copyrighted material through Purdue's computer network may soon be penalized for their actions. With the recent flare of copyright infringement allegations, the University is cracking down on illegal downloading by sending out letters or making phone calls to students, warning them that downloading copyrighted materials, such as music, movies and games, is against University policy — not to mention the law. "I think that the expectation might be that because it's on the Internet, it's OK to download, but just because it's out on the Internet doesn't mean it's not copyrighted," said Kathy Peters, associate dean of students. "And copyright infringement is a violation of federal copyright law." Although the University is not tracking students for copyright infringement, members of the entertainment industry, such as Sony, are keeping track of copyright violations, including file sharing, said Peters. This comes after the Recording Industry Association of America claimed to be losing millions of dollars to file sharing programs such as Kazaa, a peer-to-peer network based out of Australia. Once these entertainment companies detect copyright violations and determine that the infringements are taking place through a campus network, they contact the University. From there, the University is able to identify by name the students who are downloading copyrighted materials and take action on those students. Since June 2002, 420 accounts of copyright violation have been reported to Purdue alone. "We contact the student and tell them to cease and desist basically," said Steve Akers, executive assistant to the dean of students, of the violations. But Peters said that depending on the case, students who are reported to be downloading copyrighted materials using University resources might receive punishments, such as having their University computer privileges revoked. "I don't want students to think, 'I get one free shot,' because that's not the case at all," Peters said. "We evaluate every case as it comes in." Purdue is not the only university to tighten up on student violations of copyright. In December, Indiana University sent e-mails to 177 students, telling them that they should delete files from their computers, according an article in the Indiana Daily Student. Universities such as IU and Purdue, which provide Internet access to students, are allowed this type of jurisdiction over what materials students are able to download under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which protects copyrighted material online. But universities could soon be required to do more than warn students about downloading. They could also be ordered to provide the names of individuals who are illegally downloading material from the Internet. In a recent court ruling, a U.S. district court in Washington gave entertainment companies the right to get individuals names, phone numbers and addresses if they can prove that the individuals are in violation of copyright laws. They would obtain these names from Internet Service Providers, such as Verizon Communication Inc., which is appealing the case. If the court's ruling stands, entertainment companies will be allowed to go after the estimated 63 million Americans who download copyrighted materials from the Internet. However, Peters and Akers both stated that Purdue is not giving up the students' names. "We won't give up names of students who are in violation of the law," Akers said. Instead, Akers said, the University is more concerned with educating its students about the issues surrounding copyright and preventing future downloading. "I think it's a matter of not knowing the laws," Akers said. "I don't think they'd do it if they (knew the laws)." One way the University plans to teach students about the laws is through a copyright forum sponsored by Purdue Student Government. The forum, which will take place at 7 p.m. on March 4 in Fowler Hall, will "attempt to protect students from being prosecuted and allow them to ask tough questions of Sony Corp. and Purdue University," said Matt Morgan, student body treasurer. Printer-friendly version |
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