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Downloading Copyrighted Music and Movies
Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violation using University computers and network resources is prohibited. Computer software protected by copyright is not to be copied from, into, or by using University computer and network resources except as permitted by law or by the license or contract with the owner of the copyright.
Finding illegal copies of music, movies, and software on the Internet is easy; however, these activities are prohibited by the University of Arkansas Code of Computing Practices. There are resources for downloading legal music and movies for free or a small charge.
More copyright information can be found at UITS' Copyright Resources page.
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RIAA Warning
In the spring of 2007, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) added a new process to their on-going attempts to curtail music copyright infringement. Their new program targets institutions of higher education and utilizes what they call a "pre-litigation settlement letter". The letter identifies a network address associated with the alleged file sharing activity, and asks the University receiving such a letter to forward it to the individual responsible for the connection at the time designated in the letter. The letter also offers to settle the claim before filing a lawsuit for "a significantly reduced amount" if contacted by the offending party within a month. The amount is reduced compared to what the RIAA will offer to settle if forced to pursue the case or what a court judgment may be. Indications have been that settlements have been in the $3000 range.
This new process is significantly different from the two others approaches previously in use, and still being exercised today. In one approach, the RIAA subpoenas a campus to identify an individual responsible for a connection involved in an alleged infringement. After the individual is identified, a lawsuit generally follows. The other approach, and what has been seen on our campus, is that a complaint is filed under the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and subsequent actions to stop the alleged file sharing for that instance is left to the University.
After considerable deliberation, the University of Arkansas System has decided to forward the letters to the individuals and let the individual decide whether or not to contact the RIAA for a settlement. The alternative of not forwarding the letter could leave an individual unaware that the RIAA was considering filing a lawsuit for what could potentially lead to a substantial penalty.
EDUCAUSE has posted a sample RIAA pre-litigation letter. |
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