Many people have engaged in downloading and sharing digital content – music, movies, software, and photographs over the Internet. This has been documented in surveys and by various organizations. What you, as a responsible member of the Lynchburg College community, must remember is that you are expected to comply with College policy and appropriate laws. Of particular interest should be the Technology Acceptable Use Policy that is found in the Hornet (student handbook), Title 17 of the United States Code also know as the “Copyright Act,” and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998). If you have questions about the information on this page, please contact Information Technology and Resources at extension 8350 or email them at help@lynchburg.edu
What You CAN Do
- Make a backup copy of a CD, a DVD, or software that you purchased
- Copy music or movies that you purchased to your computer
- Copy music or movies that you purchased to your PDA, iPod, or MP3 music device
- Make a CD for yourself from music you purchase from appropriate sites on the Internet
What You CANNOT Do
- Share, for others to download, music, movies, or software via a network (over the Internet)
- Make copies of a CD, DVD, or software to give to a friend or that you borrowed from a friend
- Distribute for personal gain music you have purchased or downloaded
- Download music, movies, or software without purchasing it
Consequences of Violations
- Disciplinary action through the College’s judicial process
- Prosecution by the RIAA* or the MPAA* for violation of copyright
- Fines can be levied up to $150,000 per instance of copyright violation
* RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America); MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America); Note that the RIAA settled cases against 4 students in Spring 2003. The fines ranged from $12,500 to $17,000. In addition, the RIAA has issued over 900 subpoenas since July 1, 2003 for information from network service providers asking for disclosure of names associated with IP addresses. Many of the subpoenas went to colleges and universities.
A Note on Kazaa
The following are direct quotes from the Kazaa user agreement that appears on your screen when you install the software.
By saving a file in My Shared Folder, you understand that it will be available for any other user of Kazaa Media Desktops and compatible programs. These users may find your files and subsequently download them from you. By doing so your Internet connection is being used.While your instance of Kazaa Media Desktop is communicating with other peers it receives information of the status of interconnected peers, that information is stored on your computer.
Your copy of the Software may serve as a SuperNode. The selection process is automated. When your computer is a SuperNode other peers will upload an index of files they are sharing to your computer and they will send search queries to your computer. Your computer will reply to these requests and also forward the request to other SuperNodes.
Note that Kazaa also installs "spyware," software that tracks your activity on the Internet and displays targeted advertisements. Spyware interferes with the operation of Internet browsers and may prevent you from accessing your email via the Web interface, Blackboard, and Students Online.