Spring Break
The Daily Orange'Imminent' lawsuits force officials to explore legal file-sharing
By Katy Stech
Posted: 4/21/04, 2:58 AM EST Section: News
Despite legal threats from the recording industry, SU students continue to burn CDs and download music. And university officials are looking into ways to keep students from getting burned.
Sixty-three percent of Syracuse University students illegally download songs, movies and software from the Internet, according to a study conducted in the fall of 2003 by Computing and Media Services and the School of Information Studies.
But next fall, officials will research the idea of subscribing to downloading services such as Napster and Apple iTunes to prevent potential legal suits against SU students, because students seem apathetic toward possible punishments and a questionably suffering music industry.
So far, only a handful of students have experienced negative repercussions as a result of illegal downloading.
The Recording Industry Association of America has sent SU about 25 letters each month asking that a certain student's Internet port be disconnected because it facilitated illegal file-sharing.
But asking for the names of the students who use file-sharing ports is also an option for the association, which could result in issuing subpoenas and fines, or even jail time. The average punishment is about $3,000.
It's only a matter of time until the RIAA targets an SU student with more severe charges, said Deborah Nosky, manager of IT communications and professional development.
"I think students are gambling that it won't be their name when the time comes," Nosky said. "They certainly will ask us for the names - there's nothing magical about us to prevent it."
After receiving a letter, CMS engineers turn off the student's Internet access until he or she visits the CMS office. At the office, each offender receives a brief speech on the legality of file-sharing and signs a statement to the RIAA stating that they will not illegally download again.
Exceptions to the general punishment protocol do exist, though.
Sixty-three percent of Syracuse University students illegally download songs, movies and software from the Internet, according to a study conducted in the fall of 2003 by Computing and Media Services and the School of Information Studies.
But next fall, officials will research the idea of subscribing to downloading services such as Napster and Apple iTunes to prevent potential legal suits against SU students, because students seem apathetic toward possible punishments and a questionably suffering music industry.
So far, only a handful of students have experienced negative repercussions as a result of illegal downloading.
The Recording Industry Association of America has sent SU about 25 letters each month asking that a certain student's Internet port be disconnected because it facilitated illegal file-sharing.
But asking for the names of the students who use file-sharing ports is also an option for the association, which could result in issuing subpoenas and fines, or even jail time. The average punishment is about $3,000.
It's only a matter of time until the RIAA targets an SU student with more severe charges, said Deborah Nosky, manager of IT communications and professional development.
"I think students are gambling that it won't be their name when the time comes," Nosky said. "They certainly will ask us for the names - there's nothing magical about us to prevent it."
After receiving a letter, CMS engineers turn off the student's Internet access until he or she visits the CMS office. At the office, each offender receives a brief speech on the legality of file-sharing and signs a statement to the RIAA stating that they will not illegally download again.
Exceptions to the general punishment protocol do exist, though.
