Spring Break
The Daily OrangeRuckus music site goes under
By Sara Tracey
Posted: 2/11/09, 6:15 AM EST Section: News
The Ruckus Music Service, an online media site providing college students access to free downloadable music, shut down Friday. The service attempted to give students a legal way to download music and other media.
The company offered no reason for closing other than a one-sentence announcement on its Web site that read, "Unfortunately, the Ruckus service will no longer be provided."
"We're disappointed with the way that Ruckus operations shut down," said Christopher Sedore, interim vice president for information technology and chief information at Syracuse University. "Ruckus apparently did not feel the need to notify its partners. SU, along with many other institutions, was not notified in advance."
Ruckus was started in 2004 as a subscription-based music service offered to more than 80 colleges and universities, and eventually expanded its service to include all students with working ".edu" e-mail addresses. In 2006, Ruckus gave students the opportunity to access thousands of movies and television shows for $15 each semester.
Despite these advantages, Ruckus could not sustain itself.
There were some flaws of the network that affected students: for one, Ruckus was only compatible with PC's. Since Mac computers are recommended by several SU colleges, many students were unable to use the network due to the digital rights management protection. Students tried to strip files from their protective-DRM coding, which is just as illegal as downloading the same songs off LimeWire, another music downloading service.
Sedore said he worries with the site's closing, students will be more apt to illegally download content.
"With Ruckus being a major source for downloading media at SU, students may increase their interest in illegal downloading, but SU has network devices that curb illegal downloading."
Eric Zeleznik, a freshman television, radio and film major at SU, echoed those sentiments. He said Ruckus was effective because it recognized that students were illegally downloading music from LimeWire and other programs, and provided for that need.
The company offered no reason for closing other than a one-sentence announcement on its Web site that read, "Unfortunately, the Ruckus service will no longer be provided."
"We're disappointed with the way that Ruckus operations shut down," said Christopher Sedore, interim vice president for information technology and chief information at Syracuse University. "Ruckus apparently did not feel the need to notify its partners. SU, along with many other institutions, was not notified in advance."
Ruckus was started in 2004 as a subscription-based music service offered to more than 80 colleges and universities, and eventually expanded its service to include all students with working ".edu" e-mail addresses. In 2006, Ruckus gave students the opportunity to access thousands of movies and television shows for $15 each semester.
Despite these advantages, Ruckus could not sustain itself.
There were some flaws of the network that affected students: for one, Ruckus was only compatible with PC's. Since Mac computers are recommended by several SU colleges, many students were unable to use the network due to the digital rights management protection. Students tried to strip files from their protective-DRM coding, which is just as illegal as downloading the same songs off LimeWire, another music downloading service.
Sedore said he worries with the site's closing, students will be more apt to illegally download content.
"With Ruckus being a major source for downloading media at SU, students may increase their interest in illegal downloading, but SU has network devices that curb illegal downloading."
Eric Zeleznik, a freshman television, radio and film major at SU, echoed those sentiments. He said Ruckus was effective because it recognized that students were illegally downloading music from LimeWire and other programs, and provided for that need.
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