Repercussions of illegal file-sharing are on the horizon for Plymouth State University students as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sent out over 150 copyright infringement notifications of illegal downloading since September 1.
According to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, PSU is required to forward these notifications to students caught violating copyrighted material. These notifications as that students acknowledge receipt of this communication, remove the copyrighted material that they are sharing and refrain from sharing files on PSU’s server in the future.
Last year, many Keene State College students and UNH students received subpoenas while PSU received only 50 notifications and no subpoenas at all. PSU had received 160 notifications as of since the beginning of the semester.
“When we get [the notifications], we notify students as soon as possible since they are at risk,” says Dwight Fischer, PSU’s Chief Information Officer. “If they do not remove the files, or respond within two business days, their computer will be removed from the network until they remove the identified copyrighted materials. Repeated allegations result in referrals to the Judicial Office.”
If the RIAA chooses to keep its focus on PSU, the administration fears that it will only be a matter of time before on-campus students start receiving subpoenas. These show that the RIAA intend to file civil litigation, though students are offered to settle the situation out of court for around $750 per music file. By law, PSU is under the obligation to forward any subpoenas it receives through the RIAA to the individual sharing files on the university network.
“We are most concerned that PSU students have all the information and do not engage in behaviors that will get them into trouble and or cost them in legal and civil litigation,” said Fischer.
“If you are using LimeWire, BearShare, BitTorrent or other peer-to-peer file sharing software to download music, you are at risk!” stated an all-student email sent out by the administration on October 2, “The music industry is putting significant pressure on PSU. You need to turn file sharing off – and leave it off – to avoid this risk.” It also directed students to a link on the University of Chicago’s website that explains how to shut off file sharing on these programs for students that do not know how.
“My sense is that some students are fully aware that their file sharing is not only collecting, but sharing songs with the world,” Fischer said, “Many others, however, know they are getting songs for free but are oblivious to the fact that their computers are serving up songs to the world. The file sharing applications, like LimeWire and BearShare, to name a couple, set their defaults to share. You can turn it off, but with every little upgrade they turn it back on. Unfortunately, the RIAA could care less. Ignorance is no excuse.”