What EMU Computer Network Users Should Know about Internet File Sharing
EMU vigorously condemns any actions by EMU students, faculty or staff that infringe on the copyrights of intellectual property holders. By using any computer connected to the EMU network each user is agreeing to honor and comply with all appropriate policies of the university. These policies include, but are not limited to, the Community Lifestyle Commitment, the Acceptable Use for Campus Computers and Networks, the Security Standards for EMU Network Users and the Computing Code of Conduct. Each of these contains language that relates to accessing copyrighted materials on the Internet. In an effort to insure that users of computers connected to the EMU computer network understand the implications of these policies as well as United States and international laws relating to copyrights, the following questions and statements are presented:
Internet "copyright infringement" refers to copying or distributing copyrighted materials without permission of the copyright owner. This includes, among other things, music, movies, software -- anything with a copyright that can be copied and shared via the Internet.
Are you aware that the recording industry has successfully sued Internet users, including students, for "copyright infringement" attributed to music download? As of August, 2003 there are no fewer than 10 active suits in process. Many more are sure to follow.
Do you know that the recording and motion picture industry recently won a court decision which forces Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to turn over names and addresses of their network users who utilize peer-to-peer software to violate copyright laws relating to music and video downloads? EMU is the ISP for all faculty, staff and students using the EMU network to connect to the Internet. If we are served with a subpoena requesting the owner of a specific IP address, Information Systems will turn the subpoena over to university counsel and EMU will seek to recover from the address holder any legal fees involved in complying with the subpoena.
Do you know that when you use KaZaA, LimeWire, Morpheus and other peer-to-peer software, your computer may become a server of material you have downloaded or serve out files you have stored on your machine even if you did not download them from the service?
Why is this such a problem? Because producers, publishers, retailers, the record and motion picture industry, and more importantly - the creative artists - feel they are losing their rightful earnings so they are aggressively using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to try to stop illegal copyright infringement activities.
What will EMU Info Systems do when notified of a copyright infringement? See the FAQ.
Who is EMU's DMCA Designated Agent? See the DMCA Designated Agent page.
