University warns about illegal file sharing

By Molly Leaverton

University administrators are making an increased effort to inform students of the consequences of file sharing.

Punishments include being blocked from the Santa Clara network as well as a legal suit for as much as 150,000 dollars per illegal file.

Last year 24 Santa Clara students were identified as participating in illegal file sharing, and this year the first notice was given during welcome weekend, before school even began.

The Santa Clara network has also been affected by the increased amount of file sharing, according to Ross Dykes, Student Technology Services Manager.

"Organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America are targeting universities because they are worried that our students are learning the wrong life long habits and they are trying to make an example of them," said Chief Information Officer Ron Danielson.

Administrators also worry about liability for the university.

"If the infringing files are placed on a Santa Clara university-owned machine, or the works have been downloaded by a student employee, the University may also be exposed to potential liability," said University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., in a mass email.

Some students believe that file sharing is a legitimate way to support artists and spread music that people may not otherwise be exposed to.

"As long as you support artists in some way, music should be something that should be shared and made available to all," said sophomore Alex Cost.

"I think it is morally wrong in that it takes money away from artists whose CDs people would buy ... but at the same time it gives more notoriety to some artists who no one would hear of if they had to buy their music," said freshman Dan Buglione.

"Students have said 'yes it is illegal but the record companies are ripping us off, this is an act of civil disobedience'. While that's an ethical stand that a person takes, it's important to realize that taking an ethical stand like that can come with consequences," said Danielson.

Danielson serves as the agent registered with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. He is the informant that is contacted when private companies such as Sony Music, or MGM detect that someone on the Santa Clara network has illegally downloaded copyrighted material.

These companies detect that someone has downloaded copyrighted material by either setting up a fake file sharing site and observing who attempts to download or by programming robots to download from people who are making copyrighted files available for others to download via peer to peer programs.

When a company identifies file sharing, Danielson is notified.

"On average about three notifications are given a month that students that have been identified as illegally file sharing," Danielson said.

Although the school has never had a repeat offender, if someone were identified possible consequences could lead to "permanent loss of network access or to other sanctions," said Locatelli.

Contact Molly Leaverton at (408) 554-4546 or at mleaverton@scu.edu.