Universities and File Sharing Should the Feds intercede?

Overview HR 4137: "Develop a plan for offering alternatives" "explore..deterrents to prevent such illegal activity" S 1642: " unauthorized distribution...may subject the students to...penalties"

HR 4137:

"Develop a plan for offering alternatives"

"explore..deterrents to prevent such illegal activity"

S 1642:

" unauthorized distribution...may subject the students to...penalties"

Current Model RIAA and prelitigation letters In Jan. 2008, 407 letter to 18 universities. Tracking down students UNL estimated $11 per letter to match IP w/ student. Stanford claims it requires almost 3 full-time staff members and is charging students who receive notices ($100-$500). Other schools returning letters to RIAA. Dynamic IP's make matching challenging. No legal obligation to comply with RIAA's requests.

RIAA and prelitigation letters

In Jan. 2008, 407 letter to 18 universities.

Tracking down students

UNL estimated $11 per letter to match IP w/ student.

Stanford claims it requires almost 3 full-time staff members and is charging students who receive notices ($100-$500).

Other schools returning letters to RIAA.

Dynamic IP's make matching challenging.

No legal obligation to comply with RIAA's requests.

Option One: Block P2P Applications and Protocols Technology challenges: "tools fail to stop the majority of network infringement. Others bring about temporary peace, but only at the expense of limiting student access to critical resources and applications." - EFF Darknets Provide more anonymity and will grow if universities block access. Ohio University as test case. received over 1287 pre-litigation letters. Rise of Darknets.

Technology challenges:

"tools fail to stop the majority of network infringement. Others bring about temporary peace, but only at the expense of limiting student access to critical resources and applications." - EFF

Darknets

Provide more anonymity and will grow if universities block access.

Ohio University as test case.

received over 1287 pre-litigation letters.

Rise of Darknets.

Options Two: Alternative Source Examples: Napster, Ruckus Cornell University: alumna covered more than $200,000 to provide Napster to entire student body. (2004) Tennesse quoted $18 million dollars to cover all state universities. Free service developed in 2007 by Ruckus. In test at American University, almost half of the students did not use. Lobbying for inclusion.

Examples: Napster, Ruckus

Cornell University: alumna covered more than $200,000 to provide Napster to entire student body. (2004)

Tennesse quoted $18 million dollars to cover all state universities.

Free service developed in 2007 by Ruckus.

In test at American University, almost half of the students did not use.

Lobbying for inclusion.

Conclusion Alternatives too problematic for inclusion in federal student loan bill. Technology is ever changing and research needs to continue. Space needs for Universities to share best practices in handling copyright issues. RIAA needs to find a better tactic.

Alternatives too problematic for inclusion in federal student loan bill.

Technology is ever changing and research needs to continue.

Space needs for Universities to share best practices in handling copyright issues.

RIAA needs to find a better tactic.