Busted!

We’re all “Limewired” up.

For Dan Cummins, it’s all about morals.

“Students are at an age where they are growing and developing and shaping their character,” said Cummins, director of the University of Cincinnati Judicial Affairs. “Everything they do shapes the person they become.”

To Cummins that includes downloading music illegally.

Illegal downloading has become a pressing problem for universities around the country.

“Everybody in the world seems to need music,” said Joel Hoffman, head of the division of composition, musicology and theory at the College-Conservatory of Music. Hoffman adds that from a student’s point of view, “generating creative work isn’t understood to be a legitimate source of income,” which means they think they shouldn’t have to pay for music. 

Peer-to-peer software, or P2P, like Limewire, Morpheus and Kazaa, allow people to download movies, games and music. These computer programs copy entire contents of people’s hard drives and make files accessible around the world. As the UC Information Technologies’ Web site states, “P2P enables the transfer of billions of files among millions of people without knowledge of identity or even location.”

UC’s Student Code of Conduct states that any misuse of technology, which includes transferring or distributing unauthorized files from anywhere on the campus server, is subject to disciplinary action by the university. 

“Any time you share copyright material, it’s against the law,” Cummins said. 

In 2005, the United States Supreme Court decided that companies could be sued for offering file-sharing software, a violation of copyright infringement. This has made it easier for music companies to sue universities and other large communities for
illegal downloading.

Now, UC checks up on all cases of illegal file sharing, according to Cummins. The Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA, notifies UC any time a computer using the server is file sharing illegally. From there, the university alerts both the student and Judicial Affairs for a follow-up.

“Truthfully, a lot of students do get caught, and it’s important for students to not reflect on if they’ll get caught or not, but if it’s right or wrong,” Cummins said.

If they do get caught, disciplinary action typically ranges from a reprimand to probation – and often an educational sanction.  A written paper on illegal file sharing is also required.  
Last year, 150 students were caught illegally downloading files, and at least 15 cases this year have already been resolved.  

So where can students get music without getting into trouble? There are several alternatives. The iTunes store offers more than 8 million songs for 99 cents each, according to its Web site. It also features music videos, television shows and movies.

UC is affiliated with the Ruckus Network, a program supported by several major music labels. Ruckus is free to anyone with a valid school (.edu) e-mail address, and more importantly, it’s legal. The college-based program allows students to download unlimited songs onto their Ruckus player. The Ruckus.com software is only compatible with Windows, which leaves Apple users in the dust. Also, their library isn’t as extensive as iTunes, with only 2.5 million songs.

Other alternatives include the reformed Napster, which now offers unlimited music plans for a monthly fee, Yahoo! Music (view music videos for free) and Pass Along, which is similar to iTunes, but allows users to buy discounted “points.”

Hoffman offers another option: A new movement in the recording industry, nicknamed “copyleft.”

Copyleft “asserts that what artists want most of all is to be disseminated,” Hoffman said.
Artists use copyleft in an attempt to share their music with as many people as possible in hopes of gaining popularity. Companies like Prison Soup offer free, downloadable songs under copyleft terms, asking that users simply allow anyone who asks them to receive a copy.    

While downloading music and other files illegally may be tempting, there are legal alternatives that won’t get students into trouble.

“We just want students to stop and think,” Cummins said. “We want to engage students to take the legal, ethical and moral road.”

Comments

5 comments

Anna

Mon Nov 24 2008 21:37

An informed citizen:

First, try at least writing at a high school level. There, not their. Commas are your friend.

Second, I would have to disagree with the statement that "This is the most ridiculous story in the entire world." Really? In the entire world? That seems a tad extreme.

And why would you assume John writes for the News Record? There's no John listed on the Contact Us page. So before you accuse people of not doing research, try doing some yourself.

Ben

Sun Nov 23 2008 19:24

The terminology in this article is asinine, and rather incoherent. Perhaps, someone should actually understand the subject before writing an article about it.

A more informed citizen

Sun Nov 23 2008 17:49

Hey informed citizen, you got caught didnt you... nice 300 word response loser. Get a life.
P.S - Do some research, check the staff box, there is nobody named John that works at the newsrecord.

An informed citizen

Sat Nov 22 2008 17:07

This is the most ridiculous story in the entire world. I and John you are not a student you work at the newsrecord.

[quote]These computer programs copy entire contents of people’s hard drives and make files accessible around the world. As the UC Information Technologies’ Web site states, “P2P enables the transfer of billions of files among millions of people without knowledge of identity or even location.”[/quote]

First no they don't. Their is a directory called the shared directory where the files you want to share are located. The user has full control over what directories to share. Also regarding the quote from the UCIT site..how is that a bad thing? And yes you have knowledge of the identity and the location. People who are no adept enough to use computers should not use higher level of thought software.

Do some research on the other side instead of making biased articles like this. Take a look @ EFF.org and some artists who have embraced this revolution in distribution. Radiohead for example allows users to set a price for the album they want whether it be free or 10,000 dollars.

Do some research next time guys and stop shamelessly commenting on your own stories because nobody cares.

john

Thu Nov 20 2008 22:35

Great story. I now know what is legal and where to get it. I would not want to get in trouble for something, at first glance, seems so innocent.

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