OIT News

University warns students and employees of illegal peer-to-peer file sharing

By Office of Information Technology

University students, faculty and staff are expected to respect the intellectual property rights of others and refrain from the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials —  including illegal peer-to-peer file sharing —  which has personal risks and legal consequences.

Music, movies, videos, games, and other online media are protected by (or subject to) copyright laws. It is usually illegal to share them via peer-to-peer applications. In most situations, downloading or uploading even one small portion of a copyrighted work without permission constitutes copyright infringement. File sharing also increases the likelihood that others could gain access to confidential data on your computer or install destructive computer viruses that could spread across the university’s network.

If you illegally download, upload, copy, or distribute copyrighted content, even unintentionally, you risk legal action and criminal prosecution, which could result in severe fines, personal financial loss or even imprisonment. For example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently affirmed a lower court’s decision to fine a former Boston University graduate student $675,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 30 digital songs online (see Sony BMG Music Entertainment, et al. v. Joel Tenenbaum). Violating a copyright while using any university network or equipment may:

  • Result in a permanent record at the university.
  • Serve as evidence in court.
  • Adversely affect your academic status and employment, up to and including discharge.

Be aware that copyright holders such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) are using automated systems to detect even small amounts of file sharing, and they are aggressively pursuing infringements. In addition, the university is increasing the logging and analysis of its wireless network activity to include monitoring of peer-to-peer file sharing.

The university acts quickly when notified of alleged copyright infringements. It refers incidents to appropriate campus officials and takes steps to stop any unauthorized download or distribution of copyrighted materials.

The following resources can help you become better informed about copyright and copyright law:

For assistance with removing P2P file sharing applications and copyright infringing materials, contact the NC State Help Desk at 919.515.HELP (4357).