THE UNIVERSITY OF
Gregory A Jackson
Vice
President & Chief Information Officer
Memorandum
To: University
network users
About: Unlicensed distribution of copyrighted
materials
Over the last several years
a number of "peer to peer" (p2p) applications have come into
widespread use. These allow users to participate in a file sharing “community,”
allowing users to search the network for files that may interest them, and to
bring those files to their own computers. This downloading generally is not a
problem for the University, although it puts users at risk personally if they
use p2p applications to acquire copyrighted materials without buying or
licensing those materials.
Most p2p programs also automatically
share files from the user's disk to other users worldwide, unless the user takes
specific actions to prevent this. Sharing
copyrighted materials without a license is quite likely to subject the user and
the University to legal sanctions. Moreover, the traffic such sharing
generates can easily cause problems for other users at the University. Both of
these outcomes violate the University’s Eligibility and Acceptable Use Policy.
Federal law requires that
the University take action when notified that someone on its network is
distributing copyrighted materials. The University will not protect individuals
who distribute copyrighted material without an appropriate license. Since most
p2p programs install themselves with worldwide sharing turned on by default, it
is very easy for their users to find themselves in serious trouble with the
University and with copyright holders.
If you are using p2p
applications and are on or dialed into the university's network, you should
consider removing the p2p applications from your system. If you choose not to
remove these applications, you should IMMEDIATELY ensure that your system is
set to prevent them from acting as providers of unlicensed materials to other
users (instructions are linked to http://security.uchicago.edu).
Failure to restrict p2p
applications appropriately, whether you are aware of the violation or not, will
result in your machine being removed from the network until the copyright
violation is rectified. It will also cause a report to be sent to University
Human Resources Management, the Dean of Students, or the Provost's Office, as
appropriate. This will lead to disciplinary action within the University.
Additionally, legal action may be taken against you by the holder of the
copyright for the material that was found on your system.