What you need to know about file sharing
We were all taught to share as kids… however, you can’t share what’s not yours.
Why sharing music and movies will get you into big trouble...
What is file sharing?
File sharing is using a program such as Kazaa, Grokster, Limewire, BitTorrent, etc. to send and download music, movies, and other files online, often anonymously. Copyrighted music and movie files are frequently shared on these programs, in violation of federal laws.
So what? Why is this illegal?
If you’re using a program like Limewire to download music or movies, you’re sharing or receiving something you didn’t buy, don’t own, or didn’t pay for in any way. Essentially, you’re transferring stolen goods. In another sense, it’s like going into a store and stealing a CD. Not only are you breaking state and federal laws, but you’re violating Bucknell’s policies as well. Bucknell has an Appropriate Use Policy (AUP) that governs use of its computing resources. All students are expected to abide by it. The AUP can be found here: http://www.bucknell.edu/aup.xml. Learn it, live it, love it, because as a Bucknell student, you’re bound by it.
What could happen to me if I’m caught?
Several things. Lately, the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) has been targeting college campuses for illegal downloaders. If Bucknell gets a letter from the RIAA or a record label/movie studio stating that someone is illegally sharing their product, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act requires ISR to take action. Typically what happens is that your high speed internet connection is taken away, and you’re put into a Restricted Bandwidth Zone (RBZ), which is painfully slow, like dial-up internet service. You’re kept in the RBZ for a week, or until you remove the offending files. You also run the risk of being sued by the RIAA for copyright infringement. You are liable for $150,000 per song. Many defendants have settled with the RIAA for thousands of dollars. The average settlement is approximately $4000. Bucknell will not represent you or take your side in such a lawsuit. You will be treated as an adult independent of Bucknell. Bucknell is merely your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
How do I get music legally?
A few ways…. 1. Buy music from a legitimate music source like iTunes, eMusic, Napster, or Yahoo Music. For a list of legal music sites, see this page: http://www.campusdownloading.com. 2. Buy CDs and rip them onto your computer. 3. Subscribe to Ruckus (http://www.ruckus.com) and download music to your computer for free. If you have questions, please stop by the Tech Desk in Bertrand Library and speak with an ISR staff member.