The RIAA loves college students.

Makagulfazel

Makagulfazel

Adept Bungler of Things
Orderite
Here's what I got in my email today:

General Information
The campus network is a limited resource whose purpose is to provide connectivity for educational, research and business needs. Although it may be used for personal reasons such usage is only permitted when it does not interfere with the educational, research and business needs. Moreover it is forbidden to use the network for illegal purposes, to include copyright infringement. As Peer-to-Peer filesharing software is predominately used for personal reasons, and those universities which still allow Peer-to-Peer filesharing are facing increasing scrutiny, the use of Peer-to-Peer filesharing software has been restricted.

Peer-to-Peer usage is restricted by means of traffic shaping and can be enabled on a per-user basis for 360 minutes at a time. To enable Peer-to-Peer usage requires acknowledging the information on this page; then each time usage is to be activated this information must be accepted again and a quiz passed. To pass the quiz requires answering every question correctly.

Even when enabled it will still be subject to traffic shaping control to ensure proper functioning of the network. This allowance extends to all systems registered to the user making the request and only applies to systems registered to the user.

All users have an allowance for Peer-to-Peer usage that is increased by 4 each month to a limit of 20 uses. This allowance is reduced by 20 on receipt of a copyright infringement notice and (for students) may be altered at the direction of the Office of Student Affairs.


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DMCA Notices
Receipt of a copyright infringement notice under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act has serious consequences. Faculty and staff members who have such a notice filed against them are dealt with by their department and Human Resources. All students, whether graduate or undergraduate, result in the Office of Student Affairs being notified which has the following consequences:

First Offense (Student)

Remaining Peer-to-Peer uses are reduced by 20
Network access for all registered systems is suspended
Enrolled in "Safe and Legal Computing" Blackboard course
Network access is not restored until the "Safe and Legal Computing" course is completed and at least 14 calendar days have passed

Second Offense (Student)

Ability to submit requests for authorization to use Peer-to-Peer via this application is removed
Network access for all registered systems is suspended
Research and reflection papers are assigned
Community Responsibility hours
$100 processing fee
Network access is not restored until at least 28 calendar days have passed and the Office of Student Affairs gives approval

Additional Offenses (Student)

Network access for all registered systems is suspended
Disciplinary probation for two semesters
Discretionary sanctions
$200 processing fee
Network access is not restored until at least four months have passed and the Office of Student Affairs gives approval

Note: Any attempt to circumvent any restriction caused by a DMCA violation automatically results in escalation to the next level.
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Exceptions
For exceptions to this procedure build a business case and we (Security and the Office of Student Affairs where students are involved) will be glad to talk with you. Such a business case needs to include, at a minimum,

an analysis of alternate methods of obtaining the data
why the data is necessary for educational, research or business needs

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Any attempt to circumvent the network controls will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Important: You are responsible all network activity of systems registered to you. If a DMCA violation notice or lawsuit is filed as a result of the behavior of systems registered to you this will apply to you—it does not matter who was doing the download, you are always responsible for systems registered to you.
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Now, I understand this isn't the University's fault. The RIAA probably has the University's balls in its teeth. However, what the fuck is up with the things I bolded? Classes, service hours, etc.? These people better hope I don't get a terminal disease, otherwise I taking a few "suckas" with me.
 
This does open a new door for me, however.
I can break into douche bags' computers and get them banned from the internet for 2 weeks. That'll also get them enrolled into the "safe" class, because everyone is responsible for their registered computer. This ought to be fun.
I'm sure the university is going to charge for the class. It just seems somewhat unjust, as any suspect can already face civil/criminal lawsuits. I guess I'll see how this system works in a week.
 
Interesting, I'm one of the network admins at a school. Out general view point is along the lines of what you get up to is your business. We are in no way responsible for the actions of our students, they're all adults and are quite capable of making their own decisions.

Of course in my experience there tend to be about 3 main view points of network security and policy

1) Annal - The network admins thinks they are Hitler's little brother and control everything with an iron fist (this is not an exaggeration)

2) Balanced - balances out security with a good dose of common sense and fairness

3) Loose canon - Anything goes, never even heard about IT polices


Generally we are somewhere between 2 and 3 but I've worked next to annal admins in the past. Real control freaks, IT guys tend to take a fair amount of personal ownership in their networks which is good, but some get downright possessive.

I cant really see why a school/uni would really care if their students were downloading pirated software, as long as the school and licensed software and didnt download warez they cant be taken to court.
 
There was an interesting article in this months issue of Maximum PC about the RIAA subpoenaing collage students. They issued a subpoena to the wrong law student and are now involved in a law suit over the legality of their process.
 
the only thing we had when i was still studying, was a traffic restriction (20gb or something / month over the wireless). but since i was an IT student with specialisation in Networking, i'd just walk into the special networking class which was inside the DMZ and hence outside any restriction or logging.

neat!
 
There have been a few articles at Slashdot about this. It seems some universities are actually ignoring the MAFIAA and protecting their students. Too bad yours isn't.
 
ooh how I hate restricted networks but that is just plain sick! Can't you secretly gather like 300 students and instruct them to abuse the system? That would probably raise some eyebrows
 
Speaking of pirating... Someone should have told the kid attempting to get internet service through the company I work for to not to tell me out right that he was going to be using his connection for pirating... Why does the RIAA not go after geniuses like that?
 
Maphusio said:
Speaking of pirating... Someone should have told the kid attempting to get internet service through the company I work for to not to tell me out right that he was going to be using his connection for pirating... Why does the RIAA not go after geniuses like that?
Click to expand...



Because that would make sense.
 
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