RIAA requests file-sharing info from UA
Eric Evridge
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
UA administrators recently received a formal request from the Recording Industry Association of America, a trade group that represents intellectual property and First Amendment rights of the U.S. recording industry, asking that the UA cooperate in addressing illegal file-sharing activities. And like at most universities across the nation, UA students are not happy.
"There's no reason why the RIAA should have the right or ability to do this," said Taylor Hunter, former on-campus resident and senior at the UA.
"How is it not legal to tap phone lines but it's legal to trace down people's IP addresses? It's needless," he said. "I think we could devote our time elsewhere, for a better cause. It's a needless process."
IP addresses are unique addresses that computer networks use to identify and communicate with each other; much like cell phone numbers, physical addresses or home phone lines.
The letter the UA received is requesting, under new RIAA policy, that institutions of higher education preserve all records containing file-sharing activities.
The UA does not immediately give the RIAA what it wants. There is a formal, step-by-step procedure that must be followed, said Scott Flanagin, director of Communications and Outreach, which is a division of Student Affairs at the UA.
"Here's what happens at the systems level all UA systems," he said. "The IT department attempts to identify the individual that was responsible for the Internet connection at the time of the infraction, the individual included in the letter sent to the UA."
From here, the letter is forwarded to that individual.
"The UA does not provide any identity of any individuals and will not unless there is a subpoena. If there is a subpoena, we will provide specific information if we can and if it's available to us," Flanagin said.
"That's some relief, I guess," Hunter said. "At least the UA is not so quick to punish."
In order for the RIAA and UA to cooperate to this point requires a lot of work and red tape, though, Flanagin said.
"There's no reason why the RIAA should have the right or ability to do this," said Taylor Hunter, former on-campus resident and senior at the UA.
"How is it not legal to tap phone lines but it's legal to trace down people's IP addresses? It's needless," he said. "I think we could devote our time elsewhere, for a better cause. It's a needless process."
IP addresses are unique addresses that computer networks use to identify and communicate with each other; much like cell phone numbers, physical addresses or home phone lines.
The letter the UA received is requesting, under new RIAA policy, that institutions of higher education preserve all records containing file-sharing activities.
The UA does not immediately give the RIAA what it wants. There is a formal, step-by-step procedure that must be followed, said Scott Flanagin, director of Communications and Outreach, which is a division of Student Affairs at the UA.
"Here's what happens at the systems level all UA systems," he said. "The IT department attempts to identify the individual that was responsible for the Internet connection at the time of the infraction, the individual included in the letter sent to the UA."
From here, the letter is forwarded to that individual.
"The UA does not provide any identity of any individuals and will not unless there is a subpoena. If there is a subpoena, we will provide specific information if we can and if it's available to us," Flanagin said.
"That's some relief, I guess," Hunter said. "At least the UA is not so quick to punish."
In order for the RIAA and UA to cooperate to this point requires a lot of work and red tape, though, Flanagin said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Adam
posted 4/30/08 @ 10:11 AM CST
I say good. Students who think stealing intellectual property is wrong and that thanking artists is good won't be punished, only those who try and justify theft will. (Continued…)
Remembering Napster Times
posted 4/30/08 @ 2:44 PM CST
Remember the good old days of Napster in the dorms? Ahhhhh.
Adam, this file sharing is not about money not going to the artists, it's about it not going to the fat coorp exects. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 5/01/08 @ 2:12 PM CST
If the artists want people to have their music for free, they can do what Radiohead did. If they don't, they don't have to sign with a label. They own their intellectual property, not me, and I don't have the right to steal it whether I think its good for the artist or not. (Continued…)
Ridiculous
posted 9/01/08 @ 2:50 PM CST
Eric, thanks for the article. IMO it's just ridiculous the steps the RIAA is taking in all their greed.
Gentry
posted 9/05/08 @ 7:43 AM CST
The only people who are worried about the RIAA requesting the owners of IP addresses are those people who have violated copyright laws. Here's an idea: if you don't want to be held liable for copyright infringement, don't steal intellectual property. (Continued…)
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