MU Policy Blocks Peer-To-Peer File Sharing Networks

By ZACH HONIG
February 5, 2007
http://columbiamissourian.com/utown/story.php?ID=24064

Students, faculty and staff using MU’s TigerNet campus network can no longer access peer-to-peer file sharing networks, often used to illegally download copyrighted media.

Access to peer-to-peer services, which MU’s Information & Access Technology Services had previously allowed between midnight and 5 a.m., was blocked when the new policy went into effect on Jan. 12.

“Unfortunately, IAT Services’ educational efforts to stop illegal downloading and file sharing via MU’s network have proven ineffective,” Beth Chancellor said in an e-mail sent to account holders on Jan. 11. “As your network provider, IAT Services is responsible for protecting copyrighted works as outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.” Chancellor is MU’s associate chief information officer.

Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 in response to an increase in Internet piracy. Under the act, MU, which acts as a service provider to those accessing the Internet through its network, can be forced to disclose the identity of network users violating copyrights.

The DMCA states: “In addition to limiting the liability of service providers, Title II establishes a procedure by which a copyright owner can obtain a subpoena from a federal court ordering

a service provider to disclose the identity of a subscriber who is allegedly engaging in infringing activities.”

Division of Information Technology spokesman Terry Robb said that one of several factors leading up to the new policy was an increase in reported violations, with 122 in 2006 compared with 94 in 2005. Robb also said that a significant amount of staff time had been spent dealing with copyright violations.

“When folks were caught violating (the DMCA), we were notified by the copyright authority. We would have to take action and ultimately block the violator’s network access,” Robb said. “It takes a tremendous amount of staff time on our part to block students and educate them as well.”

Robb said the decision to block access was made independently and was not based on similar policies at other universities.

Though MU isn’t the only Big 12 university blocking access, most schools, including Baylor University, University of Colorado, Iowa State University and University of Kansas, allow access but have strict policies that often result in a temporary loss of network access for DMCA violators.

Kansas State University has a policy similar to MU’s, which blocks Napster and other peer-to-peer programs in an effort to cut down on bandwidth costs.

KSU, which began blocking access in 2000, states on its Web site that with increased “recreational use of the Internet”, the cost to provide the bandwidth needed to support such activities would be cost-prohibitive.

Some peer-to-peer software users share copyright-free media and open source software, which doesn’t violate copyright laws, but many use the software illegally. The new block is nondiscriminatory, however, meaning that peer-to-peer access to noncopyrighted media will be blocked as well.

MU senior Joe Kasmann enjoys writing music during his free time but also downloads copyrighted music and software using peer-to-peer file sharing applications.

“Maybe I’d feel differently if it was my own music out there,” Kasmann said. “I like the freedom of downloading music for free. I feel like musicians make enough money other ways like touring and merchandise.”

Kasmann, who lives off campus, said he will continue to download copyrighted music when not on MU’s network.