Illegal to Download Copyrighted Material?

In a recent blog post, Matt Baker, an undergraduate student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reported that several hundred computers in the residence halls of UCLA showed a message on the desktop warning students not to download copyrighted materials. The message read,

"Do not download copyrighted music, movies, and software. Most material is copyrighted. Obtaining or offering such material in violations of U.S. Copyright Law may result in university disciplinary action and may be punishable with civil and criminal penalties including prison time and money damages."

What about the legal downloading of copyrighted materials through sources such as iTunes? What about copyrighted materials in the public domain? While this is probably an error on the university administrator's behalf, it does show the sort of frenzied fear that the RIAA has instilled into university/college campuses.

EFF Reviews RIAA's War on Music Pirating

August 29, 2007 - Since 2003, the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) has been waging war on illegal pirating of copyrighted music. While illegal file sharing is most certainly wrong, the RIAA has taken their litigations too far. As of today, the RIAA has sued well over 20,000 individuals - some innocent - forcing them to settle, paying thousands of dollars out of court, or be faced with daunting legal fees. In addition, the RIAA has been pressuring the government to intervene on the RIAA's behalf. An amendment to the Higher Education Reauthorization Act was proposed in July, 2007 by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) which threatens to take federal funding away from selected American colleges unless "technology based detterents" are implemented.

What effect has the RIAA's war on piracy had so far? Trends listed in the report show that traditional P2P file sharing (presumably illegal) has increased by as much as 50% since 2005. Increasing pressure on traditional P2P networks, however, also entices illegal file sharers to switch to different means of file sharing. These include tactics which are harder to monitor, such as file sharing over a personal network or ripping and burning DVDs so the numbers could be even worse.

What is needed is a way for creative artists to get the compensation they deserve while making file sharing legal. The EFF has proposed a that the RIAA issue blanket licenses to universities where students would pay $5 a month for permission to share files. The problem, however, is that some students - who do not share music files - would be forced to pay this monthly fee as it is likely to be included in tuition fees. Find out more and read the report here.