Spring Break
RIAA accuses students at UA
University subpoenaed for names of 14 students suspected of piracy
By: Yusra Tekbali
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
Fourteen UA students may find themselves in court with the Recording Industry Association of America, as a federal judge agreed to subpoena the UA to turn over their personal information.
The RIAA filed a complaint Feb. 21 in U.S. District Court, accusing the students of copyright infringement and illegally downloading or sharing music files over the Internet.
UA spokesman Johnny Cruz said the UA had not yet received the subpoena, but would notify the students before releasing their information to the RIAA.
The UA received pre-litigation settlement letters from the RIAA on Dec. 6, part of hundreds sent to universities around the country, in an effort to crackdown on illegal file-sharing activity on college campuses.
The RIAA Comprehensive Anti-Piracy Campaign, launched in 2006, identifies individuals illegally downloading files through their IP address.
The letters from the RIAA informed UA officials that 14 students illegally shared or downloaded files on the UA network in November, said Dan Lee, copyright librarian.
"Most of the notices I had to deal with were from UA Wi-Fi users around campus and from fraternities and sororities," he said. "But again, we can't confirm with 100 percent accuracy until we see the subpoena."
The RIAA links downloading music without its permission, akin to shoplifting.
"The illegal downloading of music is just as wrong as shoplifting from a local convenience store - and the impact on those who create music and bring it to fans is equally devastating," according to the RIAA's official Web site.
Samir Mukhida, a freshman majoring in molecular and cellular biology, disagrees and thinks music should be free and available to download.
"The music industry, the artists, they make so much money everywhere else, through concerts and merchandise, and any real artist knows that," he said.
The UA was able to identify nine of the individuals by tracking down the IP address, but did not forward the settlement letters to them, in compliance with UA policy, Lee said.
The RIAA filed a complaint Feb. 21 in U.S. District Court, accusing the students of copyright infringement and illegally downloading or sharing music files over the Internet.
UA spokesman Johnny Cruz said the UA had not yet received the subpoena, but would notify the students before releasing their information to the RIAA.
The UA received pre-litigation settlement letters from the RIAA on Dec. 6, part of hundreds sent to universities around the country, in an effort to crackdown on illegal file-sharing activity on college campuses.
The RIAA Comprehensive Anti-Piracy Campaign, launched in 2006, identifies individuals illegally downloading files through their IP address.
The letters from the RIAA informed UA officials that 14 students illegally shared or downloaded files on the UA network in November, said Dan Lee, copyright librarian.
"Most of the notices I had to deal with were from UA Wi-Fi users around campus and from fraternities and sororities," he said. "But again, we can't confirm with 100 percent accuracy until we see the subpoena."
The RIAA links downloading music without its permission, akin to shoplifting.
"The illegal downloading of music is just as wrong as shoplifting from a local convenience store - and the impact on those who create music and bring it to fans is equally devastating," according to the RIAA's official Web site.
Samir Mukhida, a freshman majoring in molecular and cellular biology, disagrees and thinks music should be free and available to download.
"The music industry, the artists, they make so much money everywhere else, through concerts and merchandise, and any real artist knows that," he said.
The UA was able to identify nine of the individuals by tracking down the IP address, but did not forward the settlement letters to them, in compliance with UA policy, Lee said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Lisa Stage
posted 3/06/08 @ 12:21 PM PST
Good coverage of a complex topic! The Office of Student Computing Resources wants to be sure students know the line between legal and illegal file sharing, since the consequences can be so heavy for anyone identified as a copyright violator. (Continued…)
TK
posted 3/06/08 @ 1:49 PM PST
Please, don't kid yourself. The RIAA cares little to nothing for the rights of the artists they presume to represent. Suing kids and extorting money out of them is part of their profit model. (Continued…)
Matt Borgard
posted 3/11/08 @ 8:45 AM PST
Thanks, UofA, for standing up for the rights of your students. The RIAA is a private organization -- not the fucking police.
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