HeXp£Øi±
Well-Known Member
Division of Student Services
University of xxxx xxxxxxxx
Ph# xxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 5, 2003
Hi,
I’m writing to you because a computer registered in your name has surfaced on the Top Talkers List of April 2003. The Top Talker List records students who are using an inordinate amount of bandwidth to the Internet during any particular month. More specifically, any user name or IP address that moves more than 10 gigabytes of data during the course of 30 days is listed.
This memo is to inform you that you have exceeded 10 gigabytes of bandwidth for this month and in the future, the University will be “shaping” this type of traffic to the Internet (meaning less speed and connectivity). Although this shaping will not occur until later this summer, we want you to be aware of this action and the potential illegal activity you are engaging in.
The University is taking this action for several reasons. First, the cost of bandwidth usage is increasing as the amount of bandwidth moved off campus continues to rise. At local market rates (e.g. GCI), each gigabyte of traffic costs $20. Just at the 10-gigabyte limit, this is $200/month. Secondly, with the belief that the majority of this traffic is illegal Peer-to-Peer file sharing (with programs such as KaZaa and Morpheous), and that most traffic is non educational, the University must protect itself against liability. Finally, as a student you are potentially violating copyright law by downloading and distributing music and movie files on the Internet. Copyright laws have undergone some significant changes during the “digital age.” The basic idea of copyright is to give the person who does the hard work of creating something new and original the legal control over when, where, and how that work is reproduced and distributed. The federal “NET Act” (No Electronic Theft Act) of December 1997 provides for criminal prosecution of individuals who engage in copyright infringement. Just this month, four students at other universities were sued by the RIAA (Recording Industry Artists Association) for copying and sharing Mp3s via the web. The lawsuit asked for $150,000 for each copyrighted song that was shared. How much would you be sued for?
Additional information can be found at the following web sites:
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at xxxxxxx. There is no action needed on your part, but be mindful that future excessive bandwidth usage will be addressed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
Assistant Dean of Students
University of xxxx xxxxxxxx
Ph# xxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 5, 2003
Hi,
I’m writing to you because a computer registered in your name has surfaced on the Top Talkers List of April 2003. The Top Talker List records students who are using an inordinate amount of bandwidth to the Internet during any particular month. More specifically, any user name or IP address that moves more than 10 gigabytes of data during the course of 30 days is listed.
This memo is to inform you that you have exceeded 10 gigabytes of bandwidth for this month and in the future, the University will be “shaping” this type of traffic to the Internet (meaning less speed and connectivity). Although this shaping will not occur until later this summer, we want you to be aware of this action and the potential illegal activity you are engaging in.
The University is taking this action for several reasons. First, the cost of bandwidth usage is increasing as the amount of bandwidth moved off campus continues to rise. At local market rates (e.g. GCI), each gigabyte of traffic costs $20. Just at the 10-gigabyte limit, this is $200/month. Secondly, with the belief that the majority of this traffic is illegal Peer-to-Peer file sharing (with programs such as KaZaa and Morpheous), and that most traffic is non educational, the University must protect itself against liability. Finally, as a student you are potentially violating copyright law by downloading and distributing music and movie files on the Internet. Copyright laws have undergone some significant changes during the “digital age.” The basic idea of copyright is to give the person who does the hard work of creating something new and original the legal control over when, where, and how that work is reproduced and distributed. The federal “NET Act” (No Electronic Theft Act) of December 1997 provides for criminal prosecution of individuals who engage in copyright infringement. Just this month, four students at other universities were sued by the RIAA (Recording Industry Artists Association) for copying and sharing Mp3s via the web. The lawsuit asked for $150,000 for each copyrighted song that was shared. How much would you be sued for?
Additional information can be found at the following web sites:
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at xxxxxxx. There is no action needed on your part, but be mindful that future excessive bandwidth usage will be addressed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
Assistant Dean of Students
