Spring Break
Recording industry targeting universities in music piracy
Students illegally downloading music are being subpoenaed by their IP address, RIAA says
Jake Daggett
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: News
The Recording Industry Association of America is trying to sink student music piracy.
According to a recent study by the Intellectual Property Institute at the University of Richmond, more than 50 percent of college students download illegally. The study also showed that students use peer-to-peer file sharing programs like
LimeWire more than anything else.
The RIAA recently announced a nationwide crackdown on college students illegally downloading music which included sending 400 letters to 13 universities - including two schools in the Pac-10: University of Southern California and Arizona State University - across the country informing the recipients of out-of-court settlements they are being offered.
The RIAA's Web site says that piracy for personal use can earn someone three years in prison and $250,000 in fines, after which one can be sued in civil court for another $150,000.
The "John Doe" subpoenas identify the music pirates by their computers' internet-protocol numbers, seeking the student's name unless they take the out-of-court settlement.
Cary Sherman, President of RIAA, said on the Web site, "Because we know that some audiences - particularly campus music downloaders - can sometimes be impervious to even the most compelling educational messages or legal alternatives, these new efforts aim to help students recognize that the consequences for illegal downloading are more real than ever before."
"I think there is a pretty strong message, if you get a music file you should pay for it," said Todd Simmons, university spokesman.
"I feel like I was in middle school when this first happened," said Jessica Breedlove, a junior in fine arts.
"It's a scare tactic," said Lindsay Jordan, a senior also studying fine arts.
"I don't think the new artists mind. When they do I don't mind waiting a few days to go buy the CD," said Rachael Blasi, a junior in fine arts.
"I'd rather have the physical CD anyway," Breedlove said.
According to a recent study by the Intellectual Property Institute at the University of Richmond, more than 50 percent of college students download illegally. The study also showed that students use peer-to-peer file sharing programs like
LimeWire more than anything else.
The RIAA recently announced a nationwide crackdown on college students illegally downloading music which included sending 400 letters to 13 universities - including two schools in the Pac-10: University of Southern California and Arizona State University - across the country informing the recipients of out-of-court settlements they are being offered.
The RIAA's Web site says that piracy for personal use can earn someone three years in prison and $250,000 in fines, after which one can be sued in civil court for another $150,000.
The "John Doe" subpoenas identify the music pirates by their computers' internet-protocol numbers, seeking the student's name unless they take the out-of-court settlement.
Cary Sherman, President of RIAA, said on the Web site, "Because we know that some audiences - particularly campus music downloaders - can sometimes be impervious to even the most compelling educational messages or legal alternatives, these new efforts aim to help students recognize that the consequences for illegal downloading are more real than ever before."
"I think there is a pretty strong message, if you get a music file you should pay for it," said Todd Simmons, university spokesman.
"I feel like I was in middle school when this first happened," said Jessica Breedlove, a junior in fine arts.
"It's a scare tactic," said Lindsay Jordan, a senior also studying fine arts.
"I don't think the new artists mind. When they do I don't mind waiting a few days to go buy the CD," said Rachael Blasi, a junior in fine arts.
"I'd rather have the physical CD anyway," Breedlove said.
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