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NEWS - 01.31.2008

Students Warned on File Sharing: RIAA Sends memo to CSU

The CSU's Office of General Counsel has sent a memo to CSU presidents on the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA's) new effort to subpoena information about individuals who are believed to have engaged in unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing of copyrighted music and other works. The RIAA subpoenas are the first step toward filing lawsuits against students who violate the copyright laws.

CSUMB received over 325 RIAA copyright notifications between March 2007 and January 2008.

Campuses are being urged to remind students and others that the unauthorized recording of peer-to-peer file copyrighted works, including music, pictures, and movies, is a violation of campus computer use policy. This practice is also illegal and may carry significant monetary and/or criminal sanctions. It is the responsibility of students who are downloading or uploading documents to make certain that they are not copyrighted works, or that the student has the permission of the copyright holder. More information:

Page 1 of the memo to the CSU (Adobe Acrobat file)

Page 2 of the memo to the CSU (Adobe Acrobat file)

RIAA Website

Sharing files also poses a security risk. See related article:

FILE SHARING APPLICATIONS: Spread security and virus threats.


Please also see:

CSUMB Acceptable Use of Computing and Information Technology Resources


(Article originally published 02.11.2004)