Villanova warns students: Stop illegal downloads
The number of Villanova University students illegally downloading music jumped sharply this spring, according to a music industry trade group.
The number of Villanova University students illegally downloading music jumped sharply this spring, according to a music industry trade group.
The university warned students to stop or face stiff penalties.
Other area universities and colleges contacted have experienced similar surges in complaints from the Recording Industry Association of America but not this spring.
At Villanova, with RIAA violations piling up this spring semester, the university e-mailed students urging them to desist downloading copyrighted music, movies, games and programs on peer-to-peer downloading agents like LimeWire and Morpheus. Villanova did not release the number of RIAA notices issued.
The warning was issued by the university's Information Technologies (UNIT).
"We've seen a really measured spike in the amount of notices," said Matthew Morrissey, UNIT Manager of Software Support Services. "And we wanted to heighten students' awareness of what risks exist."
As the school's Internet service provider (ISP), UNIT issues an IP address for each student computer. Through that address, RIAA can identify a student who is illegally downloading. The organization then informs the university of the illegal activity.A subpoena can then be issued requesting the student's contact information, with the possibility of a lawsuit. Though the RIAA is not legally bound to issue "takedown notices" - warnings before seeking damages - generally the student will be told to delete illegal material on the first offense, Morrissey said.
Further downloading can result in legal action.
The cost to settle copyright infringement lawsuits for college students averages about $5,000, Morrissey said in the e-mail. But under the school's Code of Student Conduct, penalties can go as far as expulsion. Students can also incur damages up to $250,000 per illegally downloaded file under federal law, he said.
"If there's a penalty involved, I think it's going to scare a few people," Villanova sophomore Matt Crawford said. "But I don't think that the school's actually going to go after anybody."
Another Villanova student said most people think the school will protect them against suits.
"They [students] feel like there is some sort of security between them and the real world on campus," senior Kellen Dougherty said. "They see Villanova almost as a last line of defense against the RIAA."
A student who commented anonymously said that in the last three weeks, he downloaded 30-40 gigabytes of music and movies, including several TV shows' full seasons.
Hearing the average settlement price tag took him by surprise.
"Wow. That's a lot," the student said. "I actually have to limit my downloading now."
Morrissey said he didn't know of any other area colleges experiencing a crackdown. Like the lull many schools are experiencing now, Villanova violations were virtually nonexistent in the fall and early spring semesters, Morrissey said.
Despite two notices this week, St. Joseph's University totaled just six violations in April, right on average, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology Joe Petragnani said.
"Notices kind of come and go in waves," Petragnani said. "Sometimes they crank it up, and then it backs off.
"We've experienced times with more than normal amounts, but now is not one of them."
