The Recording Industry Association of America advises students to avoid lawsuits by settling out of court
By Ame Phitwong
Students who have illegally downloaded or shared files on college campuses may be at risk for being sued by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) for piracy.
Letters were recently sent out to several hundred universities in the United States, including UP, about the repercussions students will face for illegal downloads.
Bryon Fessler, vice president of Information Services, said UP is developing an "appliance" to accommodate the RIAA's requests, which will be revealed in several weeks.
"Unfortunately, the piracy problem on campuses remains extensive and unacceptable, and compromises the music industry's ability to invest in new music," Cary H. Sherman, president of RIAA, told The Chronicle of Higher Education. "We do not take this step lightly and wish it were not necessary."
The Chronicle explained that students are identified by their computers' Internet-protocol numbers. In the letters sent to universities, officials were asked to match the numbers with the corresponding student and send give them a letter about the infringements specific to that number.
The letters advised universities of the potential copyright infringement lawsuits against students who download and share files they did not purchase. The letter also asks universities to notify students that they will be sued, but that they can settle cases before lawsuits are filed.
"Well, I think being on a college campus, so many students live in such close quarters that stealing and sharing music just happens anyways," sophomore Megan Fitzgerald said. "I don't want to be sued, that's just crazy. It's such a stupid offense - enjoying music."
The out-of-court settlement deal offered by the RIAA would require students to pay the fine within 20 days of the date on the letter and sign documents stating they will cease downloading illegal music.
According to the RIAA letter, should a case go to trial, the Copyright Act states the minimum damage for each infringed recording is $750.
Junior Christian O'Keeffe chooses to pay for his music on iTunes and has done so for the past year and a half.
"I'd rather pay a buck for a song. There's no mystery to what I'm downloading ... I'd rather not be surprised and get porn or a virus," he said.
O'Keeffe doesn't agree with the actions the RIAA is taking, but says students who are doing it know the law and are aware of their actions.
The article in The Chronicle stated that students who choose to settle out of court may pay a lump sum by providing credit card information and the case identification number from the letter. This can be done by telephone or online. Sherman explained in his letter to the colleges that this option was made available because of past demands from defendants.
According to the RIAA, the five schools accused of the most illegal student downloading are Ohio University, Purdue University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Tennessee and the University of South Carolina.
So far this year, the RIAA have sent complaints to nearly 15,000 students at 25 universities, three times the number of complaints last year.
