Without P2P file sharing, alternatives to pirating emerge
By Julius Calasicas News Reporter
From ensemble orchestras to mp3 files, the way music is heard has drastically changed since the beginning of recorded sound. The impact technology has made on music exchange has also affected students' attitudes towards music.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) creates, manufactures and distributes about 90 percent of legitimate sound recordings in the United States, according to its Web site.
Last spring, the RIAA sent 800 letters to 42 colleges and universities across the nation, accusing students of acquiring music illegally.
Some schools, like the University of Maine, refused to give the RIAA the names of students whose IP addresses were found file-sharing illegally and violating copyright laws.
The nationwide wave of subpoenas has left campuses across the country to either uphold privacy acts or obey copyright infringement laws and enforce anti-file sharing policies.
The University of Portland responded to the events by installing Copysense in 2004, according to Web Services Director Jenny Walsh. Copysense is an electronic appliance that senses the trafficking of illegal files on UP's network.
"It doesn't matter what program you use, whether it's bitTorrent, Kazaa or Limewire, Copysense will check the files against a huge database that is constantly being updated for illegal file-sharing. It not only stops you from downloading, but quarantines and redirects you to the University's Peer-to-Peer policy," Walsh said.
The policy states, "Open access to University computing and network facilities is a privilege ... No use of illegal Peer-to-Peer file sharing application shall be allowed." Students can read the policy at www.up.edu/is.
"By blocking and limiting files," Walsh said, "Copysense supports UP's network and keeps it secure."
peer-to-peer file sharing programs allow users to download documents and files from other users across the Web onto their hard drive.
Freshmen Lane Qudracci and Tayla Mahoni had problems with downloading music in the past. Both students' computers crashed with Limewire, a popular Peer-to-Peer program. They agree that it is better to buy safe files or borrow music from friends.
"I don't buy CDs," Quadracci said. "Burning them is so much easier."
"I go on my friends' iTunes to burn CDs," Mahoni said. "I can also listen to them whenever."
"New songs now are so lame," sophomore Joni Wong said, sharing her thoughts on purchasing music. "I don't want to waste $16 on a CD, so I just use my gift card on iTunes."
Students are able to listen to each other's music libraries within the network, but are not allowed to download music from their friends. Before Copysense, students could use programs such as myTunes or ourTunes to "rip" music from other students' libraries onto their own.
"I had myTunes, but I didn't know it was illegal," Wong said. "I didn't download much (music)."
In contrast to owning and protecting copyrighted songs, many artists allow their music to be downloaded legally from their official Web sites. Freshman Adam Ard used the Internet to download songs from Beck, The Clash and numerous German bands.
"A bunch of indie and alternative bands put their songs on the Internet," said Ard. "They're giving them away. I'd get a decent amount. Sometimes I can get full albums."
This method, however, can be equally as dangerous. Last spring, for example, the RIAA sent threatening letters to bloggers who posted Nine Inch Nails songs on their sites at the request of the band.
Current copyright laws give the creator of original work the right to reproduce, distribute and sell material for the duration of his or her lifetime and up to 70 years after his or her death. The involvement of record labels make this right complicated.
In addition to artists allowing songs to be downloaded for free online, students are now able to access Naxos Music Library to stream music from the Library's Web site. Naxos' free and playable database of 248,000 songs was implemented late spring of this year.
The Performing and Fine Arts Department made a request to the Library for an easy way to access classical music. Since then, the library has launched Naxos, which can stream songs, albums and playlists for professors, students and staff. Naxos boasts a large collection of classical, jazz, world, folk and Chinese music.
"We're kind of getting our toe in the water," said Reference Librarian Diane Sotak.
Sotak is excited about the implementation of Naxos.
"Naxos can never be stolen, is always ready to use, and seems to be a recent trend in major libraries."
Naxos can serve only 10 users at a time and each listener must log off after usage.
"If you don't log out, you're hogging the seat," said Sotak. "I'm sure you'll get cut off."
Professors are able to create playlists and save them the way they would have a book on reserve with Naxos. Naxos Music Library is compatible with PCs and Macs and can be used on or off campus, according to Reference Librarian Stephanie Michel.
"The Library is excited by the potential of Naxos Music Library to offer UP students' legal, online access to high-quality music files, from wherever they have Internet access," Michel said.
The advent of Naxos Music Library may be within the laws of copyrighted legality, but free popular music is still missed by some students.
"I've wanted to download music with Limewire on campus," junior Meagan Rapinoe said. "I use iTunes but sometimes I just don't want to pay."
