Music, Video, Software and Games: Your Obligations and Rights Policy

Category
  • Computing and Technology
  • Student - Graduate
  • Student - Undergraduate
Responsible Unit Brockport Information & Technology Services
Responsible Cabinet Member VP for Administration & Finance
Adoption Date 2016-06
Last Revision Date
Last Review Date

Policy Statement

With the entire world available on-line, it is sometimes difficult to know what is OK to do. While it might seem the most natural thing in the world to download a song and copy it to CD for a friend, or to send some really cool music that you just found to your entire buddy list, it’s not.

Purpose/Scope

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act gave more coverage to formats that were not in existence when the copyright law was last updated. This includes websites and digital media. In 2008, new disclosure requirements were added to the DMCA that could have an impact on you.

Definitions

There are no definitions for this policy at this time.

Policy Procedures

What is OK?

You can share files of your own creation, or download and/or share anything that is available for free on a legitimate website. You can rip music to an iPod, so long as you retain ownership of the CD or on-line file.

What is not OK?

Sending electronic files of materials you own; circumventing software that prevents you from downloading material on a website that charges for downloading its files; downloading material from a site that is illegally making the files available. This includes music, software applications, video files, and music, as well as art, text, graphics and photographs that are copyrighted.

What can happen if I’m caught?

Activities of this kind are called copyright infringement, and they can carry penalties that range from suspension of your internet service to monetary penalties of $750 to $150,000 per song. Entities such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) actively monitor the internet for file traders and illegal downloading of music.

Links to Related Procedures and Information

Refer to the following Web page for more information

Contact Information

Brockport Information & Technology Services
Office Location: Allen Admin 216A
Phone: (585) 395-5151
BITS Web Page

History (in descending order)

Item Date Explanation
Next Review Date 2021-06 Five-year review
Adoption Date 2016-06 Policy Adopted

Approval

There are no approvals for this policy at this time.