IFPI releases Copyright Use and Security Guide for Academic Institutions
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Recording industry advises on how to avoid the risks of copyright theft of music
March 27, 2003
The recording industry today is contacting thousands of academic institutions worldwide to advise them on how to identify and stop copyright theft of music on their computer networks. The industry's recommendations address the problem of mass copying and transmission of music over college computer systems without the permission of those who created that music.
IFPI, the trade body representing the recording industry worldwide, produced the "Copyright Use and Security Guide for Academic Institutions" with the support of its national affiliates. The brochure, sent out in eight languages to academic institutions in 20 countries, is the second phase of an information initiative by the recording industry aimed at the management and administration of companies, government and academic institutions.
The new guide advises academic institutions of the legal and technical risks they run when copyright material is copied and transmitted over computer networks without permission from the rights owner.
The legal risks include injunctions, damages, costs and possible criminal sanctions against the institutions and their heads where systems are used for copyright theft.
There are also security and practical concerns when copyright material is copied and transmitted indiscriminately on the systems of academic institutions. It is in their interest to address such activities, which:
- clog universities' computers and internet bandwidth, impairing the legitimate academic pursuits of staff and students
- expose academic systems to viruses and other harmful programs
- bring other types of illegal material onto their systems
- damage their reputation and send the wrong message to students who are expected to avoid plagiarism in their academic work and otherwise obey the law.
The abuse of 'file-sharing' activities has become a real concern to universities and other higher education institutions everywhere as peer-to-peer (P2P) applications quickly consume their available bandwidth. Studies conducted at various universities have shown that 50% to 100% of the institutions' bandwidth had been taken over by P2P traffic (1)
Many academic institutions worldwide have already acknowledged the problem and its association with copyright theft. Cambridge University in the UK, is one of several that have adopted computer use policies that prohibit students from downloading or distributing copyrighted material without permission (2).
Jay Berman, IFPI chairman and CEO said: "We know that many academic institutions are unwittingly allowing copyright infringement on their networks, and it is overwhelmingly in their own interest to stop this."
"In general, academic institutions have been very co-operative with copyright owners in removing and otherwise taking action when infringing material is found. We hope that the launch of this awareness brochure is another positive step towards making sure that all academic institutions know the risks of piracy and the benefits of responsible management of their computer systems."
For further information please contact:
Adrian Strain or Julie Harari at IFPI Secretariat, Tel: +44 (0)20 7878 7900
(1) Albany University - up to 100% (http://resnet.albany.edu/rules/bandwidth.htm); Radford University - 'virtually all' (http://www.radford.edu/~acadcomp/NetworkSpeeds/Bandwidth.html); University of Tennessee - 90% (http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/8318); University of Maryland - 63% (http://www.oit.umd.edu/News/Archive/2002/network.html).
(2) Cambridge University's policy on Copyright Law is set out on http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/netdiv/copyright.html and in section 8.1 of the Rules for Authorisation of Use of the Cambridge University Data
Network on http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/itsyndicate/cudnrules.html