University of Michigan is NOT identifying students to RIAA for copyright infringement

We have earlier reported on and showed you guys a copy of the letter which the RIAA was sending out to college students for Copyright infrigement. Today, wired is updating its sensational post that the University of Michigan is identifying the students from its university to the RIAA , tracking them down using the IP addresses provided by the RIAA.

In their update, wired is reporting that this is not true and that the University of Michigan is NOT identifying the students to RIAA. According to Jack Bernard, Assistant General Counsel for the University of Michigan; the university is not identifying students suspected of sharing files to the RIAA, as was erroneously stated here.  He said, “the university cannot disclose the students’ names associated with an IP address without a valid production document [subpoena] or permission from the students.” The University of Michigan has notified the students that are targets of potential RIAA lawsuits, and the students themselves will make the decision about whether to identify themselves to the RIAA and commence settlement talks.

Here is the full text of the email sent to wired

On Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, the University of Michigan received notification that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) intends to sue or receive settlement from more than a dozen members of the U-M community engaged in unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing of music over the Internet. The RIAA has designated these individuals through IP addresses, and the University is in the process of identifying and notifying them.

This action is part of an increased effort to curtail unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. As a result, individuals who engage in this practice are more likely than ever to be identified and sued by the RIAA. Most have settled these lawsuits out-of-court, typically for $4,000-$4,500.

The University does not condone unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. Individuals who engage in it are violating a variety of University policies including Standard Practice Guide 601.7 - Proper Use of Information Resources, Information Technology, and Networks at U-M. This reminder also has been sent to all faculty and students.

Faculty, staff, or students who have installed peer-to-peer file sharing programs on their computers and are concerned that they might be unwittingly sharing files illegally should visit the University of Chicago’s useful web page that describes how to disable file sharing on a variety of programs (http://security.uchicago.edu/guidelines/peer-to-peer/).

U-M maintains a web page (http://www.copyright.umich.edu/) that describes the University’s position on illegal sharing of copyrighted materials and also includes a growing list of FAQs.  All members of the University community are encouraged to study the materials on this page.

Lawful downloading of music is possible through sites such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Ruckus, etc. Details about a number of these sites are available at:
http://mp3.about.com/od/wheretobuymusic/a/all_profile.htm and http://mp3.about.com/od/freemusicdownloads/tp/freeandlegalmp3.htm.

Paul Howell
Chief Information Technology Security Officer

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