Peer-to-Peer File Sharing at CLASSE

Please do not run peer-to-peer file sharing software like Gnutella or BitTorrent on systems connected to the CLASSE network.

DMCA incidents have resulted in CLASSE network traffic being blocked. To avoid disruption of the research being performed at CLASSE, please don't use any peer-to-peer file sharing services. We'd prefer that such software not be present on computers connected to the Lab's network. If you need help removing such file sharing software from your computer, please contact any member of the CLASSE IT group.

In January of 2003, Cornell University distributed an update to the official policy and procedures regarding the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and file sharing to all members of the Cornell community. One of its provisions is that if a copyright violation is reported, they'll immediately disable the IP address before verifying that a violation has taken place. Since all of the systems on the "LNS Protected" subnet (used by laptops at CLASSE) share the same IP addresses, DMCA incidents have caused the Laboratory serious problems.

• University DMCA procedure

In addition to the legal liabilities, peer-to-peer file sharing software has serious security and traffic implications. Some of them are spelled out in the document below.

• A Message About File Sharing Programs at CLASSE

Use of such software for personal entertainment has other implications. Please read Maury Tigner's comments on such use of CLASSE resources.

• Common Sense and Computer Use at CLASSE

Cornell's DMCA notice mentions a court case against Verizon. Here are some descriptions of the case:

• District Court Rules DMCA Subpoenas Available for P2P Infringers
  • summarized in The Tech Law Journal by David Carney.
• Record Industry Has No Plan to Seek Names of Students Trading Copyrighted Songs
  • summarized in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Andrea Foster.
• Verizon Ordered to Give Identity of Net Subscriber
  • originally published in The New York Times by Amy Harmon.
• RIAA wins battle to ID Kazaa user
  • summarized on C|Net News.Com by Declan McCullagh.

"The Digital Millenium Copyright Act" is the name given to the U.S. Federal Copyright law. The text of the law is available on the Web server of Cornell's Law School at http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/ch12.html

-- DevinBougie - 29 Mar 2005