Mass 'StopIt' E-mails Sent

Copyright Resources Responds to 1300 Notifications

By Broadside Correspondent Laurel Ferretti

Many George Mason University students are discovering the consequences of illegal peer-to-peer file sharing as Copyright Resources has distributed warnings against such abuse via e-mail. The first, entitled “StopIt Notice #1,” begins by stating, “Someone using a login registered to you is apparently sharing downloaded copyrighted music files.”

The notice continues by naming the violations overlooked by the student, and re-emphasizes his or her ethical ties to Mason’s Responsible Use of Computing Policy. It also provides diversified evidence which supports the aforementioned rules.

Claudia Holland, Head of the Copyright Resources Office, makes herself accessible to
students who have concerns. The notice—sent by Holland—reads, “If you have questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me.”

According to Holland, Copyright Resources receives the login name of the student
along with the details of which song or video has been mishandled. Holland, in turn, emails the student a series of warning messages, in which they are first “given the benefit of the doubt.” The first notice concedes, referring to the individual’s computer, “Its security may have been compromised.” However, if one receives a third notice, he or she is partitioned or banned from logging into Mason’s network.

Since September 2008, Copyright Resources has been notified of 1300 Mason students who have misused peer-to-peer software. “That’s a lot,” said Holland in consideration of Mason’s population. Student reception of notices is mixed.

“[The e-mail] gets the point across,” said one anonymous student who received a first notice, “but is very stressful at the same time.” The student said she wishes that more information would be included regarding the consequences and definition of the notice.

Freshman information technology major Timothy Barron said he is opposed to the
distribution of these e-mails on the grounds of general education.

“It doesn't provide any useful information for a nontechnically minded student, nor
does it provide conclusive evidence that the accused student's account is actually
guilty of the infringement,” said Barron.

The information that is collected by Copyright Resources about downloaded songs, videos and games is collected from many industry figureheads. Evidence cited in
one of the warning notices recognized The Recording Industry of America as a
resource. According to Holland, HBO or gaming companies also provide such facts. The observation process is done by peer-to-peer sharing, in which the industries “identify when music is being distributed from files.” Holland emphasizes that universities are a “captive audience” to watch and that students’ shared files are being viewed on the Internet by various industries with a focused gaze.

Despite this fact, Holland stresses Mason’s Copyright Resources commitment to
students. “We do not infringe on people’s privacy . . . we do not in any way reveal a student’s ID unless we are subpoenaed.”