Spring Break
EDITORIAL: LTS should take a stronger stance in confronting RIAA
Editorial | 9/4/07
Posted online at 11:39 PM EST on 9/3/07
Since the Recording Industry Association of America began taking aim at college students several years ago for sharing copyrighted materials, Brandeis has been careful not to overreact. While many schools have banned file sharing all together and others closely monitor their student's every online move, Library and Technology Services officials have been more hands-off. LTS only monitors the amount of activity per network user, and an LTS Web site lets network users keep track of how much bandwidth they take up on the network.
We appreciate this level of trust and commend LTS for their new, information program, "Digital Self- Defense," designed to educate the community about the dangers of viruses and the consequences of illegal file sharing. LTS has been exceptionally accommodating. One official compared their file sharing stance to speeding: You shouldn't do it, but almost everyone does.
Unfortunately, the RIAA has made clear that it will continue to keep college students in their crosshairs with relentless legal attacks, including the 15 suits against Brandeis students last May, despite a disturbing lack of evidence that those logged on to university servers file share more than the population at large.
LTS can do more to help its students. While illegal file sharing is unacceptable, profiling is inherently wrong. LTS is already arming students with information, but they can be more proactive about questioning the RIAA's outrageous lawsuits. It's noteworthy that Brandeis has not caved in to outside pressure to limit students' network activity, but it also has done little to fight back.
Brandeis has the opportunity to initiate a conversation about the legality and legitimacy of the RIAA's lawsuits, which have been challenged by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group. Perhaps LTS officials could reach out to their counterparts at other universities and begin a discussion about ways to work with the RIAA.
Although LTS has done much to help students deal with RIAA policies, it can do a lot more to help confront and correct their flawed policy.
We appreciate this level of trust and commend LTS for their new, information program, "Digital Self- Defense," designed to educate the community about the dangers of viruses and the consequences of illegal file sharing. LTS has been exceptionally accommodating. One official compared their file sharing stance to speeding: You shouldn't do it, but almost everyone does.
Unfortunately, the RIAA has made clear that it will continue to keep college students in their crosshairs with relentless legal attacks, including the 15 suits against Brandeis students last May, despite a disturbing lack of evidence that those logged on to university servers file share more than the population at large.
LTS can do more to help its students. While illegal file sharing is unacceptable, profiling is inherently wrong. LTS is already arming students with information, but they can be more proactive about questioning the RIAA's outrageous lawsuits. It's noteworthy that Brandeis has not caved in to outside pressure to limit students' network activity, but it also has done little to fight back.
Brandeis has the opportunity to initiate a conversation about the legality and legitimacy of the RIAA's lawsuits, which have been challenged by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group. Perhaps LTS officials could reach out to their counterparts at other universities and begin a discussion about ways to work with the RIAA.
Although LTS has done much to help students deal with RIAA policies, it can do a lot more to help confront and correct their flawed policy.
Be the first to comment on this story