Acceptable Use of University IT Resources: Students
Follow copyright law
There is no excuse for illegally downloading copyrighted movies, music, television shows, games, and applications. Those who violate the university's policies and the laws of the State of Delaware and the federal government are subject to severe penalties.
- Downloading or sharing copyrighted media is similar to theft.
- Copyright holders can sue you for violating copyright law, even if you are unaware that your file sharing application is sending media to others.
- Violators may be accountable for fines of $750-$30,000 per file--$150,000 plus imprisonment if the infringement is willful.
- Illegally sharing copyrighted files violates the University's policies. You can be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for further sanctions.
File sharing applications can not only unintentionally share copyrighted media, but can also expose personal information. Be safe--the best advice is to delete file sharing applications from your system before coming to campus.
Many songs, TV shows, movies, and other media can be legally obtained through online subscription services. Visit UD's legal options Web site to learn more about where you can legally obtain digital media.
