- Rozovsky wins prestigious NSF Early Career Award
- UD students meet alumni, experience 'closing bell' at NYSE
- Newark Police seek assistance in identifying suspects in robbery
- Rivlin says bipartisan budget action, stronger budget rules key to reversing debt
- Stink bugs shouldn't pose problem until late summer
- Gao to honor Placido Domingo in Washington performance
- Adopt-A-Highway project keeps Lewes road clean
- WVUD's Radiothon fundraiser runs April 1-10
- W.D. Snodgrass Symposium to honor Pulitzer winner
- New guide helps cancer patients manage symptoms
- UD in the News, March 25, 2011
- For the Record, March 25, 2011
- Public opinion expert discusses world views of U.S. in Global Agenda series
- Congressional delegation, dean laud Center for Community Research and Service program
- Center for Political Communication sets symposium on politics, entertainment
- Students work to raise funds, awareness of domestic violence
- Equestrian team wins regional championship in Western riding
- Markell, Harker stress importance of agriculture to Delaware's economy
- Carol A. Ammon MBA Case Competition winners announced
- Prof presents blood-clotting studies at Gordon Research Conference
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, programs announced
- Stay connected with Sea Grant, CEOE e-newsletter
- A message to UD regarding the tragedy in Japan
- More News >>
- March 31-May 14: REP stages Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor'
- April 2: Newark plans annual 'wine and dine'
- April 5: Expert perspective on U.S. health care
- April 5: Comedian Ace Guillen to visit Scrounge
- April 6, May 4: School of Nursing sponsors research lecture series
- April 6-May 4: Confucius Institute presents Chinese Film Series on Wednesdays
- April 6: IPCC's Pachauri to discuss sustainable development in DENIN Dialogue Series
- April 7: 'WVUDstock' radiothon concert announced
- April 8: English Language Institute presents 'Arts in Translation'
- April 9: Green and Healthy Living Expo planned at The Bob
- April 9: Center for Political Communication to host Onion editor
- April 10: Alumni Easter Egg-stravaganza planned
- April 11: CDS session to focus on visual assistive technologies
- April 12: T.J. Stiles to speak at UDLA annual dinner
- April 15, 16: Annual UD push lawnmower tune-up scheduled
- April 15, 16: Master Players series presents iMusic 4, China Magpie
- April 15, 16: Delaware Symphony, UD chorus to perform Mahler work
- April 18: Former NFL Coach Bill Cowher featured in UD Speaks
- April 21-24: Sesame Street Live brings Elmo and friends to The Bob
- April 30: Save the date for Ag Day 2011 at UD
- April 30: Symposium to consider 'Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface'
- April 30-May 1: Relay for Life set at Delaware Field House
- May 4: Delaware Membrane Protein Symposium announced
- May 5: Northwestern University's Leon Keer to deliver Kerr lecture
- May 7: Women's volleyball team to host second annual Spring Fling
- Through May 3: SPPA announces speakers for 10th annual lecture series
- Through May 4: Global Agenda sees U.S. through others' eyes; World Bank president to speak
- Through May 4: 'Research on Race, Ethnicity, Culture' topic of series
- Through May 9: Black American Studies announces lecture series
- Through May 11: 'Challenges in Jewish Culture' lecture series announced
- Through May 11: Area Studies research featured in speaker series
- Through June 5: 'Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera' on view in Old College Gallery
- Through July 15: 'Bodyscapes' on view at Mechanical Hall Gallery
- More What's Happening >>
- UD calendar >>
- Middle States evaluation team on campus April 5
- Phipps named HR Liaison of the Quarter
- Senior wins iPad for participating in assessment study
- April 19: Procurement Services schedules information sessions
- UD Bookstore announces spring break hours
- HealthyU Wellness Program encourages employees to 'Step into Spring'
- April 8-29: Faculty roundtable series considers student engagement
- GRE is changing; learn more at April 15 info session
- April 30: UD Evening with Blue Rocks set for employees
- Morris Library to be open 24/7 during final exams
- More Campus FYI >>
2:41 p.m., Oct. 13, 2009----When you hear copyright law mentioned on a college campus during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, you expect to hear about the dangers of illegally downloading digital media.
“The security issues tied to illegal downloading are well-documented,” Scott Sweren, the University's information security officer, said. “Using peer-to-peer file-sharing software can expose your computer to attack by others and can expose you and the University to potential lawsuits from copyright holders.”
Sweren added that, under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the University is obligated not just to respond to notices from copyright owners about suspected violations, but also to educate the campus community about following U.S. copyright law.
“When people hear about a student at another school receiving a $675,000 judgment for illegally sharing music, they remember the negative message,” he said. “The positive message is that the University publicizes legal methods of using copyrighted material and has signed several agreements to extend campus use of copyrighted material.”
According to Carl Asti, Director of IT-University Media Services, UD pays licensing fees to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) and SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) for limited rights to use protected media. “Composers, performers and authors pay ASCAP, BMI and SESAC to protect their rights. When UD, a radio station, a local bar or a cover band pays the license fees, the copyright holders receive royalties,” Asti said.
UD's agreements allow the use of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC music for official University purposes, for example:
-- The Fightin' Blue Hen Marching Band half-time show at a football game;
-- Songs played during sporting events over the PA system;
-- Recitals, plays, concerts and other performances by members of the Department of Music or other UD-affiliated groups;
-- Any classroom related activity;
-- On-campus presentations by students, staff or faculty; and
-- Educational instruction.
Asti indicated that some of the allowed uses still have restrictions. For example, using an ASCAP song like Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the USA” on the soundtrack for a video streamed from a UD Web site is permitted under our agreements. “However, if you post that same video on YouTube, Vimeo or any other off-campus site, your use violates the terms of our license.”
Asti said that some student groups encounter another issue. “Any performance of ASCAP, BMI or SESAC music by a UD-affiliated group is fine,” he said. Performances can be recorded and shared via a UD web site, too. “But the recording cannot be duplicated and sold, nor can it be sold via Web download. Even if it's done as a fund-raiser for a UD-affiliated group, our general license does not cover sales.”
To obtain more information about UD's ASCAP, BMI and SESAC agreements, to determine if the material you would like to use is covered or to determine if your planned use is covered, contact the University's General Counsel, Larry White, at 831-7361.
According to Sweren, “No matter how you justify your use of copyrighted material, you must obtain the material legally. So, for example, you may not download a song with Limewire, claiming that you're going to use the song in a 'legal' way.”
Other Resources
The University of Delaware has arranged for student, faculty and staff use of many copyrighted resources. In addition, there are several resources you can use to teach yourself more about using copyrighted material.
-- Research Databases: The University of Delaware Library has purchased licenses to allow students, faculty and staff the rights to use certain databases, scholarly journals, e-journals and popular periodicals while performing research. Visit the Library's home page and select “Databases” or “E-Journals” for more information.
-- Fair Use: U.S. copyright law does allow for certain “fair uses” of copyrighted material if those uses meet four criteria. Read the University of Delaware Policy for Copyright and Fair Use in Instruction for more information.
-- Multimedia and Copyright: The University Library's Multimedia and Copyright In a Nutshell Web page helps explain some of the details of the University policy.
-- UD Research: The UD Research Office provides an Intellectual Property Guide for researchers and inventors. The copyright section discusses copyright from the creator's point of view.
-- The Bottom Line on File Sharing at the University of Delaware: This IT Web site explains the ramifications of online copyright violations.
-- Copyright for Staff: In IT's Responsible Computing Manual for staff, the section titled Copyright: Your Rights and Responsibilities offers general advice to UD employees.
-- Legal Downloads: As part of its HEOA obligations, the University must publicize legal sources for copyrighted material:
- UD's LegalTunes Web site
- UD's list of Selected Legal Music Sites
- Public Domain Media at the Internet Archive
- Creative Commons
-- NCSAM at UD: Visit this Web site for more information about National Cyber Security Awareness Month and additional resources.