Use of another person’s intellectual property without the permission of the owner violates the United States Copyright Act and can subject the user to criminal and civil actions. File sharing software that permits songs, movies, videos, texts, and games and software to be copied and circulated without the permission of the owner is a violation of intellectual property and copyright law. Intellectual property owners and their agents, including, for example, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and Home Box Office (HBO), use sophisticated technology to monitor use of their intellectual property, including file sharing, on the Internet and will initiate legal actions against violators. Individuals face liability for damages of up to $30,000 per infringement under the Copyright Act.
Viruses embedded in file sharing files can be infected with computer viruses and, as a result, disable computers and associated systems. Because the software is bandwidth-intensive, it can disrupt the University’s network and systems.
Drew monitors for the unlawful use of file sharing software. If an artist, author, publisher, or law enforcement agency notifies the University that you are violating copyright laws then the University will investigate the complaint. If appropriate, action will be taken against you in consistent with University policy and can result in disciplinary action, suspension of network privileges, as well as civil and criminal prosecution.