Security Awareness: Stay Clear of the RIAA
May 2007
David Kovarik,
Director NUIT Information & Systems
Security/Compliance
Spring is finally upon us, with summer fast approaching, and all thoughts turn to:
- how to get classroom sessions and meetings moved outdoors
- plans for vacation
- ridding your PC of those illegal songs, movies, and other copyrighted materials — and the programs you used to download and share them — so you don’t get busted by the RIAA.
Busted by the RIAA? Hopefully not, but it is a serious possibility if you have been downloading music, movies, or other copyrighted materials without purchasing or otherwise legally acquiring them.
Most recently, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been aggressively tracking illegal downloading and sharing. The music industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that can easily afford to monitor and track Internet traffic, looking for those (and not just students) who might possibly be infringing on copyright laws.
In addition to their previous practice of notification, the RIAA is now calling for early settlement of claims, which can range from $700 to $5000. For those who elect not to participate in the settlement process, a lawsuit is the next step. The courts have not been kind to those who disregard copyright laws, as guilty parties can be convicted of a felony and punished with fines and incarceration.
Maybe you are wondering what all the fuss is about? Setting aside the David versus Goliath arguments, my thoughts turn to the artists whose livelihood depends on royalty or contract income. I know a few actors who rely on that income, and illegal downloading deprives them of the wages they’ve earned. If you personally depended on royalty income, would you casually dismiss the illegalities with the argument that “everyone does it”?
So here’s the question: why run the risk of tossing away everything you've worked for in exchange for becoming a convicted criminal, subject to fines, and doing a stretch in federal prison? Is it worth it to steal from the very artists you appreciate — especially when most songs cost only 99 cents? Is it worth is when you can be a law-abiding citizen and contribute to the welfare of artists everywhere?
You’re the key to remaining felony-free!
