Realistic alternative to P2P file sharing needed
By: Ethan Clay
Issue date: 4/16/04 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 4/15/04 at 9:34 PM EST
Last update: 4/18/04 at 9:34 PM EST
Originally published: 4/15/04 at 9:34 PM EST
Last update: 4/18/04 at 9:34 PM EST
Student use of illegal P2P file sharing software is an issue affecting our generation and it deserves our attention. Clearly, students are beginning to see the need to curb illegal media piracy by supporting a realistic alternative to P2P; a solution that does not involve the RIAA's multimillion-dollar lawsuits.
Nevertheless, Drexel University, like all universities, is legally bound to comply with subpoenas because they fear prosecution from associations of lawyers who represents the five major record labels and the motion picture companies. Our universities, and in turn we, have been forced to foot the bill of increased Internet bandwidth requirements to support file sharing and the costs of new administrators acting as liaisons between the RIAA and subpoenaed students. In addition to the risk of being handed a $98 billion ticket for downloading as happened at Michigan Tech, students already face viruses, adware, spyware and spoofed and mislabeled files. Clearly, the dream of file sharing has been visited by the boogieman, as the user experience of P2P networks has bottomed out and the subpoenas continue.
It is time we advocate for a realistic alternative to illegal P2P to be placed on our college campuses to answer the concerns of all three concerned parties and finally end the ongoing legal battle that places students and universities in the crossfire. Now, before the next round of subpoenas reaches our campuses, we at the Get Real Campaign ask for your support in a growing student movement to find and support a realistic solution. Until a realistic alternative exists, it is unrealistic to expect that students will meet their needs in any other way. The RIAA should support realistic ways of licensing media, incorporate students into the process of finding a solution and end their current round of lawsuits.
Ethan Clay is a senior at Boston University majoring in international relations and economics. The Get Real Campaign's Web site is located at http://www.getrealcampaign.org.
Nevertheless, Drexel University, like all universities, is legally bound to comply with subpoenas because they fear prosecution from associations of lawyers who represents the five major record labels and the motion picture companies. Our universities, and in turn we, have been forced to foot the bill of increased Internet bandwidth requirements to support file sharing and the costs of new administrators acting as liaisons between the RIAA and subpoenaed students. In addition to the risk of being handed a $98 billion ticket for downloading as happened at Michigan Tech, students already face viruses, adware, spyware and spoofed and mislabeled files. Clearly, the dream of file sharing has been visited by the boogieman, as the user experience of P2P networks has bottomed out and the subpoenas continue.
It is time we advocate for a realistic alternative to illegal P2P to be placed on our college campuses to answer the concerns of all three concerned parties and finally end the ongoing legal battle that places students and universities in the crossfire. Now, before the next round of subpoenas reaches our campuses, we at the Get Real Campaign ask for your support in a growing student movement to find and support a realistic solution. Until a realistic alternative exists, it is unrealistic to expect that students will meet their needs in any other way. The RIAA should support realistic ways of licensing media, incorporate students into the process of finding a solution and end their current round of lawsuits.
Ethan Clay is a senior at Boston University majoring in international relations and economics. The Get Real Campaign's Web site is located at http://www.getrealcampaign.org.
