Despite the proliferation of legal downloading programs like iTunes, Ruckus, and Napster, it seems Boston College students still favor illegal, and typically free means to fill up their iPods.
As of Tuesday, the University had received 145 notices since the start of the school year from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other copyright organizations citing BC students for downloading everything from Green Day’s American Idiot to Warner Brothers’ movie Beerfest to Microsoft Office software.
The large number of notices is especially significant in comparison – at this time last year, only 13 had been sent.
All of the notices, which have not yet escalated to the level of subpoenas, have been for the file-sharing program, Ares. Though BC has not received any notices regarding the popular MyTunes program, Information Technology Services (ITS) Director of Policy and Security David Escalante did say that BC had received a formal notice from the RIAA that it is investigating the use of that program.
Related Stories
- RIAA nabs 45 on-campus (Keene State College, NH) Students for Illegal Downloads
- What’s all the Ruckus? Service lets students (at Boston College) share music legally – and its free
- ONLINE GUY: Illegal downloads a matter of economics over ethics, surveyed students say
- Boston College Warns Wi-Fi Router Use Gives “Appearance of Infringement”
- College Allows File-Sharing for Students Who Ace Copyright Law Test
