File-Sharing
File-Sharing Basics
What is it?
Swapping music, movies, games, and other media with other users on a
local network or peer-to-peer (P2P) program online. Examples of P2P
programs include Kazaa, Morpheus, and LimeWire.
What risks are involved?
In addition to downloading viruses that shared files could contain,
you could be breaking national copyright laws. Thus, not only might
you infect your computer, you might also put yourself at risk for lawsuits
and hefty fines. You may also be downloading spyware
- software that gathers personal information about you without your
knowledge, allows hackers to access your personal files and programs,
and may put you at risk for identity
theft.
What can I do to protect myself?
- Keep your anti-virus program updated and install the latest security patches on your operating system.
- Use freeware and shareware only from sources that you trust. Scan anything with your anti-virus software before installing it on your computer. Be wary of executable (.exe) files.
What is UC Davis doing to protect me?
- The campus offers anti-virus software for faculty, staff, and students via the campus Software Web site.
- Legally, UC Davis can't protect you if a copyright-holder sues you for trading or downloading their property (songs, movies, software, etc.). It is your legal responsibility to respect copyright agreements on file-sharing networks (see the UC copyright education Web site).
Official Communications
- UC Davis Electronic Communications Policy (May 2006): this policy governs the use of computers and networks on the UC Davis campus. As a user of these resources, you are responsible for reading and understanding this document.
- UC Davis Digital Millennium Copyright Act (June 2005): this policy identifies campus resources and policy related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
- UC Davis Cyber-Safety Program (May 2005): this policy defines individual and campus unit responsibilities as well as key practices for protecting UC Davis computing systems and electronic data.
- Official Campus Communication on File-Sharing and Copyright Infringement (September 2003): An official UC Davis communication sent to all faculty, staff, and students alerting them to the personal risks involved with illegal file-sharing.
- Classroom Copyright Info: a practical guide explaining copyrights and "copywrongs," especially concerning the use of copyrighted materials in classes.
- Student Judicial Affairs: the do's and don'ts of academic and social conduct at UC Davis, what to do to report cheating or other misconduct, and information about the rights and responsibilities of UC Davis students.
Other File-sharing Articles
- UC Davis doesn’t make the top 25—and that’s good (TechNews, April 2007)
- Muse: Thou shalt not download illegally (California Aggie, February 2007)
- IT security coordinator joins radio chat on illegal file-sharing (TechNews, January 2007)
- Students subject to disciplinary action for Internet piracy (California Aggie, January 2007)
- Illegal file-sharing notices rise sharply; stay safe with Cdigix (TechNews, December 2006)
- Cdigix provides free legal music (Bits & Bytes, October 2006)
- Illegal copyright and file sharing show upward trend, legal download option under consideration (TechNews, June 2006)
- File sharing: What you need to know (Bits & Bytes, October 2005)
- Hard lessons can be easy to learn (California Aggie, September 2005)
- UC to offer legal music, movie downloading (California Aggie, July 2005)
- Supreme Court puts landmark file-sharing case to rest (California Aggie, July 2005)
- Four UCD students may face RIAA lawsuits (California Aggie, June 2005)
- Illegal file sharing notifications on campus lowest since 2001-2002 (TechNews, June 2005)
- Study examines student download habits (California Aggie, April 2006)
- We’re all guilty (California Aggie, June 2005)
- RIAA to sue four UCD students (California Aggie, June 2005)
- New law clarifies copyright infringement (Bits & Bytes, February 2005)
- MySpace: Your legal file-sharing option (TechNews, January 2005)
- Congress cracks down on file sharing (California Aggie, November 2004)
- Motion Picture Association sues movie downloaders (California Aggie, November 2004)
- Be a sharer, not a pirate! (Bits & Bytes, October 2004)
- A pirate's life is not for me (Hypertext, October 2004)
- Incidents of illegal downloading at UCD down (California Aggie, August 2004)
- Things to know about downloading music (Hypertext, July 2004)
- Campus sees progress in efforts to prevent illegal file-sharing and copyright infringement activities (TechNews, April 2004)
- New study finds file-sharing down by half (California Aggie, January 2004)
- Hungry for cheap music? Legal downloading options abound on the web (Hypertext, January 2004)
Residence Hall Rules
A helpful list of do's and dont's for using ResNet, the high speed campus network in the dorms.