U of Illinois Caves to RIAA

Well looks like UofI is thinking it's too expensive to continue holding the RIAA/MPAA at bay.

"As you may have read in the popular press, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) among others are increasing their copyright enforcement activities. As part of this increased effort, the RIAA has begun to target college students specifically, which means that students who engage in unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing are more likely than ever to be identified and sued by the RIAA."

...

"The University does not condone the use of peer-to-peer software for illegal file sharing. Those who engage in it violate U.S. Copyright laws as well as the campus's own policies, including the Student Code and Policy on the Appropriate Use of the Computer Network. Additionally the University bears significant costs associated with responding to DMCA violation notices and the network capacity absorbed by file sharing reduces its availability for general research, teaching, and administrative purposes."


Fair 'nuff, I 'spose. Sharing copyrighted materials IS illegal.
Though, I find it troubling that courts are still allowing lawsuits from the XXAA's. There seems like there's so little info to go off of for a convincing lawsuit, to show without doubt that damage has been done. Going after Universities doesnt seem kosher to me either. That they can't actually find who it is that is violating the DMCA, and when they do issue a lawsuit, often it seems spurious (like this computer less family).
But then there's this...

"Further, some file sharing programs, even when used for legitimate purposes, will use your computer to transfer illegally obtained material between other users. I strongly encourage you to remove software used for file sharing as well as to immediately remove any illegally obtained material such as music or movies."

Now that's just FUD. Plain and simple. Next you'll be telling me that file sharing will cause me to have my kidneys cut out of me, and sold on the black market. I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice in a cheap motel room in Juarez...
"DAMN YOU FILE SHARING!!!!"


I very much believe that the XXAA's think if they repeat enough legal un-truth's often enough, that it will just become true (and "the law"). While at the same time media markets just fall completely apart, and organizations that should be concerned with maintaining the careers of artists plunge into the toilet.

Sure, keep hiring lawyers.

That'll help...