The Internet and Music Piracy

Important notice:

Staff and students may have seen reports in the media about an increased vigilance on the part of the music industry seeking to control music piracy in universities. Students in Australia and the US have been sued, as have some universities, for copyright infringement arising from music piracy.

The University provides staff and students with access to computer systems and communications networks for academic purposes on the understanding that their use will comply with all relevant University rules, including compliance with copyright obligations. Students or staff who use the University systems and networks to engage in conduct that infringes copyright are exposing themselves and the University to legal action, and may be subject to disciplinary action.

It is now possible to download, copy and distribute unauthorised files with relative ease and speed although it is not always obvious that the files are in fact unauthorised for these purposes.

It is not difficult to detect a wide range of unauthorised use of information accessible through the Internet. The University may be required to produce evidence of staff or student use through activity logs, where an action for infringement is found or there is reasonable cause to believe that an infringement has taken place using University systems and networks.

It follows that staff and students using University computer systems and communication networks must take reasonable precautions against the unauthorised use of information, including downloading, redistributing or copying protected files. In particular, whilst it is possible to locate a music file through sites such as Kazaa, Grokster, Morpheus or Gnutella etc this does not mean that individuals are entitled to download, copy or transfer it, even for personal use.

Professor Robin Stanton,
Pro Vice Chancellor
7 July 2003