X. Use of Napster and Similar Software Programs

I. Purpose:

A number of applications are used to search for and
share MP3 music, video and image files-such as Napster, KaZaA and Gnutella. This
software scans the World Wide Web for other computers using these software
programs and then exchanges files automatically. The nature of this software and
the way it works presents Metro State with a number of problems:

 

  • Sending and receiving MP3 and other media files consumes large amounts of
    the campus' limited and expensive network bandwidth.
  • Most of the files in question are copyrighted material. It is illegal under
    Federal law (Title 17 of the US Code, and more recently the Digital Millennium
    Copyright Act, 105 PL 304) to distribute copyrighted material in this fashion.
  • Workstations with Napster or Napster-like software may function as public
    file servers and allow people to browse private or confidential information in
    an employee's data files.
  • Some of these applications are known to install "spyware" programs that
    periodically "phone home" information about the computer and the computer user's
    patterns of network use.

II. Policy:

Faculty, staff and students are prohibited from installing or running
Napster, KaAzA, Gnutella, or other software programs with similar functions on
computers owned by Metro State or installed on MSCD's network. If a faculty or
staff member has a need to use one of these software products for an academic or
instructional purpose, he or she should inform Information Technology by
contacting the Metro State Helpdesk at 1-877-35AskIT (1-877-352-7548) or visit
www.mscd.edu/AskIT so that
Internet access is not blocked.

For additional information please see these resources:
http://www.educause.edu/issues/

http://www.uchicago.edu/docs/policies/eaup/napster.html
http://www.luc.edu/its/file_sharing.shtml

Approved December 2001