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 MSCD 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 MSCD 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/napster.html
http://www.uchicago.edu/docs/policies/eaup/napster.html
http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/IntellectualProperty/napster.htm
http://www.luc.edu/infotech/cease/p2p-file-transfer.html

Approved December 2001