By Karen Clemmons-Llyod

Assistant Dean of Students

With the influx of new technologies available to Oakland University students file sharing can be a common practice. But is it legal? 

In short, sharing copyright-protected data without permission — better known as file-sharing — is illegal. This includes music, movies, software, and games.

As a resource, OU provides Internet access and network connections to students and other members of the campus community and everyone is expected to comply with the University policy on use of University Information and Technology.

Periodically, this fast and easy access leads to outbreaks of illegal file-sharing that places individual students and OU at great legal risk. When this happens, the University is required to remove the violated material from the network by the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Specifically, when students get caught improperly accepting or offering movies, music, and other software to the Internet community, using the University network, OU receives copyright infringement notices from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Once these notices are received from the RIAA, they are provided to the student. Students also receive University notification that their Internet/network access has been blocked due to the third party allegations of copyright infringement.

 For the first violation, students have two options to resolve this matter. Students can decline responsibility and submit a counter notice to the RIAA. They can also voluntarily complete the Network Access Restoration Agreement acknowledging that a computer was used in violation of the University policy on use of University Information Technology and charged a $100 Computer Review Fee.

For a second violation, the matter will be forwarded to the University Judicial Conduct System for adjudication in accordance with the University Ordinance 4.08 Computers and Other Equipment.

Please contact the Dean of Students Office at (248) 370-3352 for additional information.