Bill May Make Colleges Copyright Cops

This story was written by Chris Rosacker, Daily Nebraskan

The proposals have concerned officials at the University of Nebraska and many other universities.

"It was a mismatch of what a lot of people wanted to see in the bill," said Matt Hammons, NU's federal relations coordinator.

Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat, introduced the provisions.

"We are very grateful to Chairman Miller and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas) for calling attention to a very serious problem on college campuses and proposing specific steps that universities should take to address the issue," said Cara Duckworth, the director of communications for the RIAA.

"Is this an appropriate role for the federal government to be in -- tracking down copyright violators?" Hammons said. "If it is, what's the appropriate way to get objective information about how big the problem is?"

The bill would require targeted schools to implement a technology-based deterrent to prevent illegal file-sharing along with legal alternatives.

But Hammons said that technology isn't yet available and would require large staff increases.

Hammons also said he isn't fond of providing alternatives, because there are no free services students can put on their MP3 players, he said.

"Its one of those head-shaking moments," he said. "If it were something students were asking for, it'd be one thing. But to put federal statues that universities mandate alternatives -- it's mind-boggling."

Penalties for violations could include revoking a university's Title IV student aid eligibility, so if enough students pirate songs, all students on a campus would lose federal financial aid, including Pell grants and student loans.

Duckworth said college administrators need to educate their students, enforce network usage policies, offer legitimate alternatives so students have legal access to music and use technology to inhibit illegal file-trafficking on university networks.

The bill has no matching version in the Senate -- a fact that Hammons said helps things, though he said the university will continue to meet with representatives on the issue.

Many members of the university community have expressed their dissatisfaction with the RIAA's tactics of focusing attention on college students -- especially since universities represent less than a quarter of people who download music and movies illegally, Hammons said.

"Everybody says the RIAA should come up with a new business model," he said. "But it's about changing behavior and that not going to happen overnight."
© 2007 Daily Nebraskan via U-WIRE