As warned, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has begun sending subpoenas to colleges and universities around the country. Keene State and UNH received several in recent days. As an internet service providers, those schools have little choice but to deliver the subpoenas to students assigned to the designated internet addresses. Those students will receive a subpoena from attorneys indicating specific copywrited music files have been shared from a specific internet address assigned to them. The notice indicates a civil lawsuit is forthcoming. The students will be invited, however, to settle at a lower cost...several thousand dollars in some cases.

We expect to get notices to PSU as well. Unfortunately, if they've already spotted you, it may be too late. But, please heed the warning, if you are using file sharing software to download and share music, you are operating at significant risk! Stop now. If you are using a music program and are unsure if its set to share music, call the Help Desk at x2929 or helpdesk@plymouth.edu. They can help you turn it off.

Students paying big bucks in penalties for sharing music files

PSU does not condone or support file sharing. It is wrong and illegal.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is serving ‘pre-warning’ litigation letters to thousands of students on college and university campuses. These letters are served to campus IT departments, which in turn are obligated to deliver them to students. They indicate that the computer at a specified internet address has been serving up copyrighted materials illegally. If that internet address is assigned to you, you’re on the hook. The letters warn that a civil law suit will follow. Students, however, have an option to settle in advance at a discounted rate, often for several thousand dollars. (Read more)