Music, UNC, and the First Year Student

The UNC network allows you to run file sharing programs but are required by law to take you off the network if you get caught for sharing copyrighted files without permission of the copyright holder (intentionally or unintentionally). They will even take you off if your roommate or significant other downloads files and shares them from your computer and you'll be held responsible! Here is what UNC has to say about file sharing:

• UNC-Chapel Hill Data Network Acceptable Use Policy - http://www.unc.edu/policy/aupol.html

The important parts are "Users shall avoid unnecessary network traffic and interference with other users." and "Users shall not...transmit, or originate any unlawful...communication where the message, or its transmission or distribution, would constitute or would encourage conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state, national, or international law."If someone catches you violating copyright (sharing files with the world) here's what UNC has to do:

• University Procedure on Dealing with Possible Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights - http://www.unc.edu/policy/copyinfringe.html

They've also created this page to help you understand the principles behind file sharing and copyright. From their page, "UNC-Chapel Hill is devoted to creating, discovering, and sharing knowledge and information. UNC is also committed to complying with United States law by upholding the rights of copyright holders. To this end, here are some frequently asked questions about acceptable use, copyright, and the campus network."

• Copyright and Acceptable Use on the University Network- A Primer - http://www.unc.edu/policy/copyright_primer.html