UMS refuses to hand student info to RIAA
Tony Reaves
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: News
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The University of Maine System has refused a request from the Recording Industry Association of America to produce names of students who allegedly downloaded copyrighted materials.
The system has also opted not to forward the RIAA's pre-litigation letters offering settlements to those students, although the schools those students attend will inform their students of the letters and give them a chance to pick up the letters if they so choose.
At the University of Maine, students with pending RIAA lawsuits were told on Friday.
"It's not the university's role to, in effect, serve papers on our students for another party," John Diamond, spokesman for the university system, said of the decision.
At the same time, the university has ensured those students get a chance to settle. "We want our students to be aware of it, but we do not feel that it is our obligation to be the arm of the RIAA beyond simply sharing the information," Diamond said.
On Wednesday, the RIAA sent 27 letters to the UMS to forward to its students offering settlements before their alleged music piracy could go to court. The letters direct students to the Web site http://www.p2plawsuits.com, where students can admit guilt and settle for an amount far lower than the RIAA could get in court.
Of the 27 letters, 14 went to UMaine students. The remaining 13 went to students at every other UMS school except Farmington and Augusta.
The RIAA sent the system only the numerical Internet addresses of students the industry has accused of copyright violations. They asked the UMS to provide the names of those students.
Diamond said the RIAA's request for student information asks the system to violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which bars the UMS from divulging information not considered public.
The Internet addresses the university assigns to students accessing the network is not public. Despite this, some institutions have given up their students' names to avoid court fees.
The system has also opted not to forward the RIAA's pre-litigation letters offering settlements to those students, although the schools those students attend will inform their students of the letters and give them a chance to pick up the letters if they so choose.
At the University of Maine, students with pending RIAA lawsuits were told on Friday.
"It's not the university's role to, in effect, serve papers on our students for another party," John Diamond, spokesman for the university system, said of the decision.
At the same time, the university has ensured those students get a chance to settle. "We want our students to be aware of it, but we do not feel that it is our obligation to be the arm of the RIAA beyond simply sharing the information," Diamond said.
On Wednesday, the RIAA sent 27 letters to the UMS to forward to its students offering settlements before their alleged music piracy could go to court. The letters direct students to the Web site http://www.p2plawsuits.com, where students can admit guilt and settle for an amount far lower than the RIAA could get in court.
Of the 27 letters, 14 went to UMaine students. The remaining 13 went to students at every other UMS school except Farmington and Augusta.
The RIAA sent the system only the numerical Internet addresses of students the industry has accused of copyright violations. They asked the UMS to provide the names of those students.
Diamond said the RIAA's request for student information asks the system to violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which bars the UMS from divulging information not considered public.
The Internet addresses the university assigns to students accessing the network is not public. Despite this, some institutions have given up their students' names to avoid court fees.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Proud to be a Mainer
posted 3/27/07 @ 2:04 PM EST
I'm proud to be a Mainer. Attaboy UMaine! Way to stand up to the thugs!
b-a-x
posted 3/27/07 @ 2:09 PM EST
Finally a voice of reason and logic. Let's stop and hold the RIAA right here, and let them realize that what they're doing is wrong. Just because you can't play the game anymore doesn't let you cheat in attempts to win. (Continued…)
Nicolaos Lemieux
posted 3/27/07 @ 2:55 PM EST
Hehe, I do live in Maine, that is good news.
James Cooper
posted 3/27/07 @ 4:13 PM EST
As a senior undergrad, I would like to thank UMS for showing the discretion that is afforded to and expected of them.
Too many organizations are willing to give up their rights, and make themselves legally liable, all to avoid potential conflict with the RIAA. (Continued…)
Keith Perkins
posted 3/27/07 @ 6:22 PM EST
Hurray for my alma mater. Some one needs to stand up to these music industry bullies, who have been getting more and more out of control.
Pitzel
posted 3/27/07 @ 7:15 PM EST
That's great. Go Maine. The RIAA aren't the worst company of the year for nothing. Bunch of thugs can't just come to Maine and start throwing their weight around. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 3/27/07 @ 8:06 PM EST
Way to go Maine! You guys seem to make the BEST decisions. First fine those that smoke with children in the car and now standing up for your students against the dwindling powers of the RIAA. (Continued…)
zi
posted 3/28/07 @ 12:01 AM EST
Way to go UMS! More and more people and institutions need to stand up to the RIAA's bullying. They're so despicable as to sue even 10 year old girls, single moms on welfare, stroke victims, and worse. (Continued…)
Chip Stephens
posted 3/28/07 @ 7:32 PM EST
Well done administration! The example of not kowtowing to RIAA should be saluted nation wide This alumni of the 70's is a proud Black Bear ! ! !
Yuzle!
posted 4/22/07 @ 6:56 PM EST
they are getting more money suing people than they do selling their cds.
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