Copyright Violations

Owned by Enrico Coloccia
Last updated: Sept 06, 2023 by Enrico Coloccia
3 min read

Self Help - Copyright Violations

Violation of Copyright Law is a Federal Offense
Using a computer to copy or store any copyrighted material (text, images, music, movies, computer programs, etc.) is a violation of state and federal law, and leaves you liable, on conviction, to heavy fines and possibly imprisonment. 

We block peer-to-peer file sharing on the Geneseo campus for many reasons:

  • The federal government will withhold all financial aid from Geneseo students if the college doesn't block peer-to-peer transmissions of copyright-protected material.

  • Most peer-to-peer traffic is copyright-protected.

  • All peer-to-peer traffic slows Internet speeds for everyone. 

  • Many files distributed via p2p file sharing protocols are infected with malware or viruses.

What kinds of activities are probably violations of copyright law?

  • Copying and sharing most music, images, movies, or other copyrighted material by using "peer to peer" programs like BitTorrent, FrostWire, etc.

  • Setting up file shares with copyrighted material.

  • Unauthorized downloading anything of which you don't already own a copy, including software, music, movies, etc.

Are audio files illegal?
Some audio files can be legally obtained through online subscription services or from sites officially permitted by the copyright holders to offer certain downloads. Some are copyright free. Most audio files don't fall into either category. Digital recordings are completely legal, but it's illegal to have digital music recordings that you don't already own, or to which you haven't obtained the rights. In most cases, sharing media over the Geneseo campus network is also illegal. Copyright laws allow you to create digital audio files only for your personal use and only of songs to which you already have rights. You can make digital audio files only of songs for which you already own the CD or tape, known as a "transfer of copy". And personal use means for you alone - you can't make copies and give or sell them to other people.

How could I get caught if I violate copyright law?
Geneseo uses multiple network appliances to police our network for illegal activity, and we must respond to formal legal complaints we receive. Organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) frequently police file-sharing networks for copyrighted material belonging to the artists they represent. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Geneseo has responded to several RIAA complaints of copyright violations for sharing music from student computers on the Geneseo network. In addition to civil action, local campus disciplinary action may be taken against offenders.

Some students are under the impression that their activity on the Internet is largely anonymous or untraceable, but this is untrue. In fact, almost all your activity on the Internet is logged on many of the computer systems you use, and while these logs usually are not inspected, they can be used to confirm or implicate you in illegal activity.

What will happen if I get caught?
If a complaint of copyright infringement is made against you, we follow this procedure:

1: The complaint is checked for accuracy. It must contain enough information for us to fully validate the complaint when checked against our server logs.

2: The responsible individual is identified.

3a: If this is a first offense, the Campus DMCA Copyright Agent meets privately with the individual. Federal and state laws and college policies are clearly explained. The individual is directed to remove any unauthorized material from their devices and to cease any behaviors that violate copyright law. The issue is now considered closed and no further action is taken.

3b: If this is not a first offense, the Campus DMCA Copyright Agent forwards the new complaint and notes and details from the first meeting to the office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or Human Resources for disciplinary action.

What if the file sharing I am doing is actually legal?
There are some legitimate uses of peer-to-peer software. Unfortunately, technology does not exist today for us to exempt these legal uses of the technology from our monitoring system. If you are wrongly identified, explain it to us, and we will understand. We will collaborate with you so that you can do what you need to do while we meet our legal obligations.

DMCA Copyright Agent Contact Information
Enrico Coloccia
SUNY Geneseo
1 College Circle, South Hall 119
Geneseo,  NY  14454
Phone: 585-245-5577
Email: coloccia@geneseo.edu

For more information...
US Code Title 17 (actual law) http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17
Music United http://www.musicunited.org/
Respect Copyrights http://www.respectcopyrights.org
Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/share

More Help
For questions about Copyright Violations or other computer related problems, Ask CIT! Visit the CIT HelpDesk in the Fraser Library, send an email to helpdesk@geneseo.edu or call 245-5588.