In Virginia Tech, we all have ethernet connections in our dorms and the download speed easily touches 750 Kbps. We all were happy seeing that and as usual started downloading movies and tv series as was expected of anyone studying in an engineering college back in India.
It was about a week after we had come and had already downloaded around 50 movies and some 11 seasons of various series, when we got a mail from one of co-ordinator professors that we have breached Virginia Tech Policy # so and so and one of the possible consequences of that was being sent back to India.
It was a forwarded mail from the person who tracks the network out here and the mail said something like this:
Title: Accepted
Infringement Source: BitTorrent
Initial Infringement Timestamp: 28 May 2008 00:00:50 GMT
Recent Infringement Timestamp: 28 May 2008 00:00:50 GMT
Infringing Filename: Accepted[2006]DvDrip[Eng]-aXXo
Infringing File size: 735180504
Infringers IP Address: 198.82.62.195
Infringers DNS Name: hc6523ec3.dhcp.vt.edu
Infringing URL: http://tracker.torrent.to:2710
==============================
/* Names Mentioned Here */
It has come to our attention that copyrighted material is or was
available for public access from a computer in your room. Specifically,
(a) copyrighted copy(ies) of...
Accepted
...has (have) been found available to the public via network connections
numbered TP02A 232 Newman Hall and TP02B 233 Newman Hall. The computer
plugged into these connections, at various times that include the
timestamp above, has MAC address number 00-16-D3-9F-E3-91.
It is our understanding this (these) copy(ies) is (are) not authorized
for reproduction or distribution at your site. This notice is sent to
all roommates in the identified room. It pertains to the individual
whose computer is connected to the previously-listed portal (or Ethernet
connection).
Unauthorized use of Virginia Tech communications facilities and
disregard for intellectual and artistic property rights are violations
of Virginia Tech's Policies: #7000 - "Acceptable Use of Computer and
Communication Systems" and, "Acceptable Use of Information Systems at
Virginia Tech".
Additionally, ***>this activity violates federal and/or state copyright
laws and may constitute a criminal violation, subjecting you to both
criminal and civil legal charges.<*** Information on related legal
issues my be reviewed at the URL:
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
>>> READ THIS CAREFULLY...
If you do not send an e-mail reply to this message within twenty-four
hours (one business day) of the time this note was sent, commenting on
your involvement or knowledge of this incident and confirming you have
ceased unauthorized sharing of copyrighted files, your network access
will be curtailed. It will not be reactivated until you send e-mail to
dmca-admin@cns.vt.edu to confirm that the problem with your computer has
been resolved.
THIS CASE IS BEING REFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S JUDICIAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
FOR FURTHER ACTION. Judicial Affairs may be contacted by phone at 1-3790
or by e-mail to judicial@vt.edu.
I was shocked to see how accurate the system was even telling which movie it had been and the software and everything.
We all had hearts in our mouths and contacted our professor immediately about this issue. He was very calm about the whole episode and said that this happens every year as students from India are not aware of such things so we need not to worry much. Then he explained that the problem was not in downloading but rather that some one was uploading copyright stuff from the Virginia Tech Network.
So, guys please remember that this is not India and the copyright laws are real strict here and we do not have the liberty to do anything and everything as back home.
