Some Software engages in activities you might not be fully aware of. File sharing software is notorious for this. Unless you are very, very careful, many file sharing programs will share your files, including copyrighted music, without your knowledge. It is difficult to disable. As some of you may know, this is one reason CIS may send you an email message when the traffic to or from your Internet connection is very high. However, the consequences for having a lot of outbound traffic to the Internet has gotten a lot higher in recent years.

While the legal basis is still being appealed, the RIAA is already obtaining subpoenas for the release of names of people that the RIAA believes are freely sharing copyrighted music. Below is a brief summary of an article appearing in the "Chronicle of Higher Education." The full article indicates that other educational institutions besides Loyola University Chicago also have received subpoenas and that current legal opinion is that there is no legal alternative to providing the requested information.

Please be aware of what your computer is doing. If the College receives a subpoena, it will have to comply. The links below will provide you with instructions on how to disable or remove various file sharing programs from your computer. Removing such programs is a good idea in general, since some of them are also known for providing back doors which allow hackers to get into your computer. If you need additional assistance in disabling or removing a file sharing program, please contact the Help-Desk@hmc.edu, x77777.

From 7/14/2003 Daily Report from the Chronicle of Higher Education:
* THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA used as subpoena last week to enforce Loyola University Chicago to reveal the names of students that the association suspects of offering music over the university network in violation of copyright law. The move suggests that the group is following through on its pledge to clamp down on music piracy.