University Says Piracy Jeopardises Service
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday October 28, 2008
THE University of NSW has threatened to axe its free wireless internet service because students are using it to download pirated music, movies and games.
The university's director of IT, Michael Kirby-Lewis, said complaints about illegal downloading by students had risen from one or two a month to "a number a day", putting UNSW and students at risk of litigation for copyright infringement.UNSW has been issuing fines of up to $1000 to students who use its free wireless network for illegal downloading. Money generated by the fines is donated to fund student facilities around campus.Sabiene Heindl, the general manager of the music industry's anti-piracy arm, Music Industry Piracy Investigations, said research by the Australian Recording Industry Association had found one in three under-24-year-olds downloaded music illegally.Ms Heindl welcomed the decision by UNSW to educate students about the risks of illegal downloading but denied the music industry had threatened the university with legal action.On Friday afternoon Mr Kirby-Lewis sent a note to all students warning that the viability of the university's free wireless network had been "placed under threat" due to incidents of illegal downloading.Students caught engaging in the practice would have their wireless access blocked for the remainder of the session and be subject to formal disciplinary action including fines of up to $1000.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald