AfterDawn: News

University of Washington may not cooperate with RIAA

Officials at the University of Washington are trying to decide whether to cooperate with a RIAA request to deliver prelitigation letters over alleged P2P copyright infringement. They're citing a lack of evidence as to the identity of the individual behind the list of IP addresses provided in the documents supplied by RIAA lawyers. This makes them the second American university to express concern over the evidence presented by the RIAA in P2P file sharing cases.

Earlier in the year the University of Oregon, with backing from Oregon's Attorney General, refused to give RIAA lawyers the names of students using particular IP addresses (assigned by the university) at times when files were allegedly shared illegally. The argument, as in the University of Washington suits, is that without extensive investigation they have no way to know who was using a computer when RIAA investegators downloaded the infringing files referenced in the lawsuits.



"Students often share Internet connections," UW spokesman Bob Roseth said, noting that in dorm rooms and computer labs it's often not possible to determine who's using a particular computer.

He added "What we want to do is verify that those students were actually (at fault)." He said university officials will decide whether to cooperate with the RIAA some time in the next few months.

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 3 Jan 2008 15:16

• Previous article

• Netflix pairs with LG to make set-top box

• Next article

• Reports of the RIAA suing over CD ripping prove to be unfounded

• 10 comments

• DXR88

  these student's arnt retard's there not going to leave evidence lying around on computers they have already moved it to an ipod or other portable device and ZER-0ed the folder. p2p pr0grams can be used from a floppy drive.
  
  there not going to find any evidence.
  
  here would be a funny situation what if the kid there suing is the RIAA CEO's Son. heh. that would be funny.

  3.1.2008 15:55 #1

• domie

  I wouldn't say students are retards but I think you put too much faith in the possibility that they are ultra cautious and scrupulous in their hiding of the trail, it wouldn't surprise me if they had left evidence all over the place.
  Whether that evidence is enough to hunt down individuals is another question but presumably they have to log on with personal IDs to use the university network , in which case it's just a question of matching the time the alleged oiffence took place to who was logged on to the MAC address of the PC.
  I hope the students escape the attention of this pestillence sucking organisation but students can be just as dumb and casual as the rest of society from my experience, myself included...I did some pretty dumb things when at college.

  3.1.2008 16:19 #2

• B33rdrnkr

  some hack prolly owns the server and in reality no one there is guilty of anything,lol

  3.1.2008 16:45 #3

• borhan9

  If the RIAA has a lack of evidence then do not bow to the presure i say. Let things go. They just think they can flex muscle that they think they have and wow we give in. I don't think so.

  3.1.2008 18:42 #4

• badkrma

  It's good to see some companies/institutions still have some pride to not back down at the will of those who are shooting in all directions looking for the easy target. All too often not enough people stand up and say "prove it". We need more of these types to keep checks and balances on those that prey on the ill informed and the average citizen.
  Let's share the information not control it.

  3.1.2008 19:09 #5

• 7thsinger

  Quote:The argument, as in the University of Washington suits, is that without extensive investigation they have no way to know who was using a computer when RIAA investegators downloaded the infringing files referenced in the lawsuits.
  Downloading to catch and prosecute downloaders? Hmmm. Anyone else see a problem here?

  3.1.2008 22:46 #6

• sssharp

  Downloading to catch and prosecute downloaders? Hmmm. Anyone else see a problem here?That is my biggest wonder also. Hey exec's lets download some flicks and look for other downloaders and then sue them. This is the land of the free(not). This country will soon be the worst to live in when it comes to politics.

  3.1.2008 22:56 #7

• svtstang

  7thsinger is absolutely correct. No, the RIAA cannot do something illegal in order to build a case against a person they think is participating in illegal activity. If they have the copyright holder's consent on the other hand, it is fair game (I doubt it though, sounds like a bully tactic which they are known for).
  
  What I want to know is what form of "p2p" the students are using that results in these RIAA lawsuits?? Are these students retards and using limewire, using public torrent trackers....what?

  3.1.2008 23:34 #8

• EddyC

  As a University of Washington Student myself, and seeing alot of the IDIOTS in the dorms, i'm 100% certian that they will use obvious means to obtain music and on top of that not understand the ramifications and obvious idicoracy of their actions.
  
  I told those idiots to use newsgroups! Limewire is all the rage, and if you connect on via the campus lan you will find tons and tons of unproperly secured workstations and pimped out shared folders filled with warez and pr0n that would make anyone blush.
  
  I swear if these idiots force the school to traffic shape i'm moving off campus.

  4.1.2008 00:18 #9

• wetsparks

  Like I said when the posting about the University of Oregon came up, there is a lot of money there and the RIAA better be careful. I realize there is a lot of money at all universities but with Nike virtually next door to the University of Oregon and Microsoft, Starbucks and Nintendo next to University of Washington, there might me more money there than even the RIAA has.

  12.1.2008 00:26 #10