Spring Break
RIAA fines attracting student ire
Most pay settlements to avoid huge fees
By: Julia Love
Issue date: 9/19/08 Section: News
Last update: 9/19/08 at 5:58 AM EST
Last update: 9/19/08 at 5:58 AM EST
Considering that the fines could have amounted to $250,000, Jacob's $3,000 deal with the Recording Industry Association of America almost seems like a steal. But a few visits to sites like Napster and LimeWire still cost the sophomore more than he pays for a year of Duke education.
Struggling to come up with money he did not have, Jacob said his grades slipped and his social life nose-dived. He refused to let his parents bail him out, but he said he is convinced there is more the University could have done to help him cope with the consequences of his illegal music downloads.
"At first, I didn't tell [my parents]. I'm on heavy financial aid and most of the money that I have to spend is money that I have saved and I have made. I made sure the fine was from my money. My mom didn't do anything wrong, why should she have to pay for that?" Jacob said. "But Duke didn't help me one bit.... Duke doesn't get the picture that their students are their family. It shouldn't be how can we help Duke, it's how can we help our students."
Jacob is just one of 42 students who received pre-litigation letters from the RIAA last year, and even more students received letters during the 2006-2007 school year. All students' names in this story have been changed to protect their identities.
To get in touch with offenders, the RIAA sends letters to universities requesting names of students associated with the IP addresses tagged by the organization's online dragnet. The University passes on letters to the students in question but does not reveal student names unless a subpoena is issued, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta told The Chronicle in January.
After revising its protocol last January, the Dean of Students Office has updated its Web site to include more detailed information on RIAA litigation and made members of its staff available to advise students who have questions. But Moneta noted that the University remains unable to represent students or intervene in the process, and Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek wrote in an e-mail that the Office of Student Affairs has no plans to expand its support for students approached by the RIAA.
Struggling to come up with money he did not have, Jacob said his grades slipped and his social life nose-dived. He refused to let his parents bail him out, but he said he is convinced there is more the University could have done to help him cope with the consequences of his illegal music downloads.
"At first, I didn't tell [my parents]. I'm on heavy financial aid and most of the money that I have to spend is money that I have saved and I have made. I made sure the fine was from my money. My mom didn't do anything wrong, why should she have to pay for that?" Jacob said. "But Duke didn't help me one bit.... Duke doesn't get the picture that their students are their family. It shouldn't be how can we help Duke, it's how can we help our students."
Jacob is just one of 42 students who received pre-litigation letters from the RIAA last year, and even more students received letters during the 2006-2007 school year. All students' names in this story have been changed to protect their identities.
To get in touch with offenders, the RIAA sends letters to universities requesting names of students associated with the IP addresses tagged by the organization's online dragnet. The University passes on letters to the students in question but does not reveal student names unless a subpoena is issued, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta told The Chronicle in January.
After revising its protocol last January, the Dean of Students Office has updated its Web site to include more detailed information on RIAA litigation and made members of its staff available to advise students who have questions. But Moneta noted that the University remains unable to represent students or intervene in the process, and Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek wrote in an e-mail that the Office of Student Affairs has no plans to expand its support for students approached by the RIAA.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 13
internet addresses
posted 9/19/08 @ 8:19 AM EST
Is there some requirement that Duke keep records of IP addresses? If not, fight Duke.
And why can't someone's IP address be changed each time they sign on. (Continued…)
anon
posted 9/19/08 @ 9:47 AM EST
you commit an illegal act (nevermind how stupid the illegality of it is in the first place), one that has been covered ad nauseum in the press over the last few years, and then are mad that Duke didn't run up and protect you?
WWWWAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
Face it. (Continued…)
Ben Jones
posted 9/19/08 @ 10:21 AM EST
The RIAA, alienating customers, one at a time.
Extortion is extortion, the RIAA is increasingly on legal shakey ground, their investigative practices are being targeted for criminal investigations, their legal theories are being dismissed, they are being sued under RICO, and the facts don't back their claims. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 9/19/08 @ 1:00 PM EST
Didn't Harvard and other major universities refuse to release the IP info to RIAA? And didn't RIAA back off of students at these universities?
If that's true, then Duke should have helped their students more. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 9/19/08 @ 1:34 PM EST
you cannot be angry that duke isn't helping you out/covering for you when you get contacted by the RIAA... breaking the law is still breaking the law - federal laws still apply at duke university. (Continued…)
07 Alum
posted 9/19/08 @ 9:03 PM EST
@Student
You're right Student. An IP address doesn't necessarily resolve to one person, they can be spoofed, and machines can be hacked.
However, typically. (Continued…)
John Steed
posted 9/21/08 @ 3:33 PM EST
To make partial amends for their shameful attacks on falsely-accused Duke students, the Hate 88 and their supporters should be required to set up a fund devoted to resolving the RIAA's claims against Duke students and contribute at least $10,000 each to it. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 9/21/08 @ 8:15 PM EST
Jacob,
I totally agree with you. Duke is 100 percent to blame for the fact that you illegally downloaded music from napster and other sites on the internet, and it is only right that Duke should be forced to pay. (Continued…)
annon
posted 9/21/08 @ 11:47 PM EST
Has Duke ever heard of the RICO act! RIAA = RICO
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