In recent months, the news has been filled with stories of children, students, parents and grandparents being prosecuted for illegal file sharing. The Recording Industry Association of America, along with companies from which files are being stolen, is taking legal action against those found to have been illegally downloading music and video files, and university students are not exempt.
"A number of students in a number of schools have been sued, and we don't want that to happen here," said Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs.
Though the RIAA puts major resources to work in seeking out offenders and university officials warn against illegal file sharing, some UB students will continue to make downloading a regular part of college life.
"I won't stop downloading, because if it was such a big issue, they should have made restrictions before," said Andre Colquhoun, a sophomore computer engineering major. "If Kazaa was a problem, they should have done the same thing they did to Napster."
Tevon Campbell, a sophomore computer engineering major said he is not affected by the threat of a lawsuit.
"I'm going to keep downloading, because the government should have better things to do," said Campbell. "Plus school books cost too much for me to go buy CDs."
While some students simply refuse to acknowledge the RIAA's legal threats, others believe they can take refuge in the vast number of file sharers.
"So many people download music that there's no possible way to get every individual," said Thomas Mlynarski, a freshman architecture major.
Kelly Agen, a freshman marketing major, agreed that large numbers will hinder the RIAA's goal.
"I don't think that I'd be scared because people download music everyday. Who says that someone will come to your house and arrest you?" asked Agen.
Unlike Campbell, Mlynarski and Agen, there are students who are not willing to risk prosecution just to listen to a new album.
Emily Kustreba, a sophomore undecided major said she would rather not invite any prospective lawsuits.
" I probably won't be (file sharing) any more," said Kustreba. " I'll be buying more CDs now than I have in the past."
Though Kustreba plans to refrain from file sharing, she said the legal actions are not justified.
"They shouldn't have started the whole music downloading and file sampling thing because it's unfair to take it away now that it's here," said Kustreba.
Other students had words of criticism for the RIAA and those in the music industry who are taking part in the hunt for illegal file sharers.
"Illegal downloading affects a lot of people, and what most industries fail to realize is that it's so widespread that prosecution really means alienating citizens," said Kyle Ashfield, a freshman psychology major. "I found a petition of people who were against the RIAA prohibiting music downloading and there were over 24,000 signatures."
According to Mlynarski the plight of the music industry does not invoke pity.
"The record companies are losing money, but I can't say that I feel bad. I guess it is stealing, technically, but what are you going to do?" he said with a shrug.
UB's Associate Chief Information Officer, Elias Eldayrie has one suggestion for students who are considering file sharing.
"The university policy on the illegal downloading of music is: don't do it," he said. " Obviously if the university is aware that a student is downloading illegally, that student will be held responsible for it. Not just by the university, but by the company as well."
According to Eldayrie, when a company finds that a student has been illegally file sharing, that company will report it to university officials who will then ask the student to refrain from continuing. If the student does not adhere to the warning, the university will be forced to take disciplinary actions, which vary depending on the level of the file sharing offense.
Carly Chang, a freshman communications major, said the music industry should take a step back from its war on downloading. Instead, Chang suggests, the recording industry should embrace the benefits of downloading.
"When a new artist comes out with a CD, you only know one song. If you can go online and sample their other songs, that might provoke you to buy their CD."
Kustreba shares her opinion on how she thinks the downloading war will end.
"I don't think they could possibly find everyone who is doing it, and most people will continue," she said. "It's kind of a losing battle."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
