Once again, the university has decided to make a foray into the realm of digital media. This time, it comes in the form of a contract with a company called Ruckus Network, Inc., which provides a legal outlet for downloading music and videos. While the legal issues involved are complex and are most likely still being sorted out by experts, common sense dictates that this and all such efforts are doomed to failure.
The most basic reason to either oppose or ignore such contracts is simply that it is barely justifiable for the university to use funds or manpower in administering them. The distribution of recreational media is extremely low on the list of priorities for expenditures. If the university believes it necessary to provide unfettered Internet access in every housing unit on the campus, then the files that users download are none of its business. It may be legally allowed to restrict access to certain content, but there is no reason to actively promote services that one would normally pay for out of pocket.
Furthermore, the reality of the situation is that students who want digital content will always find ways to circumvent the more restrictive legal means of obtaining them. With the Ruckus program, for example, one must pay an amount per song placed on a compact disc or portable player. This quirk in itself is probably enough to turn off a number of users. In addition, all legal means of downloading media reek of Digital Rights Management measures, or in other words, precautions taken by publishers to ensure only legal use. Whether these restrictions are significant or not, they will tend to deter users. Finally, the sheer variety offered by the black market of music and movies is simply too great to ignore. No matter how many students decide to use Ruckus, there will be those who continue to download illegally for these reasons.
The purpose of this argument is not to find moral or technical fault with the laws on the books, but rather to place responsibility for Internet use on the users. If students decide to use their connections to illegally download, they run the risk of getting caught and seeing an unsavory letter from the RIAA. It is not the prerogative of the university to concern itself with this state of affairs. Students are grown-up enough to realize the consequences of such actions. If the university’s own terms of use are violated, then it of course can take action as well, whether it is liked or not. In either case, it is simply a perfunctory gesture for the university to spend time and effort entering the digital media market.
