Acceptable Use and File Sharing

ASU is committed to facilitating access to information through its computer networks as part of its mission to prepare students to be responsible citizens and to have productive careers. However, the university’s mission also depends on respect for intellectual property law; therefore, the university will take steps to prevent the illegal distribution of intellectual property.

Illegal File Sharing

In most cases, it is a violation of intellectual property law to distribute, offer for distribution, share, or copy a software program, movie, or song without the owner’s express consent. While we do not monitor the university’s networks for such activity, we do cooperate with requests from intellectual property owner’s to take action when such illegal sharing takes place. For example: You purchase a music CD or movie DVD and digitize the content of the disc, then share the digitized version of the song(s) or movie through file-sharing software such as Limewire or Bit Torrent. Since you do not own the intellectual property rights to the song(s) or music, you have illegally offered those songs to others who have not purchased a license to own and play that content.

Annual Disclosure

Students accessing the ASU network will be required to agree with the university’s information security policies which references copyright and digital media rights. 

University Policy and Sanctions

If notification is received from a copyright holder that illegal downloading or sharing of a copyrighted work has taken place by a student, ASU will immediately block network access for the student. Access can be restored as follows:

1. On the first offense, you must delete the files that were identified being shared illegally and then notify the Technology Service Center that the files have been deleted to have network access restored. 
2. On the second offense, you must delete the files and contact the Executive Director for Student Life at 325-942-2193. Network access will be restored once you have met any requirements of the Student Life Office.
3. On subsequent offenses, a minimum two week suspension of access to campus networks is required.  You will also be required to meet in person with a member of the ASU Information Security Office to discuss the offense before your network access is restored. 

If notification is received from a copyright holder that illegal downloading or sharing of a copyrighted work has taken place by an employee, ASU will immediately contact the responsible party for resolution of the incident.  The head of the department the employee works in will also be notified of any actions taken.  Any issues with compliance will be directed to the Human Resources department for resolution.

In addition to detection, notification and correction of illegal file sharing, the university employs Blue Coat’s PacketShaper bandwidth-shaping technology to prioritize network traffic. The amount of bandwidth available to P2P applications is limited, but the applications are not filtered since much of the traffic can be legal.