UC, CSU Seek Vendors
Options for online music, films
BY Cynthia Lee
UCLA Today Staff
Looking for another tool to curb illegal file sharing, UCLA may
soon make it possible for members of the campus community to have
more choices in accessing online music and movie services legally.
The University of California and the California State University
recently teamed up to solicit proposals from vendors interested
in offering online entertainment services to students, staff and
faculty. The two higher-education systems hope to leverage their
vast combined size — more than 600,000 students and nearly
200,000 faculty and staff — to make online entertainment services
available at competitive prices.
Under this plan, students, staff and faculty would likely enter
into an individual transaction with a vendor, said Jim Davis, UCLA’s
associate vice chancellor of information technology. A working group
with membership from UC and CSU is currently evaluating proposals,
with an eye toward maximizing benefits to the UC and CSU communities
and addressing costs. A campus, if interested, could select the
vendors and services best suited to its needs. UCLA Student Affairs
and Housing are involved in the working group.
UCLA was among the campuses that originated the idea for the request
for proposal. As a system, UC has positioned itself at the vanguard
of higher-education institutions seeking to educate students, staff
and faculty about the serious consequences of illegal file-sharing
and the ethical concerns of copyright protection, Davis said. UCLA
currently uses a wide range of tactics to both reduce illegal file-sharing
and maintain the free flow of information on campus, including educational
campaigns, network management, removal of infringing material upon
notice of copyright violation and judicial processes for violators.
In April 2004, UCLA instituted a “quarantine” system
that has proved effective as a defensive measure when UCLA is notified
of illegal file-sharing, Davis said. When a copyright holder —
usually the entertainment industry or a subsidiary — notifies
UCLA that a residence hall computer was used to share copyrighted
music, movies, software or other material, the computer is “quarantined”
and can no longer access off-campus or other ResNet sites. The machine
retains access to on-campus sites so students can continue to do
their schoolwork while the matter is resolved. This approach ensures
that UCLA’s respect for copyright is balanced with its respect
for privacy and due process, Davis said. Since the quarantine went
into effect, there has been only one repeat offender.
Staff members have been involved in a handful of cases, Davis added.
Those cases were dealt with as personnel matters involving violations
of university policy.
One UC campus is already offering low-cost downloads, though the
service is available only to students and does not include movies.
Berkeley contracted last year with the online provider Rhapsody,
which charges $2 a month to stream unlimited music and 79 cents
to download a song. So far, demand has been light, with only about
1,800 students signing up, said Cliff Frost, Berkeley’s director
of communication and network services.
With the advent of technologies for online movie services and with
movie studios stepping up pressure on colleges to take action against
film piracy, UCLA officials are keen to include movies in any package
of services, Davis said.
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