Ars Technica had another article out lately about the RIAA and Universities. Ars posits that Universities are just like ISPs like Comcast, Qwest, or more locally CSS Communications. To a certain extent that is true, we hold very little central control over our users.
However, there is one key difference between us and the likes of CSS. We're a closed-access ISP. In order to have an account with us, you have to be a user of specific status with WWU. The rules are long and complex and buried in Banner, but the short version is that in order to have an internet connection with us you have to be staff, student, or faculty. How does that impact the DMCS 'safe harbor' provisions? I don't know. I do know that K-20, our upstream provider, doesn't get RIAA take-down notices.
What if WWU and/or ResTek went 'open access', in that anyone who forked over the $39.99/mo could get an internet account with us? Would that impact who got the 'pre-settlement letters'? Way back in the day, Universities were the only ISP's in a lot of areas so there is some history here.
What if WWU separated the telecom/network function into a fully 'self supporting' entity, where WWU was the soul customer? Would the Telecom org get the take-down notices, or would WWU? Or would the "John Doe at 140.160.129.43 @ 11:43am, September 21st, 2009, you are going to get sued" letters still come?
Hard to say. I don't think we'll become an open access ISP, as there are some security concerns there that need to be address. Right now our WLAN/LAN interface isn't quite robust enough for that sort of access from Joe Public. Also, our Telecom section is a 'self supporting' entity already, and they also field RIAA notices. ResTek has been an independent agency the whole time I've been here, and they do their own RIAA/MPAA notice handling.
However, there is one key difference between us and the likes of CSS. We're a closed-access ISP. In order to have an account with us, you have to be a user of specific status with WWU. The rules are long and complex and buried in Banner, but the short version is that in order to have an internet connection with us you have to be staff, student, or faculty. How does that impact the DMCS 'safe harbor' provisions? I don't know. I do know that K-20, our upstream provider, doesn't get RIAA take-down notices.
What if WWU and/or ResTek went 'open access', in that anyone who forked over the $39.99/mo could get an internet account with us? Would that impact who got the 'pre-settlement letters'? Way back in the day, Universities were the only ISP's in a lot of areas so there is some history here.
What if WWU separated the telecom/network function into a fully 'self supporting' entity, where WWU was the soul customer? Would the Telecom org get the take-down notices, or would WWU? Or would the "John Doe at 140.160.129.43 @ 11:43am, September 21st, 2009, you are going to get sued" letters still come?
Hard to say. I don't think we'll become an open access ISP, as there are some security concerns there that need to be address. Right now our WLAN/LAN interface isn't quite robust enough for that sort of access from Joe Public. Also, our Telecom section is a 'self supporting' entity already, and they also field RIAA notices. ResTek has been an independent agency the whole time I've been here, and they do their own RIAA/MPAA notice handling.