Ohio U. limits file-sharing programs

Ohio U. limits file-sharing programs

	Published : Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:04 By : Agencies Print this Story

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio University will restrict students' use of peer-to-peer file sharing programs on its campus computer network amid a crackdown on illegal sharing by the music recording industry and concerns the software bogs down the school's computer systems.

Beginning Friday, the school will monitor the network and disconnect Internet access for computers running peer-to-peer software, also known as P2P.

Rather than rely on a central server, P2P networks allow users to download or copy files from other users' computers. The method is considered a faster and cheaper means of transferring data over the Internet than doing so from a single computer server.

'The network is a shared resource, and we must ensure that it is available to all users,' Chief Information Officer Brice Bible said. 'Peer-to-peer file-sharing consumes a disproportionate amount of resources, both in bandwidth and human technical support.'

Students flagged for running P2P programs will be disconnected from the school's network until they contact the information technology office and agree to abide by the school's computer use policy, which forbids illegal file-sharing.

The school will look for a range of programs, including popular music downloading systems KaZaa, LimeWire and BitTorrent.

The Recording Industry Association of America in February ramped up its crusade against illegal file-sharing of copyrighted music. It contacted students at more that 30 universities, including Ohio University, where 100 students received prelitigation letters offering the chance to settle cases before the RIAA filed lawsuits.

The school will work to be flexible with students that are using P2P programs for legitimate purposes, such as research or computer software updates widely distributed by peer file sharing, said OU spokeswoman Sally Linder.

Aside from concerns about illegal file sharing, peer-to-peer programs flood the school's available bandwidth and leave the network vulnerable to viruses, the school said.