DC++ is leaving the College. (Google Images)
It’s easy. Endless movies, music and television shows downloaded in minutes to your computer, free of charge. Problem? It’s illegal, and the College is taking action. In an e-mail to the campus community, Nadine Stern, vice president for Information Technology and Enrollment Services, announced potential consequences awaiting users of the popular file sharing software, Direct Connect (DC++). Students discovered using the program might face “disciplinary action by the College and substantial financial liability to the copyright owners,” the e-mail warned.
The program, which has disappeared from Facebook, enabled students to access files on other hard drives connected to the local network. Allen Bowen, manager of information technology security, said DC++ runs on a server component that acts as a directory that indicates other computers connected to the local network. A majority of the computers connected to the network were found to be student residents.
According to Bowen, an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education detailing the widespread use of DC++ at the College inspired action. An anonymous senior at the College reported in the article that one third of students on campus are engaged in DC++. Matthew Golden, executive director of public relations and communication, said that because DC++ is not administered or monitored by the College, the number of students using it is unknown.
“That interview made it clear that DC++ is being used in ways that are in violation of both copyright law and campus policy,” Golden said in an e-mail. “We, therefore, needed to take action at this time.” Golden said on a first offense, a student’s account will be blocked by IT until the student has a case conference and can prove to IT that he or she has removed the files. The student may also receive an official warning. Repeated or more serious offenses, he said, may result in probationary status.
In addition to violating copyright law, the file-sharing program restricts the total available bandwidth, which could potentially cause other peer-to-peer applications on the Internet unusable, Stern said in the e-mail. In an effort to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act regarding “peer-to-peer file sharing on campus networks” violating copyright law, according to the College’s compliance page on its website, information technology (IT) is working to route out DC++ on campus.
“We have several mechanisms to detect (DC++) use … We have put in additional technical controls enforcing the computer access agreement,” Bowen said. He declined to elaborate on the specific mechanisms. Golden said no student files on personal machines or resources provided by IT have been involved.
Many students aren’t happy about the program’s disappearance. A junior history major at the College and avid former DC++ user, who asked to remain anonymous, said he has deleted the software for fear of legal consequence. He said the program has potential for legal uses, such as sharing projects and information with peers.
“I don’t think they should shut down the whole program just because some people are breaking the law,” he said. “I was operating under the assumption that people have the legal rights to it … at least that’s what I’ll say.”
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
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It is because of ignorant fools such as yourself, attempting to get exposure by writing such blatantly stupid articles, that you are unappreciated in the world. Just drop the subject, its as simple as that. Guess what, this comment, was found more interesting than anything you will ever write. Please, as one human being to another, just stop with these articles. Thank You
ig·no·rant [ig-ner-uhnt] –adjective
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact.
As such an informed citizen, anonymous, I’m sure you were aware of the fact that downloading things for free and violating copyright laws is illegal. I also enjoyed having DC++ but I enjoy receiving a college education by a respected institution a bit more. TCNJ could’ve gotten into a lot more trouble with federal law (the same people that are protecting your freedom (and abuse, if I can say so myself) of speech if they didn’t shut DC++ down.
If you really have an issue, take it up with the person who ran DC++ and exposed it to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Or better yet, take it up with the person who created copyright laws. But don’t take it out on the Signal writers; they’re just doing their job, and working very hard (for free) to do so.
Otherwise, take your grammatically incorrect self to Target and buy your precious Taylor Swift albums legally.
Douche-bag [düsh 'bag]
1. This “pity the fool…” character
You sound like a douchebag.
@I pity the fool…
Perhaps you misunderstood.
The signal author was not singled out. It is because of all journalists who love to do anything for attention that all this has occurred. There was and still is no reason to be bringing attention to the matter. If everyone stayed quiet, no action would have been necessary. Open your minds.
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