Carleton recently announced they will be enforcing the Copyright Act by forwarding copyright notices to students who violate Canadian copyright laws by illegally downloading movies. While it is important for the university to protect itself from any consequences of students using the Internet, the amount of notices being issued shows that many students are using the Internet for free downloading, and following up with every single one is a monumental task.
A proactive approach to copyright infringement would be to attempt to block torrenting and streaming sites while students’ computers are connected to Carleton’s Internet, so that less infringement happens in the future, making Carleton’s job easier.
Make no mistake, downloading materials for free online is a crime, albeit a rarely prosecuted one, especially when the downloading is done at home. Students may not realize the possible consequences of their actions.
In the long run, if the university disallows access to these sites, they will save themselves time, money, and allover hassle, while at the same time preventing students from committing a crime which, if followed through and prosecuted, will go onto their criminal record for life.
If students choose to continue downloading, they can do so at home. At the end of the day, Carleton is on the line for this illegal behaviour and therefore has every right and responsibility to prevent it.
