New Statement Regarding Illegal Downloading of Copyrighted Material for the College of Engineering

By Office of the Associate Dean for Student Services and Curriculum
Spring 2011

The College of Engineering has issued the following statement regarding illegal downloading of copyrighted material:

Downloading and distribution of copyrighted music, movie and other entertainment files from online distribution sites that offer these items free of charge is illegal, in direct violation of the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Florida A&M University Student Code of Conduct, and The Florida State University Student Conduct Code.(Florida A&M University Student Code of Conduct 2.012 (10)(T)(2) "Unauthorized Transfer of a File", Florida State University Policy OP-H-6 "Use of University Information Technology Resources").

Illegal downloading and file sharing of copyrighted music, movies or other entertainment files is intellectual property/copyright infringement. Illegal downloading and file sharing activities maliciously expose the University's network, computing systems and personal computers to destructive computer malware (viruses, spyware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keystroke loggers, etc.), and denial of service attacks. Illegal downloading activity significantly increases the risk of exposure to personal identity theft and irreparable or costly damage to both university and personally owned computing devices.

The potential consequences of illegal downloading and file sharing are extremely serious. There are both civil and criminal penalties for illegal downloading and file sharing.1

The College of Engineering takes reports of illegal downloading using College resources very seriously. Effective immediately, anyone discovered to be engaging in such activities will be subject to the following actions:

  1. First offense: a hold will be placed on all student account activity until you come in for counseling with the Associate Dean of Engineering. You will be required to sign a statement expressing your understanding of the illegal nature of this activity and the consequences for continuing this behavior.
  2. Second offense: Your student account for Engineering will be revoked. You will be formally charged, with a violation of your Student Code of Conduct. Only a recommendation from your university's judicial officer can restore your engineering account.

1 Adopted with permission from the Florida State University Information Technology Services Guidelines