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Colleges punish students over Internet downloads

Students caught illegally downloading music and movies from the Internet have been penalized and restricted from using school computers, several colleges said yesterday.

Their announcement follows the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's (IFPI) release on Wednesday of the names of 33 colleges where the federations said illegal downloading occurred this year.

The IFPI list includes big-name institutions such as National Cheng Chih University, National Chiao Tung University, National Tsing Hua University and Academia Sinica, the nation's most prestigious research institute.

A Tsing Hua University spokesperson said that all new students were required to sign an Internet usage agreement in which they pledge to refrain from downloading illegal material and which indemnifies the school against any legal repercussions if the student is caught breaking the law.

Cheng Chi University said it revoked the Internet privileges of seven students who had been caught misusing the school's Internet access.

Academia Sinica gave its researchers a verbal warning and threatened to cut off the Internet connections of repeat offenders.

While some students said yesterday that a ban on school computer use was insufficient to root out piracy at colleges, they blamed what they described as a waning economy for rampant illegal Internet downloading taking place on school campuses.

"The economy is so bad right now that we don't have the money to buy original copies at full price," said Maya Lin (林慧婷), 22, a senior at Lan Yang Institute of Technology in Ilan County.

"Besides, the artists make millions of dollars each day. My NT$350 won't make a dent in their salary," Lin said.

However, she added, if they had enough money, most of her friends would prefer to buy the originals because the quality was often much better than that of downloaded material.

Lynn Lee (李雅之), 20, a Shu-te University student, said it was human nature to take advantage of bargains, especially when it is so easy to cheat the system.

"Everyone knows how to download from the Internet because we just pass the links around," she said.

Lee said most of her friends had no qualms about downloading media content off the Internet because they think they will not be caught.

Lee's boyfriend, Andy Ho (何維麟), 22, however, said he would rather be teased by his peers than compromise his moral values.

"They always say I am stupid to buy music or movies at full price, but I don't care. I'm sticking with my principles," Ho said.
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