Written by: Cody Brumfield
Published: 06/04/2008

Recording Industry's New Anti-piracy Software Focuses on Campus Networks

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently received a private demonstration of a new method the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is using to identify copyright infringement on campus networks. Copyright infringements uncovered by the RIAA and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) result in the bulk of letters sent to colleges demanding removal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

The process, which is outsourced to a firm called Media Sentry, uses much the same software individuals use to download music and movies illegally. In the demonstration, the RIAA representative used LimeWire, a popular filesharing program.

The first step involved scanning LimeWire's network for songs that are under copyright. Should results appear, Media Sentry's software attempts to match the file against a database of known pirated files. If Media Sentry's software turns up a match, an attempt is made to compare the IP address – a series of numbers that identify individual computers or networks – with IP addresses owned by colleges and universities. If a match is found, the Media Sentry checks the shared file more thoroughly, using sound wave comparisons and, failing that, a human listener. If a match is found, an automated removal notice citing the DMCA is sent to the filesharer's campus.

The RIAA told the Chronicle that, "The automated takedown notice program we have right now is solely university-focused" and is meant to highlight the problem of filesharing to college officials.

The focus on college networks, however, has angered many campus officials, in part because the RIAA and MPAA have used incorrect or misleading data in past lobbying efforts. The RIAA, for its part, has denied the new software is being used to create an artificial increase in the percentage of infringement notices sent to college campuses.

In January of this year, the MPAA was forced to admit it's estimate that 44 percent of all copyright infringement damages come from college campuses was a mistake. In fact, the MPAA said, the number is closer to 15 percent. That number, however, includes students living off campus. Educause, which represents colleges and universities on technology matters, estimates that on-campus network file-sharing by students is approximately 3 percent of all infringement damages.

Related Links:

"How It Does It: The RIAA Explains How It Catches Alleged Music Pirates" - Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/free/2008/05/2821n.htm

Campus Technology
http://campustechnology.com/articles/62777/

"Record Industry Says Spike in Piracy Notices Is Not Part of Lobbying Strategy" - Chronicle of Higher Education
http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/05/2752n.htm