DCC Copyright: Students and Copyright

Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

Compliance Plan for Combating Unauthorized Distribution of Copyrighted Materials

Several sections of the Higher Education Opportunity Act deal with unauthorized file sharing on campus networks, imposing three general requirements on all U.S. colleges and universities:

1. Let students know each year how copyright law affects them and tell them about college policies related to violating copyright law.
2. A plan to combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials on the campus network, including a technology-based deterrent. 
3. A plan to offer legal alternatives to illegal streaming and downloading.
    

The HEOA includes provisions to reduce the illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted works through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing.

Copyright and licensing violations include, but are not limited to, providing or obtaining illegal copies of software or digital media (movies, videos, music, etc.) for which legal permission to distribute or possess has not been granted.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

We encourage students, faculty, and staff to utilize the legal alternatives provided rather than pirating copyrighted materials such as music and movies.

Uploading or downloading copyrighted works without the permission of the copyright owner is a violation of DCC policy and U.S. law.