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Northern Illinois University

Everything Technology Handbook

File Sharing

There are four separate issues surrounding file sharing:

  • Copying and sharing copyright-protected material could result in penalties including lawsuits and/or criminal charges.
  • Saturation of network resources makes it difficult to conduct essential business.
  • Utilizing host file servers to store illegally reproduced copyright-protected files could make the host (i.e., NIU) legally liable.
  • Security is compromised when file sharing settings are enabled, and your computer could become a target for spyware, adware, and viruses.

For information on peer-to-peer file sharing utilities and how to disable file sharing, visit go.et.niu.edu/filesharing

Northern Illinois University faces increasing pressure from organizations including the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the BSA (Business Software Alliance), and the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) to address copyright infringement. NIU’s Acceptable Use Policy addresses the university’s position on use of the network.

If you are found guilty of copying copyright-protected files to a computer on the NIU network, you may be fined, lose computing privileges, be placed on academic probation and/or expelled from the university. You could also be made a party in a lawsuit or charged with a crime.

For your safety, and to comply with university policy, use legal file sharing resources such as Ruckus™ to access entertainment content.

For more information, please contact the ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@niu.edu or 753-8100.

Residence hall students, please contact ResTech at restech@niu.edu or 753-6267.