Copyright Protection Policy
It is the policy of the University of Pittsburgh to respect the copyright protections given to authors, owners, and publishers under federal law, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”). It is against University policy for any student, faculty, or staff member to copy, reproduce, or distribute any software, music, games, or movies, or any other copyrighted work, on University computing equipment except as expressly permitted by a license agreement or with the written consent of the copyright holder or as otherwise permitted under federal law. Willful infringement may subject a student, faculty, or staff member to University discipline and may impact the privilege to use information technology resources at the University. Uploading or downloading works protected by copyright without the authority of the copyright owner is an infringement of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights of reproduction or distribution. Anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner, that amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed. In addition, an infringer of a work may also be liable for the attorney’s fees incurred by the copyright owner to enforce his or her rights. In addition, it is a criminal offense to violate Sections 1201 or 1202 of the DMCA willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain. Penalties range up to a $500,000 fine or up to five years imprisonment for a first offense, and up to a $1,000,000 fine or up to 10 years imprisonment for subsequent offenses.
If you believe that your intellectual property has been used in a way that constitutes copyright infringement in any materials available on the University’s network, you are entitled to submit a notification of claimed infringement (a “Takedown Notice”) to the University’s designated agent under the DMCA (the “Designated Agent”). The contact information for the University’s Designated Agent is included below. To comply with the requirements of the DMCA, your Takedown Notice must include certain required elements as set forth in the DMCA. The University will review and respond to all Takedown Notices that include the required elements and that are submitted to the University’s Designated Agent in accordance with the DMCA.
DMCA Designated Agent
Designated Agent:
John Duska
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
4200 Fifth Ave.
750 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-4357
Email: dmca@pitt.edu
Service Provider:
University of Pittsburgh-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
4200 Fifth Ave.
750 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Alternate Names for Service Provider:
“University Pittsburgh” and “Pitt”
Procedure for Handling Takedown Notices
When the activity originates within the University’s network, the University must certify that the University has made positive contact with the individual who allegedly infringed the copyright holder’s intellectual property rights and that the individual has either ceased the infringing activity or that the University has taken action to cease the infringing activity.
Pitt Information Technology (“Pitt IT”) has developed the following procedure for handling Takedown Notices. These procedures have been created with the goal of complying with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including the DMCA.
The University maintains an internal database reflecting the number of Takedown Notices received and the University’s responses thereto. The following are the procedural steps to be taken in response to Takedown Notices:
- The University receives a Takedown Notice through its Designated Agent that a network user may be violating copyright laws.
- Pitt IT researches the infringement notice using the IP address to determine the location of the infringement. The following steps are taken based upon the location:
- University buildings on Pittsburgh campus (excluding residence halls): the network port is disabled and the University unit associated with that port is identified. A memo is sent via email to the dean, director, or department chair responsible for that unit with a copy sent to Pitt IT Security and the departmental technical contact. The department must remove the copyrighted material, disable file sharing, and notify Pitt IT when complete.
- Regional campuses: the campus technical contact is notified by email and sent a copy of the Takedown Notice. The technical contact must report the offender's information to Pitt IT, remove the copyrighted material, disable file sharing, disable the network port, and then notify Pitt IT when complete. Pitt IT disables the ports on the applicable regional campus.
- PittNet Guest Wi-Fi accounts: the guest account is disabled and the host of the guest account is notified of the alleged infringement.
- Once Pitt IT has been notified that the copyrighted material has been removed and file sharing has been disabled, network access is re-enabled.
- The Technology Help Desk is available to assist with identifying the location of copyrighted material, removing it, and disabling file sharing.
- If you think that the content that has been removed is not infringing content, you may file a counter-notice with the University’s Designated Agent. In this instance, please request the necessary form from the Technology Help Desk.
What is Illegal File Sharing?
File sharing, or peer-to-peer software programs (such as LimeWire, BitTorrent, and others), can allow sharing of copyrighted music, movies, games, software, and other files often without the knowledge or consent of the user. Sharing this copyrighted material is illegal and has led to a significant increase in anti-piracy efforts and legislation. Organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and others monitor file sharing on the internet and notify the University when a computer on its network is illegally sharing copyrighted files.
The RIAA has published an informative video concerning the downloading of files (requires Apple Quicktime to view).
What Can I Do to Prevent Illegal File Sharing?
Use Apple iTunes
Apple iTunes is available for download at software.pitt.edu at no cost. Apple iTunes is a simple and legal way to listen to your favorite music, podcasts, and more.
Avoid File-Sharing Programs
The University strongly discourages the use of file-sharing programs due to the risk that the shared files may be copyrighted. Also, many of these programs automatically place downloaded files in a shared folder on your computer, meaning you could be sharing copyrighted material without even knowing it. You may be held responsible for illegal file sharing, whether you are aware that copyrighted files are being shared or not.
Review the University’s Computing Policies
For more information, please refer to:
If you are concerned that you may be sharing copyrighted files, please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) for assistance.