MIT, Boston College Refuse DMCA Subpoenas

phreakmonkey writes "Here's an interesting change of pace- According to today's Boston Globe, MIT and Boston College have both refused to turn over the identities of students to the RIAA under subpoenas. Citing failure of compliance with court rules and student privacy concerns, both colleges have refused to give out the names, addresses, or phone numbers of students based on their Kazaa screen names and IP addresses. I wonder how long the schools will be able to keep the RIAA's pack of lawyers at bay..."

Harvard

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd be impressed if Harvard did it... I'm fairly certain that they have enough lawyers to defend against the likes of the RIAA :)

Harvard

[Malicious]

What we really need is a renound LAW school to stand up to them.
That will provide results.

Good for them...

[blackmonday]

Imagine the turmoil to a school administrator, knowing their students' life savings are about to get sucked up by the RIAA for sharing a few songs.

I hope more colleges follow their lead.

Way to go MIT!!

[teamhasnoi]

Got a P2P proxy server for us?

Just kidding!

(not really)

...am too..really

shhh...not.

MIT eh ?

[FrankoBoy]

Would be sweet if the nerds down there would unleash some futuristic greedy-bastard-ass-kicking robots as a preemptive strike ;)

Re:MIT eh ?

[Anonymous Coward]

we're working around the clock.

Re:Harvard

[tarquin_fim_bim]

So where do you think the RIAA lawyers came from? Eastern Europe perhaps?

Metallikkme

[poptones]

It's "effectively ok" to share metallica tunes because they're "effectively" worthless, anyway.

Re:Good for them...

[jedidiah]

Exactly. The Universities want to be first in line to get a student's money. They also want to be first in line to get their money after they graduate. Thus, they also have a vested interested in the future solvency and wealth of their students.

Re:Maybe they weren't students.

[dunng808]

I disagree. The decision makers in this case were, at MIT at least, students themselves at one time. They recall only too well the keg parties, panty raids, and VWs transported into dorm rooms of their student days. The 'net keeps the kids in their rooms, keeps 'em busy, keeps 'em out of trouble. Shut down the 'net? Are you insane? We cannot afford the consequences, the social turmoil, the civic unrest. Shut down the 'net? What's next, women athletes ripping off their tops? Tear up those subpoenas or face a wholesale return to the days of free sex!

Yeah, they had a warrent

[autopr0n]

Student goes to class only to come back to find his computer, some financial documents, and their booze replaced with a copy of a warrant.

Re:MIT eh ?

[Anonymous Coward]

So that's how Skynet _really_ got started.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Terminator sez "Hasta la vista, RIAA "

[Cryofan]

Yeah, right.....

Re:Harvard

[Anonymous Coward]

perhaps you mean renowned? like anywhere but where you're from?

Re:As one who DOES NOT engage in copyright violati

[Anonymous Coward]

simply because somewhere out there there is a dirty old man molesting a child

Yes --- and furthermore, where's the outrage about dirty children molesting old men? [cnn.com]

I for one ...

[BorgCopyeditor]

Liberty: a well armed sheep expressing his rights.

It looks like sheep have arisen. I for one...

You gonna finish that? "I, for one, welcome our new avine overlords"?

should have paid attention to banner ads

[glitch23]

I guess now is the time to say I told you so with respect to those banner ads telling everyone that their IPs are being broadcasted over the Internet. Next thing you know people will be complaining that they missed their email when they are told plain and clear they have 1 new message waiting for them.

Re:Harvard

[Loki_1929]

" What we really need is a renound LAW school to stand up to them.
That will provide results."

It's been my experience that no lawyer ever focuses on producing results. Rather, they seem to focus very heavily on the process - that process being the swift and steady draining of my wallet.

I'm one of the students...

[dotgod]

HA, HA, there's no way the RIAA-police are gonna get me as long as my anonymity is preserved. Since my school won't give me away there's no way that they can get my IP addr...

*footsteps*

*knock knock*

Re:Harvard

[evilviper]

Okay everyone. For your midtem, you are to find ways that Hillary Rosen is in violation of the law, then file those violations with the district attorney. Those students who cause her to serve the most jail time will be the ones who get the best grades. For extra credit: find criminal violations related to any of the politicans that helped pass the DMCA.

Re:When the lambs don't lay down..

[Anonymous Coward]

>Democracy: two wolves and a sheep voting on what's >for lunch
>Liberty: a well armed sheep expressing his rights.

Republic: ten wolves promising anything to get elected and eating all the sheep using their army.

Alrighty Kids, Here's What You Do:

[NeuroManson]

All lawsuits require some form of valid evidence. A "list" does not quantify evidence. Get your attorney to demand that the RIAA download and play every alleged file you have on their list.

Every.

Single.

Song.

They'll either dismiss the case, or the jury will have comitted suicide by the 8th hour of your "Best of Menudo", "Backstreet Boys Greatest Hits", and "Nsyn Nlimited" collection.

End of case.

Another alternative:

[NeuroManson]

Anyone who downloaded it, share, and ONLY share, Charlie Manson's "Whitey Album".

Then when the RIAA tries to nail you for it, send out a press release stating that the RIAA is contributing profits to a convicted mass murderer.

Smart enough to get into MIT...

[leedo]

So these people are smart enough to get into MIT but are also stupid enough to use Kazzaa. *scratches head*

Harvard?

[SEWilco]

It would be interesting to see what Harvard would do.
I can't decide which would be worse to try to challenge on legal issues:

• The lawyers which Harvard retains.
• The administration of Harvard Law School.
• The faculty of Harvard Law School.
• 1,800 Harvard student lawyers.