Appropriate Network Use and Copyright Responsibilities

MEMORANDUM

Over the past few months the University's communications network has been seriously affected by excessive and/or illegal activity by members of the University community-faculty, students, and staff. Additionally, the University has received an increasing number of allegations of illegal possession and distribution of copyrighted materials by members of the University community. This message is to remind you of the University's policies, and the law, on the use of electronic resources, including computers, networks, electronic mail services, and electronic information resources. You may wish to print or save a copy for future reference if questions should arise. All health sciences students have received a similar notification.

Responsible Use of Network Services. By using University electronic resources and services, including the campus network, you assume personal responsibility for their appropriate use and agree to comply with all relevant University policies, as well as State and Federal laws and regulations. Please see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/policy/copyright-info.html for information about copyright and the University's compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. See http://www.columbia.edu/cu/policy/ for complete information on the University's Computer and Network Use Policy, and see http://www.support.cumc.columbia.edu/getting_started/policy.html for Network Use policy within Columbia University Health Sciences campus.

The University provides an array of electronic resources and services for the primary purpose of supporting the business of the University and its missions of education, research, and service. In addition, the network is shared with NewYork Presbyterian Hospital on our campus and we share in its mission of patient care. Our use is also subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Uses that interfere with, or threaten, those missions or the integrity of the system are prohibited.

Your right to use the network and other electronic services and resources is limited to your role and function as an employee of Columbia University. The various technology offices on campus do not routinely monitor network traffic for content, but they do monitor for the volume and breadth of use. The University uses Network Intrusion Detection technologies to monitor hacking activities in order to implement information-security best practices. The cognizant supervisor and/or department chair will be notified of infractions by Columbia employees. Violations can result in denial of network access and other disciplinary action.

Copyright Compliance. To copy, distribute, share, or store any information or material on the Internet will infringe the copyright for that information or material, unless the user has the express permission of the copyright owner or the user qualifies for a legal exception under the law (certain limited educational and research uses, for example, would be permissible). All network users must comply with federal copyright law. Violations of copyright law are also violations of University policy.

Copyright protection covers any original work of authorship that is fixed in some tangible medium of expression. A work is protected from the moment it is created, and it does not have to contain a copyright notice to be protected. This broad protection means that just about any work you come across-software, books, music, film, video, articles, cartoons, pictures, or email, whether on the Internet, a CD, DVD, or tape-is likely to be protected by copyright. While there are exceptions under the law that allow the copying or distribution of copyrighted works, it is fair to say that the use of peer-to-peer software programs to make and share copies of copyrighted music and movies, without permission of the copyright owner, would virtually never qualify for an exception.

Please be aware that third-party enforcement organizations acting on behalf of copyright holders such as MGM and Time-Warner routinely survey network-attached computers looking for individuals who, by providing video, music, or software files for download, are in violation of copyright laws. You are responsible for activities conducted on your computer and must take care in allowing friends, family, or other employees to use your computer. If your computer is used to distribute copyrighted material, you are responsible and you will be subject to disciplinary action. The University is obligated to take immediate action when notified of infractions by third parties who monitor such use. In addition, if you are found in violation of copyright, you are personally responsible and subject to legal action on the part of the copyright holder.