Schools stay mum on file traders' names

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 14:21:51 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Joseph Lorenzo Hall <jhall () astron berkeley edu>
>
> Schools stay mum on file traders' names
>
> http://news.com.com/2100-1027-5052884.html
>
> Schools stay mum on file traders' names
> By Matt Hines and John Borland
>
> Some universities are balking at stepped up demands from the recording
> industry to unmask alleged student file swappers, citing procedural
> uncertainties over an avalanche of subpoenas filed with the courts in
> recent weeks.
>
> Boston College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on
> Tuesday said they are barred from immediately handing over the names
> of students to the recording industry by the Family Education Rights
> and Privacy Act, which requires institutions to notify students before
> releasing any personal data.
>
> Both schools said they were opposing the subpoenas on procedural
> grounds, rather than contesting the RIAA's right to the information.
> As a result, the refusals could further delay--but are unlikely to
> derail--the recording industry's efforts to unmask the identities of
> file swappers and ultimately file suit against them.
>
> "MIT of course has a policy of complying with lawfully issued
> subpoenas," said Professor James Bruce, vice president for information
> systems at MIT, in a statement. "In this case we have been advised by
> counsel that the subpoena was not in compliance with the court rules
> that apply to these subpoenas, and did not allow MIT time to send any
> notice as the law requires."
>
> [...]
>
>
>
> (In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
> distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
> interest in receiving the included information for research and
> educational purposes.)
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Joseph Lorenzo Hall
> Graduate Student                        http://pobox.com/~joehall

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