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University Tests Legal File Downloading System

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the another-one-that-is dept.

philospher writes "Dorm students at Northern Illinois University are testing a legal file downloading service. It is made by Ruckus Network, and was developed by a group of MIT students. NIU pays 5$ a month per student, and the students can get music, movies, TV shows, local content and community features. Sounds a lot better than having the RIAA sending you a court summons."

13 of 260 comments (clear)

  1. Good idea by NG+Resonance · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd pay for a service like this. Not too expensive, and keeping me safe from RIAA/MPAA attacks.

    1. Re:Good idea by Douglas_E_Morris · · Score: 5, Interesting

      In the end this service is not unlike others you would get at a university. While I am sure this is not the same for all Universities, the one where I go to school at sells you services such as your phone, your cable, your internet (at least it is high speed) and this is all built into the price. The reason the prices are the way that they are is bulk pricing. Everyone chips in a little and it does not seem so bad overall. Also, as a member of Residence Hall Council we get to vote and approve such 'manditory fees' for services in the halls, and while i agree it seems rude to force fees on people we can often get services for all at the price of $5.00 per person where to simply leave one person out would raise the price as high as $20.00 per person because it is not 'all'. When we vote in these fees it is done in the intrest of all students, not just a few. We try to get the best deals we can, and offer the services that are wanted at discouted rates. You accept certain limitations by living in a residence hall, you likly have quite hours, you are reqiured to follow the house rules, and you agree to the manditory fees. It is alot like living in a house that is under the rule of a housing association. In wrap up this was not written to draw the ire of anyone, just to give another perspective that might not otherwise be viewed. Doug Morris

  2. Legal by mobets · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I read the article... what makes this legal? not much in the way of details...

    --

    It was me, I did it, I moved your cheese
  3. Cornell's Trial Download Program by crem_d_genes · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Cornell is giving away music downloads this year.

  4. I must have missed something.... by marshac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How is this not illegal? If students are still downloading copyrighted content from each other... *scratches head*.... I don't get it.

    And yes, I did RTFA, and the company website.

  5. bring on the cease and desist's by joeldg · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Posting the following:

    "Bryan Ajuluchukwu, a freshman economics major, is one of more than 170 students living on the third floor of Grant Towers who is testing a new downloading service. The service, called Ruckus Network, allows for those students to download music and movies."

    is the equiv of posting a target on your forehead for the MPAA and the RIAA to make an "example" out of you, especially for the elusive college market (which is the one they are always, always, always after..)

    --
    anime+manga together at last.. in real time.
  6. Don't waste my money! by thewldisntenuff · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's think this over a bit.....The downloads are "tethered", as TFA states...

    But let's consider something different.....

    Can't find the population of NIU...But we'll use my school's numbers....Assuming a yearlong (12-month) contract....

    $5 * ~40,000 students * 12 mos. = $2.4 million

    Why would I want my tuition money (which, at this campus, only pays for more construction, adminstrative wages, yet can't cover enough for class TAs) to be wasted on RIAA/MPAA/AAA-approved media? The schools are always bitching about lack of funds, yet they can somehow afford this? Bullshit...If they (students), would like to pay out of pocket, be my guest. But don't waste my tution money on it.

    --
    My MythTV HowTo
  7. Working company URL... by photonagon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...at www.ruckus.net.

    The link in the article didn't seem to work.

    I still can't find anything about what makes this legal, but the company claims it numerous times.

  8. Excerpt from their legal page by atomic-penguin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "...RUCKUS WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO ANYONE WITH RESPECT TO ANY DAMAGES, LOSS OR CLAIM WHATSOEVER IN CONNECTION WITH ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS SITE. IN NO EVENT SHALL RUCKUS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE, COPYING OR DISPLAY OF THE CONTENT..."

    So where is the guarantee that this is in fact legal, and/or you won't get hunted down by the RIAA/MPAA? How is this not breaking copyright laws?

    It sounds like a nice advertisement, but might be too good to be true. The adage, "There ain't such a thing as a free lunch.", rings true. They want personal information in return. Oh, and the privacy statement reads like adware/spyware.

    If institutions are to adopt this for their College networks there has to be a guarantee in writing that I won't be sued for copyright infringement. Where is the guarantee I am legally licensing this for private use?

    --
    /^([Ss]ame [Bb]at (time, |channel.)){2}$/
  9. Yeah, this seems like a good idea too, by meistaiwan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I used to have an emusic account way back in the day, when they were unlimited. It was great to be able to download legally independent label music(the stuff worth listening to) where my money went to the artist. Of course any time you deal with a corporation, you run into problems. They double billed me for no reason and refused to refund my money(yeah, WTF). So I canceled and managed to get my music other ways. But I'm not scared the RIAA is going to come after me, I don't have their music. Because it's crap.

  10. Re:Think of the rhyming possibilities for 'Ruckus' by scottking · · Score: 4, Interesting

    that's true, also backwards it Sukur...

    --
    scott king
  11. Umm by L0phtpDK · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Ok.. i'm currently an NIU student... in Grant Towers (tower B on the 8th Floor). And this is the first time that I heard of this. I dont remember EVER paying 5 dollars a month for anything related to "A Ruckus" or anything of that sort. So i could not tell you. But I will takea trip two floors down and try it out for you guys and give you some clue how it goes. But for now... WinMX and BT still work for me :)

  12. Re:Do you people not understand? by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Reality check:

    $5/student, whether the student WANTS IT OR NOT, just to prevent lawsuits. That IS textbook extortion.

    You don't think this cost is gonna be passed onto the students, even the ones who don't even OWN computers?