by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Piracy is alive and well at UNM, and not the kind that involves eye patches and walking the plank.
One student, who asked not to be named, said he downloads virtually everything on his dorm computer for free, using file-sharing programs BitTorrent and Soulseek.
"I pirate music, movies, software," he said. "Anything that can be pirated."
Pirating refers to the act of getting copyrighted content off the Internet for free.
The student said even his operating system is an illegal copy of Windows XP he pirated.
He said he has 7,008 songs from 483 albums by 231 different artists, ranging from 50 Cent to Cyndi Lauper. His hard drive is also home to 50 movies, including "Mad Max," "American History X" and "Exorcist: The Beginning."
He downloaded everything on his computer using the Internet connection in his SRC dorm room, he said.
Catherine Luther, CIRT spokeswoman, said UNM does not monitor its network for content that infringes on copyrights. She said before University employees take action, a copyright holder must notify the University Counsel's office that a copyright has been violated.
Luther said UNM's University Counsel and CIRT review the claim to determine if it is legitimate. If it is, CIRT disconnects the offending computer.
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Luther said CIRT gets notices of copyright infringement from copyright holders about twice a week.
Amanda Hunter, spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said her organization has detected music theft by users of the UNM network and has sent the appropriate notices.
She said many college students download music illegally.
"In many cases students have more time than money, and students often have access to free high-speed Internet connections," she said in an e-mail. "This combination is often a recipe for rampant illegal downloading."
The student said he pirates music because he does not want to pay for it.
"I love listening to new music, and I can't afford to buy new CDs," he said.
Student Brandon McBride said he downloads music illegally off the Internet, but only to sample it. He said if he downloads something he likes, he will always buy it.
He said he does not think it is right to download as much music as you can just because it is free, because it is bad for musicians.
"A lot of these people, that's how they make their living," he said. "I don't think you should take that away."
McBride said he has spent close to $1,500 on CDs.
Student Bryan Heaton said if students like music they should pay for it. He said downloading is good because it gives record companies competition.
"I don't know if downloading is right or wrong, but since it started, CDs have gotten cheaper," he said. "It's convenient, but if I like it I'll buy it anyway."
According to RIAA's Web site, uploading or downloading music from or to the Internet for free is almost always illegal.
The anonymous student said record labels and producers get too much money and he will never pay more than $10 for a CD.
Luther said students who have their computers disconnected for a copyright violation can have them reconnected after they meet with CIRT staff and remove illegal content from their computer.
The anonymous student said he sometimes worries about getting caught.
"Occasionally I get a little twinge of fear," he said. "Wondering if the feds are going to break down my door and take my computer."
He said he does not worry about UNM staff punishing him for copyright violations.
"I see half the people in my room pirating stuff, and they don't get caught," he said. "I've talked to some CIRT people and it seems like they're really not watching for that."
Hunter warned UNM students they could be the target of litigation if they pirate music.
"Anyone participating in illegal music stealing could potentially face legal action," she said. "People who engage in this illegal activity should remain on notice that this is theft, you can be caught, and there are consequences for your actions."
