Higher Education Opportunity Act Disclosure

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and in consultation with Liberty University’s Chief Information Officer, Liberty University has implemented policies and procedures to reduce the unauthorized duplication and distribution of copyrighted works through peer-to-peer file-sharing on campus networks. The university is providing you with notice in compliance with sections 485 and 487 of that legislation.

Liberty University expressly forbids the use of ad-hoc peer-to-peer file-sharing programs to exchange copyrighted material while on the Liberty University network. Unauthorized duplication, use, or distribution of copyrighted materials, including music and video files, is illegal under the DMCA and exposes you to serious civil and criminal penalties.

Legal Alternatives

File sharing may be tempting because you love music, but you’re on a budget. Perhaps you want to check out a song, album or movie before you purchase it. However, the consequences of illegal file sharing are very real and potentially severe. Below is a list of examples of free legal alternatives:

iTunes: apple.com/itunes

Spotify Student: spotify.com/student

LastFM: last.fm

Pandora: Pandora.com

Hulu: hulu.com

YouTube: youtube.com

Netflix: netflix.com

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) of 1998 endeavors to balance the interests of internet service providers and copyright owners when copyright infringement occurs in the digital environment. The DMCA protects internet service providers from liability for copyright infringement by their users, if the internet service provider meets certain statutory requirements. To fall within the protection of the DMCA, an internet service provider must, among other things, take certain steps when it receives notice that infringing material resides on its network; adopt and implement a policy that provides for termination in appropriate circumstances of users who are repeat infringers; and accommodate standard technical measures that are used by copyright owners to identify and protect copyrighted works. The DMCA protects only the internet service provider, and not the users of its system who infringe copyright.

Liberty University is committed to maintaining the integrity and availability of the Liberty network for the vital educational and research purposes for which it was designed and prohibits the use of its network to violate the law, including the U.S. Copyright Act. The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, violates the Copyright Act and may subject you to civil and criminal liabilities.

Liberty complies fully with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Users of the Liberty network found to have engaged in repeated infringement of copyright are subject to termination of their network access and may be reported to the appropriate Dean or Human Resources officer for disciplinary action. A paper copy of this notice is available upon request by contacting dmca-email@liberty.edu.

All Liberty users must respect the copyrights in works that are accessible through computers connected to the Liberty network. Federal copyright law prohibits the reproduction, distribution, public display or public performance of copyrighted materials without permission of the copyright owner, unless fair use or another exemption under copyright law applies. In appropriate circumstances, Liberty will terminate the network access of users who are found to have repeatedly infringed the copyrights of others, and may also take disciplinary action.

Students with questions about copyright or this policy are invited to raise those questions with an appropriate dean, tutor, or academic officer. Staff supervisors and members of the faculty with questions are welcome to contact the university’s Office of the General Counsel at (434) 592 7200.

Liberty University contact information for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act: dmca-email@liberty.edu.