| Policy Title | Speakers’ Policy |
| Type or category of Policy: | Student Life Policy |
| Approval Authority: | |
| Responsible Executive: | Vice President for Student Life |
| Responsible Office: | Student Life |
| Owner Contact: | (518) 783-2328, 302 Sarazen Student Union |
| Reviewed By: | |
| Reviewed Date: | |
| Last Revised and Effective Date of Revision: |
A. Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code).
These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context often referred to as peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.
B. Copyright infringement carries civil and criminal penalties.
In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed.
For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, at its discretion, also assess costs and attorney fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.
C. Members of the Siena community will be subject to disciplinary action for unauthorized P2P file sharing.
Students will be sanctioned in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct in Siena Life. Faculty, administrators and staff found in violation will be subject to varying sanctions, up to and including, termination of employment from the College.
To ensure permissible downloading of music and the like, contact ITS or visit.
For more information on copyright laws in general, please see the Website of the U.S. Copyright Office, especially their FAQs.