DMCA Violation Fee

Downloading and sharing copyrighted material online without permission is unethical and illegal.  Louisiana State University (LSU) is dedicated to addressing and resolving issues of copyright infringement, as well as implementing preventative measures and policies to ensure proper use of peer-to-peer (P2P) applications on the campus network and within the residential housing network.

As of August 1, 2009, students implicated in a DMCA copyright violation (and upon verification) will be assessed a $50 fine, charged to the student’s Bursar account posted to student Fee Bills.  This fine is not intended to generate profit; rather, it provides a mechanism for recovering costs incurred in reviewing and processing DMCA notifications, and funding programs for awareness (e.g., education and ad campaign costs). LSU is not the first institution to charge a fee for copyright violations – several other institutions also charge fees for DMCA violations.

It was agreed that $50 per incident is a reasonable amount to offset costs generated by activities such as:  reviewing law, case law, and developments; maintaining procedures that keep LSU compliant with law; ensuring each person responds to and complies with the same process; responding to questions from members of the University community; and education and ad campaign costs.

In addition to sending complaints to LSU, copyright owners may also take direct legal action against alleged infringers, and subpoena the University for information about people sharing files.  The No Electronic Theft (NET) Act provides for serious criminal penalties, including a fine of up to $250,000 and a potential jail sentence.  Lack of knowledge about copyright infringement laws will not excuse one from legal consequences, or from action by the University.  It is your responsibility to be aware of the legality of your actions.

Please see Illegal File Sharing at LSU and About RIAA for additional details on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), preventative measures, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).