Information Technology Eyes Issue of Illegal File Sharing
by Pamela McLaren

From Dateline (August 28, 2003)

Dick Bednar, senior director of information technology, looks over cables that are part of the university’s network core.

This summer the Recording Industry Association of America made a move against individuals and Internet service providers that “share” copyrighted music over peer-to- peer networks. By the middle of July, the association had been granted reportedly nearly 900 subpoenas against Internet users suspected of copyright violations. The subpoenas, which seek the identities of individual Internet users, have been submitted to not only services such as AOL, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon but to several universities under the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. And it’s not just music: the Digital Millennium Copyright Act deals with photos, videos and other copyrighted material, such as books and articles.

Dateline sought out Dick Bednar, senior director of information technology, to find out what effect these recent actions may have on Cal State Fullerton.