STUDENTS

Copyright Infringement

Colby Community College takes copyright protection very seriously. Many scholars, musicians, and performers rely on copyright to protect their intellectual property.  The following information explains what copyright infringement is, what the consequences of copyright infringement are, and the policy for those who illegally access music, TV shows, or movies.  This information is not intended to be a comprehensive treatment of copyright laws; it is intended to provide basic information to help you avoid copyright infringement.

What is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright holders are granted exclusive rights under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code) including the right to reproduce, distribute, display, or perform the copyrighted work or to make a derivative work.  Copyright infringement is the act of using works protected by copyright law without permission or legal authority.  In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without permission or the authority to do so constitutes an infringement.

Penalties

Penalties for copyright infringement include 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, in 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.

For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.

Policy

Colby Community College prohibits the use of its network resources (i.e., internet/WiFi) to conduct inappropriate and/or illegal activity. The College complies with applicable federal and state laws and requires that network account holders do the same in accordance with CCC’s Policy on Computer and Internet Acceptable Use. Alleged violations of the Computer and Internet Acceptable Use Policy shall be subject to disciplinary due process.  Unauthorized or improper use will lead to the possible revocation of the user’s access, and the College may also require restitution for any use which is in violation of the usage guidelines.  Colby Community College will pursue criminal and civil prosecution of violators when appropriate. 

[Added August 2021]