CAMPUS
The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2004- 3
RIAA subpoenas Blue gets the Blues
'U' for identities
May 4, 2004
By Ashley Dinges
DailyStaffReporter
After months of anticipation, the Uni-
versity received a subpoena from the
Recording Industry Association of
America last week, which may require
the University to turn over the names
and contact information of nine students
who allegedly used illegal file sharing
programs to upload files.
"The subpoenas were received at
the end of last week, and we notified
the students before media. The RIAA
originally sent (the University) notice
of intent to subpoena students they
said were illegally distributing their
music files," said University spokes-
woman Julie Peterson.
The University now has 21 days to
respond to the subpoenas, during which
they will decide if the subpoena is valid.
"Essentially we have three weeks
to comply with the subpoena, and if
it is valid, we'll have to comply -
that's what we'll have to do. There
r isn't really a choice in the matter,"
said University Assistant General
Counsel Jack Bernard.
In order to determine whether or
not the subpoena is valid, Bernard
said the University will read through
the subpoena and assess both what it
is asking for, and what law it uses to
request the information.
RIAA issued the subpoena under the
"John Doe litigation, because they do
not currently have access to the nine stu-
dent names and contact information and
*can only identify the students by their
Internet protocol address.
"We thought we would be getting
these much earlier - originally in
December when (the University)
received the first notice," Bernard said.
The RIAA announced last Wednes-
day that 477 new lawsuits were
brought against alleged illegal file
sharers. In addition, 69 of the lawsuits
were against people using University
networks. Fourteen schools, including
the University of Michigan, were cited
as having illegal users.
"It remains as important as ever that
we continue to work with the Universi-
ty community in a way that is respect-
ful of the law as well as University
values," said RIAA President Cary
Sherman ina written statement.
But both Peterson and Bernard agree
that the University would prefer to take
an educational approach to the situa-
tion, and encourage clarification of
questions surrounding file sharing.
"We've encouraged the RIAA to let
us continue taking our educational
approach instead of taking a litigational
approach, but they have chosen to take
the litigation strategy," Bernard said.
"We have consistently had education-
al programs since Napster first came on
the scene, and I anticipate that we will
continue this because this is just an issue
of our times,' Bernard said.
"Our faculty and their colleagues
have very provocative ways of thinking
about issues regarding file sharing."
ResComp Director Jeffry Wright
said ResComp plans to slightly alter
the educational program it sponsors
during summer orientation.
TONY DING/Daily
Michigan seniors Carl Diggs (43) and John Navarre (16) after the Wolverines' 14-28 loss to USC on Thursday, January 1,
2004 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Califomia. It was Michigan's 18th appearance at the Rose Bowl and the 90th
game the bowl has played. Between 6,000 and 6,500 fans traveled to Pasadena with the University's Alumni
Association, and nearly 8,500 gathered at their official tailgate party prior to the game. Because of high airfare prices
and expensive travel costs, students such as LSA freshman Taylor Engers - who rented an RV with eight friends -
opted for less-pricey alternatives. "It was pretty wild at the RV park because they put all of the students together and
there was mad tailgating," said Engers, who reached Pasadena after about 40 hours of nonstop driving.