Peer 2 Peer Policy
P2P file-sharing allows a user to share files with other users on the Internet. The user's PC is open to receive files and to send files to other users at their request. P2P is used extensively for exchanging music, videos and software. KaZaA, BitTorrent, etc. are examples of widely used P2P applications. While P2P applications can provide a useful means for exchanging information, they can expose the user and/or the University to significant risks such as the following:
- Breach of Copyright: When you use P2P systems, your computer effectively becomes a server which can be accessed by others over the network. They can then copy from the computer, music or video files or other material which you may have downloaded. Users of such systems have a responsibility for ensuring that they are not violating copyright when downloading material (songs etc.) or through allowing others to download from their PC. Unless they have explicit permission from the copyright owners, they may be in breach of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000.
Copyright owners such as music companies, publishers etc. are constantly scanning the Internet in search of illegal copies of their material and they uncover a significant proportion of it. In some cases the Computer Centre may be required to assist an external agency taking action against a user for a breach of copyright.
- Network Performance: The majority of P2P files tend to be audio or video files and are therefore very large. If there is a lot of P2P traffic, it can lead to congestion on the network and result in a serious deterioration of services generally.
- Security: By using P2P applications, you are opening up your computer for access by unknown users throughout the world. You are therefore increasing significantly the risk of infection from viruses etc. This could cause large numbers of computers both within and outside of UCC to be infected or otherwise compromised. In addition, it could facilitate the theft of personal or confidential information from computers on the UCC network.
UCC reserves the right to disable access to P2P applications if there is evidence that their continued use is likely to cause a degradation of network performance or security or there is a risk that it will expose the College to legal action. It also reserves the right, through the Computer Centre, to disconnect any computer from the network where there is evidence that the computer is being used in a manner which breaches copyright or data protection legislation or which puts the services available to other users at risk.
It is recognised that P2P applications are used in many cases for legitimate purposes and nothing will be done to interfere with such use where adequate precautions are taken to protect network performance and security
Approved by the I.T. Policy Committee - 14th June 2005