Why it matters: There are a lot of risks associated with peer-to-peer file sharing that justifiably concern US universities. These networks can lead to security issues, they consume a lot of bandwidth, and, in many cases, the material being shared is copyrighted. But warning students to stay away from Napster and Limewire is like telling them not to record TV shows on their VCRs.
There are a lot of risks that US universities warn their students to avoid, but you might find it surprising that peer-to-peer sharing networks are one of them. Yes, it's 2024, but colleges and universities still routinely tell students to stay away from the likes of Napster and Limewire, even though they have long since been sunsetted.
Other P2P platforms remain active, and it appears that some college students are still using them even though they are just as likely now to use legitimate digital streaming services. These include BitTorrent as well as other older sites that see less traffic from their heydays but still function, such as Gnutella.
These efforts to stop students from using P2P sharing began at the turn of the century – a time that was a free-for-all in the peer sharing of copyrighted materials, particularly music – when Napster became mainstream. Copyright holders pushed back when it became clear how much money they were losing, led by the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America, which sued not only these P2P platforms but eventually the people who were using them.
The pressure worked, with many people scared away by the thousands of dollars these associations were requesting to settle the cases instead of going to court. Others, though, especially defiant students, continued to use them.
Then came another milestone for copyright holders: the 2008 passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which requires US universities and colleges to implement anti-piracy policies, including educational outreach to deter piracy. The consequences of running afoul of the law are severe; they risk losing federal funding.
Universities are also concerned for other reasons. They point to the security risks primarily – many files downloaded from P2P networks contain malware – but also are inspired to act because these networks are bandwidth hogs, slowing down campus systems. Also, illegal file sharing is counter to the principles of academic integrity that universities seek to uphold.
While these are all valid reasons to discourage P2P file sharing, universities are shooting themselves in the foot as they approach students with messages and marketing materials that don't appear to have been updated since the 2000s.
A Google search by TorrentFreak found that warnings about defunct networks that evoke nostalgia in the hearts of older Millennials are still prevalent. For example, the University of Vermont warns that "In spite of court rulings holding that it is illegal, some people have continued to engage in so-called peer-to-peer ("P2P") sharing of commercial copyrighted products, using software programs such as Morpheus, LimeWire, Grokster, and KaZaA. This activity is unlawful."
Another example comes from the University of Texas, which said "Peer-to-peer (P2P) applications such as BitTorrent, BearShare, Limewire, Morpheus, iMesh and KaZaA make it easy for you to share files."
These warnings likely just amuse and possibly confuse today's students who have grown up using more modern apps and services.
US universities miss the mark with outdated P2P file sharing warnings about Napster and Limewire
