Peer-To-Peer Policy
Background:
Universities and colleges share the same struggle in keeping their ResNet networks operating with efficiency and within legal boundaries. Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications grossly affect both the efficiency of network services and are almost always used in violation of Copyright law.
While there are some legitimate academic, research, and personal uses of P2P file sharing, the University recognizes that most P2P activity is for non-educational purposes. Activities such as copying music and video files for personal enjoyment, often violate Copyright law and/or use a disproportionate amount of network resources. Programs such as KaZaA, Gnutella, LimeWire, BitTorrent, Ares, and others, configure computers to serve the files that are downloaded - putting tremendous strain on network resources.
Policy:
The technical and legal costs and risks associated with P2P activities have led to a University policy that prohibits the use of P2P applications on the SVSU campus network.
| On ResNet | On Campus Wireless | In Offices, Computer Labs, Classrooms |
| P2P is Blocked | P2P is Blocked | P2P is Blocked |
| The computer can not access the campus network and internet | The computer can not access the campus network and internet until the offending P2P software is removed (not just turned off) | The computer can still access the campus network and internet until the offending P2P software is removed (not just turned off)
The Support Center will contact the user and remove the P2P software. |
P2P applications blocked include, but are not limited to: directconnect, earthstationV, edonkey, exeem, furthurnet, IRC, kazaa, napster, pando, share, soulseek, warez, ares, bittorrent, blubster, gnutella, groove, hermes, peerenabler, pplive, qq, thunder