How to protect yourself | Filesharing @ IU

Avoid P2P

The safest way to avoid copyright infringement trouble is to avoid using peer-to-peer and other file sharing software altogether. » Learn more

Use Legal Alternatives

There are plenty of legal alternatives — and plenty of options: including pay-per-song, subscription, and streaming — many are free. Also to note, free doesn't always mean illegal, and not all paid services are legal. It's your job to make sure.

Disable outbound sharing

If you still intend to use peer-to-peer or other file sharing software, ensure that it's not configured to automatically share the files on your computer. If configured improperly, malware (viruses), spyware, or identity theft could await you. » Learn how

Ever loan your computer?

Be aware when others use your computer. If the machine connected to the network is registered to you, you'll be the one contacted during an incident.

Ask

If all else fails, ask — the software company in question, the RIAA, a lawyer, or contact us. We're not lawyers, but we'll give you our best opinion.

Find out if you're sharing

Use the Personal Software Inspector tool to learn what types of software you have on your computer, and what it's doing.

Educate yourself

Learn how peer-to-peer (P2P) software works and how the software can be used to illegally pirate music and movies by infringing on copyrighted works, and then avoid it. This site serves as a great place to start.

Recognize the Difference

Services that provide music legally will not usually have confusing warnings like this one telling you how to use their software legally. Legal sites should also have documentation available proving that their service doesn't violate copyright.

Get permission to share

Confirm that the distributor of a file you are interested in downloading has permission from the copyright holder to distribute it. Assume you don't have permission to download or distribute a file unless you have proof to the contrary.

Protect yourself from copyright infringement