Inappropriate use of resources includes such activities as:
• Using computer and network resources for personal nonacademic
activities, which denies computer and network
access for academic purposes
• Using Quinnipiac's network resources to illegally share
or distribute copyrighted material (including movies,
music and software). Unauthorized distribution of
copyrighted material, including peer-to-peer file sharing,
may subject a student to civil and criminal liabilities;
Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties
for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without
permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive
rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106
of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code).
These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a
copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading
or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without
authority constitutes an infringement.
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and
criminal penalties. In general anyone found liable for civil
copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual
damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than
$ 750 and not more than $30,000per work infringed. For
"willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000
per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess
costs and attorneys fees. For details, see Title 17, United
States Code, Sections 504, 505.
Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal
penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and
fines of up to $250,000per offense.
For more information, please see the website of the U.S.
Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially the
FAQ section at www.copyright.gov/help/faq
For more information or to read the policy in its entirety, please go to the QU student handbook at https://www.qu.edu/student-experience/health-and-safety/student-handbook/