First Infringement Notice
Second Infringement Notice
Subsequent Infringement Notice

***NOTE: Use the quick template (Copyright Ingringe) in Footprints to gather the proper information when students come in to get their agreement signed.***

***NOTE: Organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and others monitor file sharing systems on the Internet. Peer to peer (P2P) file sharing of copyright material is a violation of federal law and university policy.***

When one of these organizations discover an instance of illegal file sharing that is originating from within UW-Green Bay’s computing network, they will send an official notice to the University.  Upon receipt of this notice, the University must take action to stop Campus Policy on Copyright Infringement  from occurring on its network. Here is a summary of what could happen to you should the university determine you were engaging in this behavior:

First Infringement Notice

1. An email will be sent to the student(s) explaining that the university has received a complaint which possibility identifies them as engaging in a violation of copyright laws.   

2. The student(s) will have 3 business days to respond to the email, either taking responsibility for the alleged behavior, or assisting in determining who may have used their network access point or electronic device to share the alleged files.

3. Once it is determined who the responsible party is, their access to the university network will be shut off for seven calendar days. 

4. The student will be required to sign an agreement stating they will not engage in future copyright infringement practices and return that agreement to the Dean of Students Office (2000 Student Services). Click here to view the form

5. The student will also be required to take their computer to one of the campus IT help centers for a review of their devices to show that the corrective action has been taken to prevent future violations of this policy.   One of the help center technicians will need to sign a copy of the agreement as a record that the device has been reviewed.

6. Network access will be restricted until either the seven calendar days have passed, or completed agreement has been turned into the Dean of Students Office, whichever is longer. 

7. A record of the infraction will be kept in the Dean of Students office.

8. The student will receive an email message when their access has been restored.

Second infringement notice:

1. An email and a letter will be sent to the student explaining that they may have engaged in a violation of UW system policy 17.09(10) Misuse of Computing Resources.

2. The student will have 3 business days to respond to the email/letter, either taking responsibility for the actions, or assisting in determining who may have used their network access point to violate the policy. 

3. Once it is determined who the responsible party is, that student will have a meeting with a member of the Dean of Students staff to discuss the incident and review the previously signed agreement. The student will need to complete the agreement form to show that this work has been done.

4. The student will be required to take their device to one of the campus IT help centers for review of the device to show that corrective action has been taken to prevent future violations of this policy. 

5. The device in question will be blocked from the campus network for 30 calendar days, or until the device has been reviewed by Help Center staff, whichever is longer.

6. A record of the infraction will be kept in the Dean of Students office. Additional sanctions may be added by the Dean of Students staff.

7. The student will receive an email when their access has been restored.

Subsequent infringement notice:

1. An email and a letter will be sent to the student explaining that they may have engaged in a violation of UW system policy 17.09(10) Misuse of Computing Resources.

2. The student will have 3 business days to respond to the email/letter, either taking responsibility for the actions, or assisting in determining who may have used their network access point to violate the policy. 

3. Once it is determined who the responsible party is, that student will have a meeting with a member of the Dean of Students staff to discuss the incident and review the previously signed agreement.

4. The student will be required to take their device to one of the campus IT help centers for review of the device to show that corrective action has been taken to prevent future violations of this policy.  The student will need to complete the agreement form to show that this work has been done.

5. The device in question will be blocked from the campus network.  The duration of the blocked service will be one of the following:

        1. for the remainder of the semester

        2. 45 calendar days of enrollment

        3. 45 days of living on campus

        4. a combination of an enrollment period and time living on campus. 

        5. or until the device has been reviewed by Help Center staff, whichever is longest.

6. A disciplinary probation period will be assigned by the Dean of Students Office.  Other sanctions may also be assigned.

7. A record of the infraction will be kept in the Dean of Students office.  

8. The student will receive an email when their access has been restored. 

Here is what can happen if the Federal Bureau of Investigation (yes, the FBI) comes knocking at your door for illegal downloads: 

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 $30,000 per 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 $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ's at www.copyright.gov/help/faq.