Email notice is sent to All Students Regarding Internet Copyright Infringement and Digital Millennium Copyright Infringement Notices. Please visit the University's Consumer Information web site for details.
As part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the University of South Dakota is required to provide annual information regarding copyright infringement, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and responsible use of university technology resources.
Copyright Infringement and File Sharing
Uploading, downloading, streaming, or sharing copyrighted content without permission from the copyright owner is illegal. This includes movies, television shows, music, games, software, ebooks, and other copyrighted materials.
Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content can result in civil penalties, criminal prosecution, and financial liability. Organizations representing copyright owners regularly monitor internet activity and submit infringement notices to internet service providers and universities when unauthorized sharing is detected.
USD receives copyright infringement notices from time to time. When the university receives a notice associated with a student device or account, the university investigates and responds in accordance with university policy. First-time incidents may result in an educational notice, while repeated alleged violations may be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Please remember that you are responsible for activity originating from your devices while connected to the USD network, even if another person is using the device.
Be Cautious of "Super Boxes," Residential Proxies, and Similar Services
Students should also avoid participating in services that may facilitate copyright infringement or misuse of university network resources.
Examples include:
- "Super boxes" or IPTV streaming devices that advertise free access to premium television, movies, sports, or subscription services.
- Applications or services that provide unauthorized access to copyrighted media.
- Residential proxy networks that pay users to share their internet connection with strangers.
Most students have never heard of residential proxies. These services work by routing internet traffic from other people through your device and internet connection. While some providers market these services as an easy way to earn money, they can expose you to security, privacy, and legal risks because activity performed through your connection may appear to originate from your device.
Similarly, so-called "super boxes" often provide access to copyrighted content without authorization. Using these devices or services may violate copyright laws and can result in infringement notices being sent to the university.
Legal Alternatives
Many legal options are available for obtaining digital content, including licensed streaming services, online music platforms, game stores, software publishers, and educational discounts.
Educause maintains a list of legal sources of online content: Legal Sources of Online Content | EDUCAUSE
Additional information about copyright law is available from:
Thank you for helping maintain a secure, responsible, and legally compliant computing environment at the University of South Dakota.