FW: Torrents and public PCs

William Gunn william.gunn at MENDELEY.COM
Wed May 21 04:14:57 EDT 2014


I think that's a great response, Phil. You might want to add that there are
significant non-infringing uses for the bittorrent protocol, for
example Bittorrent
Sync <http://www.bittorrent.com/sync>, which is a service similar to
Dropbox, but more secure in that it syncs directly between computers
without cloud storage.

Best,

--
William Gunn | Head of Academic Outreach, Mendeley | @mrgunn
http://www.mendeley.com/profiles/william-gunn | (650) 614-1749


On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 9:10 AM, Phillip Whitford <
PWhitford at braswell-library.org> wrote:

>  We support 15 libraries, some of which get their Internet access via
> government networks and some which use commercial ISPs. We block torrent
> sites and torrent applications at our firewalls but some traffic still gets
> thru and we get to deal with a number of compliance requests or DMCA
> violation notices from movie companies and entertainment industry groups
> (or more accurately their lawyers).   We have never gotten a compliance
> request from a commercial ISP but we get them all the time via the
> government networks. The government network folks usually remind us that we
> can lose our Internet access if such behavior continues and forward us the
> compliant for a reply.
>
>
>
> We verify the date/time stamp and IP address the complaint notes (twice
> the complaints did not apply to us) and  we verify that no offending
> software is being kept on library owned equipment then we send a response
> back to the complainant and the government agency providing the access
> which reads like this (library name and location redacted):
>
>
>
> “The IP address in question is assigned to the Whatever Branch of the
> Whatever Library System. This is a public library in Wherever, NC. The
> alleged infringement occurred (according to the timestamp in the copyright
> holder's agent's email) when the library was open.  The library offers
> computers to the public,  however all such computers are locked down and
> file sharing or other software cannot be installed on them. In addition
> when the computers are rebooted security software restores them to their
> approved configuration so even if someone managed to install software on
> them or download copyright protected material to them it would be
> automatically removed upon shut down or reboot which happens at least once,
> and usually more often, per day.  Staff equipment is not locked down in
> this manner but a review of staff computers did not indicate any of them
> had been used for improper purposes.
>
>
>
> The library also offers public wi-fi access and it is most likely this was
> used for the alleged download by someone using a privately owned device.
> Library staff have been briefed on this matter and will try and be vigilant
> to unauthorized use of library networks.   The library employees firewalls
> and other technological means to block or filter unauthorized traffic but
> as you know such measures are not foolproof.
>
>
>
> Whatever  Library supports the rights of copyright holders and does not
> condone illegal or improper use of its networks or equipment for copyright
> infringement and will take all reasonable steps to prevent such abuse from
> occurring.”
>
>
>
> So far this process has served us well.
>
>
>
>
>
> Phillip B. Whitford
>
> Associate Director for Support Services
>
> Braswell Memorial Library
>
> Rocky Mount, NC
>
> Opinions expressed are my own.
>
>
>
> *From:* Wright, Jen [mailto:WrightJ at FREELIBRARY.ORG]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 20, 2014 11:25 AM
> *To:* WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> *Subject:* [WEB4LIB] FW: Torrents and public PCs
>
>
>
> **apologies for cross posting**
>
>
>
> Are any libraries blocking access to torrent files or torrent sites due to
> ISP pressure or compliance requests from movie companies?
>
>
>
> Is there a standard response to these complaints that other libraries are
> willing to share?
>
>
>
> Jennifer Maguire-Wright
>
> Special Projects Director
>
> Information Technology
>
> Free Library of Philadelphia
>
> 215-686-5353
>
> wrightj at freelibrary.org
>
>
>
>
>
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