Dear Haverford Student:

Greetings and welcome back to Haverford for the 2004-05 academic year. We hope you had an enjoyable summer. We are writing to inform you that the college has made a change in how it will address copyright infringement brought to its attention by copyright holders.

Haverford College policy prohibits the receipt, possession, or distribution of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Federal law also prohibits such actions. In accordance with U.S law, Haverford must respond to instances of copyright infringement when notified by copyright holders. Failure to respond appropriately places Haverford at risk of losing access to the Internet and opens the college to liability for the copyright infringement.

As you may know, freeware file sharing software makes it easy for anyone to break copyright law and college policy. Such peer-to-peer programs allow individuals to easily obtain and distribute copyrighted video images, audio recordings, and other materials without the permission of the copyright holder. If you do this, the software typically uses your computer and the campus network to illegally redistribute these materials without informing you – placing both you and the college at risk. Be aware that copyright holders are actively monitoring the Internet and pursuing college students who infringe on their protected works.

To discourage copyright infringement and to protect the college under provisions established by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Haverford has defined new consequences associated with copyright violations. By adhering to the D.M.C.A., Haverford limits its liability as an institution and thereby assures that the misdeeds of an individual do not affect the community as a whole. These new consequences will go into effect starting fall semester of the 2004-2005 academic year. When you register your campus network connection every semester, you will be asked to abide by the Acceptable Use Policy and Copyright Supplement. Failure to adhere to these policies may subject you to the college procedure on the reverse side of this sheet. Additional information, including the web address for an FAQ, is also on the back of this sheet.

Our hope is that this letter will better inform you about copyright violation and its consequences at Haverford. Please contact us if you have further questions. Above all, keep yourself safe -- do not share, accept, or keep illegally acquired copyrighted material. We appreciate your cooperation in protecting the community and our campus information technology resources.

Sincerely,