Universities have been known to forbid illegal file sharing on their campuses, but the University of Oxford has decided to ban a music-sharing program that’s perfectly legal. Spotify, a popular music-streaming service that uses peer-to-peer technology, is now prohibited on the campus network because it was simply consuming too much bandwidth.
Ruth Collier, a spokeswoman for the university, explained that while students on campus have free Internet access, it is intended primarily for educational purposes. Ms. Collier said that although the Internet holds a range of recreational possibilities, the university is not obliged to provide a free music service if doing so slows down the entire network.
“I think students wish they could [use Spotify], but they’re concious that Oxford University provides them with an enormous amount of free utilities, and hopefully they don’t take that for granted,” Ms. Collier said.
The university prohibits the use of all peer-to-peer file-sharing software on its network, but it does make a few exceptions. For instance, the university’s Web site outlines specific rules for configuring Skype, the online phone and video service, as well as World of Warcraft, the popular online game, to comply with university standards.
4 Responses to U. of Oxford Bans Legal File-Sharing Service
gmd1057 - January 22, 2010 at 1:33 am
Good noob move there, momz. You were commenting publicly, not emailing the article. Golly, you must know all about tech stuff like spotify!
11223140 - January 22, 2010 at 9:53 am
Spotify is an amazing service, not yet available in the USA due to ongoing issues with rights holders. However, the skyrocketing use as reported at Oxford U. is just another indication of the outstanding response this free, legitimate service has received from the public in the few countries where it is available. Once available in the USA, look for other colleges and universities to struggle with the same bandwidth issue, since there is nothing quite like Spotify on our market now, the other streaming services simply do not compare.
raccoonmario - January 25, 2010 at 11:00 am
Music can be educational, too.
rexifelis - January 26, 2010 at 10:08 am
“I think students wish they could [use Spotify], but they’re concious that Oxford University provides them with an enormous amount of free utilities, and hopefully they don’t take that for granted,” Ms. Collier said.free? FREE? come on, all services come out of student tuitions and gifts by alumni and the such. there are no free services. TANSTAAFL. “there aint no such thing as a free lunch.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ain’t_no_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch