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[chronicle_moderator]

Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America, answered questions about illegal file sharing and colleges' responsibilities during the April 12 Brown Bag online chat. What are your thoughts on his answers and on the issue of file sharing?

http://chronicle.com/live/2007/04/sherman

[chronicle_moderator]

Here are a couple questions that we weren't able to answer on the chat:

To students in their dorm room, we are an ISP. Period. Why not deal with us accordingly?

And Casey Green writes: A February 28 RIAA news release asserts that “college students are the most avid music fans." However, the RIAA’s 2005 Consumer Profile reveals that individuals in the college student age range (ages 18-24) - not all of whom are college students - account for approximately a sixth (roughly 15-17 percent) of the music buying population; in contrast, consumers aged 25 and older purchase two-thirds (66.9 percent) of all recorded music. Given these numbers, why the continuing focus on college students?

[chronicle_moderator]

And one question he decided not to answer:

Of the colleges mentioned on the RIAA's list of institutions that had received the most copyright-infringement notices, several seem to have tried at least some of the antipiracy methods that the recording industry has supported. Is there really any surefire way for a college to cut piracy?

[csguy]

And one question he decided not to answer:

Of the colleges mentioned on the RIAA's list of institutions that had received the most copyright-infringement notices, several seem to have tried at least some of the antipiracy methods that the recording industry has supported. Is there really any surefire way for a college to cut piracy?

One thing I note is that the RIAA person did not use the term piracy (I believe the RIAA was scolded one by a judge for using that term). Nor should we.

I know a number of boat people who had to run a gauntlet of real pirates. I take the term seriously.