Legal digital media revolution comes to IU

Disposable income is something most students forfeit after graduating high school. As soon as students cross over into college, every cent tends to go toward the necessities: textbooks, tuition and, of course, pizza.\nBut recently, many students are considering whether digital media is important enough to add to the list of items worthy of their dollars.\nFree digital media, once easily obtained free from services like Kazaa and Grokster, now is the source of thousands of copyright infringement lawsuits. As a result, an increasing number of students are forking over the cash to use legal sources to download their favorite movies and songs.\nHowever, a report issued this month stated only 50 percent of people in the age group of 16 to 29 are aware of legal digital medial providers. In light of this fact, IU is not only holding an event to help students learn about and test some legal media downloading services, but also is considering working with one of these companies to offer students the opportunity to obtain legal digital media in the future.\n"I used to use Kazaa," said sophomore PJ McLaughlin, a film studies and design and production major, as well as an Indiana Daily Student staff writer. "But along with the free music came a mess of other computer problems. I still occasionally use other programs, but not nearly as much as I used to. Many (free media networks) have been shut down anyway."\nMcLaughlin is not alone. The number of people using "illegal" free media networks has decreased by more than 900,000 users since January 2004, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Digital Music Report 2005. \nThis decrease in users could be the result of the more than 7,000 legal actions the Recording Industry Association of America has filed since September 2003 against individuals who allegedly uploaded copyrighted media. These lawsuits stretched internationally, reaching the countries of Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Britain, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Those targeted by these lawsuits could face up to $250,000 in fines and three years in jail. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for up to six years. \nWhereas free digital media sources are suffering, hundreds of new legitimate digital media stores are flourishing. Since 2004, the number of available legal media providers has quadrupled to more than 230, according to the IFPI. Although most song downloads cost around 99 cents and movies up to $5, many consumers don't seem to mind. In fact, the IFPI said the research firm Jupiter predicts the $330-million digital music industry will double is size during 2005.\nTo inform students of some legitimate media providers, IU is holding a Digital Karma Download Fest to showcase companies such as Apple iTunes, MovieLink, MSN Music, Peer Impact and one other provider, called Ruckus, which may have an impact on future IU students. This company works with colleges and universities to provide a legitimate source for students to download entertainment media. Students pay for this service through an increase in the annual activity fee.\n"Seems we have fees for everything," McLaughlin said. "But I wouldn't mind something along those lines."\nFor an activity fee to happen, however, students need to express their interest to IU administrators.\n"If the students want IU to do this, they need to let us know," said Merri Beth Lavagnino, the Deputy Information Technology Policy Officer. "We want to prevent students from being implicated in copy infringement suits."\nLavagnino explained there is more to a digital media site becoming "legal" than simply charging a fee. She said Ruckus is a legitimate source for downloading because it has obtained permission from the copyright holder to distribute the media.\nDigital Karma will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Indiana Memorial Union Alumni Hall. There will be free food, music and chances to win prizes such as MP3 players and gift certificates. Information also will be available from the RIAA and the Motion Picture Association of America.\n-Contact Staff Writer Maurina Paradise at paradise@indiana.edu or Health and Science Editor Katie O'Keefe at kjokeefe@indiana.edu.