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Naval Academy seizes computers from 100 mids
Naval Academy seizes computers from nearly 100 mids By JESSICA R. TOWHEY, Staff Writer
The Capital Online
Officials at the Naval Academy have seized nearly 100 midshipmen's computers that allegedly contained illegally downloaded music and movies, sources said.
The raid occurred Thursday while students were in class, and a source familiar with the investigation said the computers were being held by the administration.
Cmdr. Bill Spann, academy spokesman, confirmed that an investigation into what material is on the computers is under way, but declined further comment.
He did say punishment for illegally possessing copyrighted material ranges from a court-martial to loss of leave and other restrictions.
Computers are given to each midshipman upon entering the academy. During their four years at the school, mids pay back the value of the computers through deductions from their monthly paychecks.
Amanda Collins, a spokesman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said yesterday that the Naval Academy was among the colleges and universities around the country that were sent two letters from entertainment industry and educational associations asking them to address Internet piracy and establish policies against it.
An Oct. 3 letter signed by four entertainment-based lobbying associations spelled out that Internet copyright infringement violates federal copyright laws.
"`Theft' is a harsh word, but that it is, pure and simple," the letter stated. "... It is no different from walking into the campus bookstore and in a clandestine manner walking out with a textbook without paying for it."
The recording industry estimates that more than 2.6 billion music files are downloaded illegally each month, usually through unlicensed services.
CD sales fell more than 5 percent in 2001 and dipped another 1 percent in the first half of this year, according to the RIAA.
Some of the recording industry's biggest stars, such as Madonna, Mick Jagger and Eminem, have joined coalitions to combat the wholesale theft of music. The industry claims this threatens the livelihood of everyone from artists, songwriters and manufacturers to sound engineers and record-store owners and clerks.
User Comments
(These do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of this site)
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simoncowells...
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Date: November 24, 2002 @ 7:54 PM
holy shit |
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kneo24
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 12:58 AM
They should be more worried about protecting the country than who has what illegally obtained copyright material on their computers. Morons... |
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goat1974
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 1:48 AM
even more reason to use P2P and refuse to buy anymore CD's.
The RIAA is more worried about a handfull of Navy Cadets with a few songs on their computers than those Naval Cadets eventually becoming Naval Officers and defending them(The RIAA) from really whacked out folks. |
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furrball316
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 1:52 AM
We've got Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, Hussein, etc to worry about and the recording industry is now screwing with the very people who are gonna help protect our (AND THEIR)asses and blow these terrorist scum to hell when the time comes? It's an insult that the RIAA refuses to let up even as a good will gesture to the people who might very soon be somewhere overseas getting shot at to protect our (AND THEIR) freedom and safety! I am more convinced than ever now that the RIAA members have their heads buried so deep up their asses that they need a doctor to surgically remove them. |
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airider
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 2:03 AM
Unfortunately this is a classic example of some "not-so-bright" midshipmen using their computers for "personal" means on a government network. This is a rather unique circumstance since the midshipmen don't have a "personal" computer to do file sharing while at the academy...everything is government, so while they're there they have to play by the current government rules. Also, anyone hooked up to a government system is always subject to monitoring, so you have NO privacy what-so-ever. My motto has been, "if it ain't business, use at your own risk." On government systems, "Big Brother" is always watching. "Orwell's" proclaimation has been enforce for a long time. |
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LarsIsMyBitch
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 2:31 AM
You have a point there..
But I have to disagree. If the cadets are getting money taken out of their paychecks, then until it's paid for, it's technically the government's computer. But so what even if they're being monitored? Something ILLEGAL, such as child porn, should be a hot topic. Someone's ripped mp3's that have some quality to be desired, does not HAVE to be. You know, anytime any of these "rock stars" open their mouths, you hear "No censorship". But then the RIAA yells "Censorship".
But at the same time, the point remains the same - the RIAA is making a big fat fuss about nothing, like they were going to sue a University, or better yet, a branch of the armed forces.
If the same personal computer is used to send emails to family, and the like, why not allow it to be used for file sharing? I wish the RIAA would send all the users in Pakistan, better yet the Al Quida network, a threatening letter like they're sending all the universitites. Then you've got two bullies playing on the level field.
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godbear
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 3:21 AM
This was a rather daring raid on the US navy. A rather timely reminder of who is really in charge of things in this country. |
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wattzz
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 3:45 AM
crazy world |
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horsefucker
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 11:39 AM
Anyway, other than the Naval Academy, other universities have allowed file sharing on their systems. We'll see if this leads to anything bigger, but I doubt it. |
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Spica
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 1:40 PM
yeah well, in the navy p2p is considered a serious security breach. I doubt they really care about the music and media shit on the computers.
Also, in the military you can get shot for less, so I dont see how this example applies to normal civilian life.
A hundred Naval Academy students out of 70-100 million filesharers nationwide; wow, what a great success. You are still more likely to get hit by a car on a sidewalk than to get busted this way.
It doesnt scare me. |
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Spica
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 1:43 PM
i hope they keep busting miltary institutions this way, until a group of brighter soldiers/sailors get the right idea and steal a bunch of combat helicopters, and fucking start bombing RIAA buildings across the country |
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Fproano
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 6:47 PM
I have not said it before but I will say it now. Hollywood is run by a mafia, that has clutches that reach out far and wide. There is a reason behind all of this and that reason is time. RIAA is losing a battle against technology. It's kinda ironic really. Just thing about it. Everytime they think they have stopped it, they have only given that technological person a new cause to make things work against the RIAA. It is also intersting to me that there is no mention on the quality of the Mp3's and AVI files that are shared. I think that when you have excellent quality and THX sounding mp3's, then you will have a problem. For these groups that are against this technology are just upset because they missed the boat big time. It should also be noted that the recording companies and not all but the most inovative, relese songs of up and comming act's album to generate awarness and to increase record sales. Example, Madonna's Music, Eminem, Tori Amos new one. These give away's have increased the record sales and cd sales of these and many more artist. How could a record label in there right mind not have control over there artist music? They have all the say and do of all recording materials. Don't be a fool, we are being played into beliving this sob story! Fight musical ignorance now.
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iH8RIAA
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Date: November 25, 2002 @ 7:20 PM
i'm not scared : i've been sharing for a YEAR and more: no riaa knocking on MY door! |
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billhudson
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Date: November 26, 2002 @ 12:57 AM
My take on it...screw up #145 or to put it another way=bad PR
Still Pickin'
BH |
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Remye
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Date: November 26, 2002 @ 5:22 AM
Being a retired petty officer, I am appalled at this. I mean, these guys volunteered to be at one of the most prestigious schools in the world, only to have it brought down around their ears because they wanted music/movies that were worth a shit. Any bets that the stuff that got confiscated belongs to 3rd or 4th year students that have been doing this for years? I'm sure there was a lot of time and effort put into "profiling" the ones they took. These guys don't have a lot of free time folks! Between studying, drills, and other duties taking up their time, they have a lot of other things they do besides just sitting around downloading/swapping media. I'd like more details on which computers they got and what exactly was/is ON them. Guess when the RIAA figgered it was easier to "nail" people who were already monitored than to go after the ones that would require some effort. Good job assholes!
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goldenpi
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Date: November 26, 2002 @ 11:41 AM
Its largely a publicity thing. If the naval acadamy can get caught, anyone can. It should share other schools, colledges and universities into taking some precautions, such as blocking all p2p programs, before the RIAA gets round to them.
The USNA is also a lot easier to complain to than most places. If they get told someone there is doing something illegal they have to do something quickly. Anywhere else would need a couple of threats before they bothered. |
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seahawk96
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Date: November 26, 2002 @ 3:23 PM
As a Naval Officer and grad from USNA I'm really upset about this. Those computers are bought up front (not over time unless you can not afford it). They are personal property. I hope that they have removed the copy machines from Nimitz Library (I heard that some mids were copying pages from books) They also need to remove any and all VCR's and TIVO's since the industry would have you believe that they are violations as well. New technology does not make old things illegal. |
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kinder16
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Date: November 27, 2002 @ 1:15 AM
This a load of crap. They should be out protecing the country and not looking at other peoples computer. They get paid to do crap for this country. |
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Remye
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Date: November 27, 2002 @ 8:00 AM
kinder: what kind of crap is that? Do you think all the military DOES is walk around in "a world with walls, and on those walls are men with guns"? They can't be human, and do things that other people do because they wear a uniform? Get a fucking clue! Some of the best hacks I ever met were onboard ship, with a laptop and a zip drive (yes I was in the navy before the advent of the cdr/w). I'll say it again, these guys are VOLUNTEERING to be there, and a little down time is their own business. If they really want to go after someone in the miliary, how about the higher ups who are actually ADVOCATING and PUSHING FOR this paladium thing that MS is talking about? Let THOSE guys get in trouble for what they are trying to do to personal freedoms, not some guys who were actually _excercising_ those rights. |
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kneo24
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Date: November 27, 2002 @ 1:43 PM
Remye, I think you misunderstood Kinder.
Although it is a sort of confusing statement if you analyze it, I think that person is trying to say what I originally said in my first statement on this topic.
Of course, I could be wrong. |
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milladrive
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Date: November 27, 2002 @ 8:52 PM
You? Wrong? Could it truly be possible? :| |
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kneo24
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Date: November 29, 2002 @ 5:13 AM
You have some serious problems. |
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