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Copyright & Fair Use at UMass Amherst

Copyright is the legal framework that protects the use, distribution, and reproduction of original work. Using the campus network to illegally download and share copyrighted materials (e.g., music, movies, software) violates University policies and the federal copyright law.

Copyright Infringement Highlights

  • UMass Amherst receives over 1,000 violation notices a year
  • Violations may result in loss of Internet connectivity, University sanctions--even a lawsuit
  • Students’ families are often forced to pay substantial out-of-court settlements