Am I a Pirate?

1.12 · 4th November 2001, 00:43

I had a question for all of you. Here is my predicament. I am a student at a private university of about 800 (on campus) students. I have started a radio sation using shoutcast and another program that allows you to stream within the school's network only (not over the internet). To make matters worse, the school found out and ordered me to shut down the only radio station that the school has ever had. They called it a "Pirated Radio Station" I know that I am not breaking any laws, but I can't find anything to back up my claim because the Laws have been written for Internet streams and not for Intranet streams? So, the question remains..Am I a Pirate? Is there anywhere I can find laws that govern the use of the Shoutcast plugin, and the ability to stream within a network? Please help, I have a meeting with the disciplinary committee on Tuesday Nov. 6 to discuss my fate. Thanks in advance.

Jay · 4th November 2001, 08:28

You are indeed under the same rules as the internet laws, if you broadcast music without permission from an artist, you are in fact breaking the law. If you utilize a network without the owner's permission to transmit your stream, you in fact pirating, sorry man, but bandwidth isn't cheap. And if the school owns the network, and has rules against consuming bandwidth for a server, you are kind of in a pinch. The fact is you really should have consulted the IT people and administration about your ideas to run a campus only station. I am in the midst of doing a similar thing on a community college network, but it will be completely run by the college, as it should be, it's their bandwidth/money isn't it?

1.12 · 4th November 2001, 22:57

Actually, all I am using is the copper because the stream isn't being streamed outside. If people aren't connected to the network, they can't listen. I read somewhere that if you know the people you are "perfoming" to, then you don't need a licence. I work for the IT dept. and they don't have a problem with me streaming (cus it doesn't take up any bandwith).

Jay · 5th November 2001, 17:12

Well from what I understand a public performance is a public performance whether you know the listeners or not. Also the IT dept isn't the owner of the network, the school is.

4th November 2001, 00:43	#1
1.12 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 9	Am I a Pirate? I had a question for all of you. Here is my predicament. I am a student at a private university of about 800 (on campus) students. I have started a radio sation using shoutcast and another program that allows you to stream within the school's network only (not over the internet). To make matters worse, the school found out and ordered me to shut down the only radio station that the school has ever had. They called it a "Pirated Radio Station" I know that I am not breaking any laws, but I can't find anything to back up my claim because the Laws have been written for Internet streams and not for Intranet streams? So, the question remains..Am I a Pirate? Is there anywhere I can find laws that govern the use of the Shoutcast plugin, and the ability to stream within a network? Please help, I have a meeting with the disciplinary committee on Tuesday Nov. 6 to discuss my fate. Thanks in advance.

4th November 2001, 08:28	#2
Jay Moderator Alumni Join Date: May 2000 Location: Next Door Posts: 8,888	Simple Fact You are indeed under the same rules as the internet laws, if you broadcast music without permission from an artist, you are in fact breaking the law. If you utilize a network without the owner's permission to transmit your stream, you in fact pirating, sorry man, but bandwidth isn't cheap. And if the school owns the network, and has rules against consuming bandwidth for a server, you are kind of in a pinch. The fact is you really should have consulted the IT people and administration about your ideas to run a campus only station. I am in the midst of doing a similar thing on a community college network, but it will be completely run by the college, as it should be, it's their bandwidth/money isn't it? -Jay \| Radio Toolbox.com

5th November 2001, 17:12	#4
Jay Moderator Alumni Join Date: May 2000 Location: Next Door Posts: 8,888	Well from what I understand a public performance is a public performance whether you know the listeners or not. Also the IT dept isn't the owner of the network, the school is. -Jay \| Radio Toolbox.com

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4th November 2001, 22:57	#3
1.12 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 9	Actually, all I am using is the copper because the stream isn't being streamed outside. If people aren't connected to the network, they can't listen. I read somewhere that if you know the people you are "perfoming" to, then you don't need a licence. I work for the IT dept. and they don't have a problem with me streaming (cus it doesn't take up any bandwith).