Posted on 11/25/2002 1:19:23 PM PST by GeneD
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Naval Academy has seized more than 90 computers in an investigation into whether midshipmen illegally downloaded music, movies and software from the Internet.
Cmdr. Bill Spann, an academy spokesman, confirmed Monday that an investigation into what material is on the computers was under way. He would not give any other details.
Punishment for illegally possessing copyrighted material ranges from restrictions such as loss of leave to expulsion from the academy, Spann said.
The raid on dormitory rooms took place Thursday while midshipmen were in class, according to The (Annapolis) Capital, which reported the seizure on Saturday.
Each of the 4,000 midshipmen is issued a computer upon entering the academy. The cost is deducted from midshipmen's monthly paychecks over the four years they are in school.
Amanda Collins, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said entertainment industry and educational associations have sent two letters to colleges and universities around the country, asking them to address Internet piracy and establish policies against it.
An Oct. 3 letter from groups representing the motion picture and music industries asked college presidents to monitor use of student computers.
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.
Hold your fire! The fact that a Midshipman 1)has a computer, 2) has a connection to the internet and 3) has MP3's on his/her hard drive does not imply they lied, cheated or stole them.
I have over 200 MP3's on one of my PC's at home - with all the original CD's (every last one) in a rack! The fact that I use my PC as a "Juke Box" is not currently a crime, at least not in my state.
So, what am I guilty of?
Second, knowing how the Navy does things, they probably have firewall logs that show who downloaded what and when.
I have a MAJOR problem with this. These laptops are private property - even under UCMJ.
Further, a Midshipman could also call his folks back home and ask them to buy the CDs. When brought up on charges, claim fair use and if necessary, provide the CD as evidence.
I see a VERY POOR legal case.
If they are paying for the laptop, then it's theirs --were there search warrents issued? The government will loose this case.
That would be piling-on, compounding an Honor violation. Sheesh!
Maybe I could see the case IF people had stopped buying hard copies in the stores, BUT THEY HAVEN'T! In my neighborhood, there are MORE music stores open than there were 5 years ago before people knew what MP3s were! Myself, I have bought CDs after being able to listen to some of the singles a few dozen times as MP3s - I suspect many others have done the same. It's a good way to discover new things you'd like to buy and avoid buying crap you'll get tired of listening to.
This case is about maniacal "ARTISTS" and their lobbyists who want to feel like they have control over something. The sign of Naval decline here is NOT that the midshipman happened to have some CDs, but that the sense of DUTY and LOYALTY in the military is so DEGRADED that they roll over like pitiful dogs as soon as a bunch of fatcats in pinstripes go after them.
I had a relative who LIED to the military once - about his age, so that he could get in! Did he deserve punishment? No, because his lie did not hurt the service. There are violations and then there are violations...we should be going after servicemembers for service-discrediting activities: statutory rape, cowardice in the face of the enemy, crack use, etc. Things that 85% of Americans do and that harm nobody should not be called service-discrediting, especially where it cannot be proven that somebody was actually hurt.
A lot of freepers are reading this story and interpreting it backwards.
Our military and the martial character of our people has declined. This case is a perfect example of the "zero defect mentality" that is sapping the military's young officers of that key element of command - PERSONAL INITIATIVE. To be an effective leader, you have to make bold decisions using whatever information you have and not sit sweating bullets over whether you found the "perfect" solution. The modern military often drifts toward the zero defect mentality through episodes like the one the article describes.
I hope they don't screw up any of these cadets' careers through this. The answer is simple - CORRECTION without long-term penalties. Make them delete the MP3s! Then there is no harm. Give them a lecture. I guarantee you that many of these kids honestly did not know they were doing anything dishonorable or unethical and were probably surprised and horrified when all of these important-sounding people in ties started saying they had.
What's already happened is enough. I'll be disgusted with the Navy if they make an example out of even one of these kids just to please Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
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