While your bandwidth gets abused and networks misused for non-academic activty, your system networks may be compromised with viruses, spyware and data security threats. Your resources may be taxed responding to infringement notices and disciplinary proceedings. Meanwhile your students face the prospect of legal action; in some circumstances leaving your institution liable.

Perhaps most importantly, respect of intellectual property is essential to the academic mission; if it is not adequately protected, your own works are devalued, as well as works that you use and teach.

Educational institutions are ideally placed to shape student attitudes toward copyright. There are a number of steps they can and should take to curb copyright infringement and the associated security problems on their networks. These include education and communication, vigilance in maintaining a safe and legal online environment, and the effective use of technological tools.

The Copyright Security Guide for academic institutions offers guidelines to help administrations communicate, implement and enforce their policies.

Click here for more help in putting together and maintaining an effective policy.