...
The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) provision of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2009 states the that all colleges and universities must deploy a plan to effectively combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials.
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.
Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorney’s fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.
Willful copyright infringements can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.
...