As members of the Columbia community all must comply with the University’s computer and network use policy. Copying, storing, displaying or distributing copyrighted material using University systems or networks without the express permission of the copyright owner, except as otherwise allowed under the copyright law, is prohibited. Under the Federal Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998, infringements of copyright by a user can result in termination of the user’s access to University systems and networks.

Bandwidth consumption that file sharing programs exert draws on the Columbia University Medical Center network. The network’s goal is to serve the needs of the hospital, research and teaching. One of the major systems used by the hospital is WebCIS (Web-based clinical information system). It is a sophisticated clinical repository browser with capabilities to store and display information from a multitude of departments. This program plays an integral role in the delivery of excellent health care. An increase in network congestion inevitably results in a delay in the delivery of patient care. This frustration is also felt by the research and teaching departments. They depend on an unhindered network connectivity to conduct everything from scientific data searches to the running of video conferencing. Not only is one compromising the security of their own computer as well as increasing the vulnerability of the university network to hackers, but the act of file sharing copyrighted material from unauthorized sources is unethical and against the law. Breach of Columbia University policy will result in immediate disconnection of the I.P. of the offending party. A second such offense may result in termination of matriculation.