It is now illegal to distribute commercial works electronically, specifically recordings or audiovisual works, to more than 10 people without providing both the sender's e-mail address and the title of the work.
A "commercial" work is one whose copyright owner or authorized representative intends to or already does sell, rent, perform, or exhibit under license.
- Adults who violate this law may be fined $2,500 and/or imprisoned for up to one year.
- Minors who violate this law may be fined up to $1,000 and/or imprisoned for up to one year.
You are allowed to electronically distribute commercial works if:
- You are the copyright owner.
- You distribute the works to immediate family or to your household restricted-access network.
- The owner or an authorized representative has given permission to freely disseminate the work electronically, via a cable system, or to a home satellite service.
Implications for UCSD:
- UCSD is responsible for informing faculty, staff, and students about this law, especially that they could be subject to fine or even imprisonment.
- Students, staff, and faculty are responsible for respecting copyrights and avoiding the illegal distribution of commercial works as described above.
For more details, refer to a UCOP summary (PDF), which includes a link to the full law.
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