Ohio University bans P2P

Athens (OH) - Ohio University has banned its students and employees from using any type of peer-to-peer networking. The university says that P2P programs suck up bandwidth and cause legal headaches for its lawyers. Students and employees that break the ban can have their Internet access taken away and repeat infractions will be referred to the University Judiciaries - which could mean suspensions and even expulsions.

Ohio University’s Chief Information Office Brice Bible says that P2P programs consume a "disproportionate amount of resources both in bandwidth and human technical support." The RIAA’s recent flurry of legal letters has also factored into the ban. In a letter sent to all students and employees, the university says that it has spent 120 man-hours dealing with the letters.

The ban starts just after midnight on Friday April 27th. Upon their first offense, students and employees will have their Internet access taken away until they agree to a network usage policy. Subsequent violations will be referred to the school’s legal system and employees will be referred to their supervisors.

The blanket ban could also affect researchers who need to use P2P programs so the university is advising those professors and students to contact the IT Service Desk.