Downloading in College

QwertyKey
Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:50:55 +0000

Jaybe1989, they would likely be able to tell you’re downloading from a Usenet server, but not what exactly you’re downloading. Same goes with BitTorrent/other P2P networks and FTP. Unless they specificly disallow Usenet (in which case you’d know), it wouldn’t be a problem.

As for RIAA/MPAA going after Usenet users or companies, I don’t think they’ve ever attempted it before at all. Very rarely will anyone be targeted for downloading copyright material, just uploading it. I don’t know much about Usenet, but I’m under the impression that it works like:

People upload to group servers, their files are split up into thousands of “posts”
Usenet providers take these “posts” and upload them on their own servers
You pay the Usenet provider to have access to their servers, and you can download these posts
A newsreader compiles these “posts” into the files they were orginally

I don’t know how the wifi available with an email address (atleast not unless it’s only for a University email address) works, so I can’t tell you anything about that.

Kingsham, it would only be shown as an http download, it would look the same as if you were browsing CC. You’d be fine.