If you are a A) student, or B) in the military, you apparently have no property rights nor any search and seizure protections. If you are both, look out:
- Officials at the Naval Academy have seized nearly 100 midshipmen's computers that allegedly contained illegally downloaded music and movies, sources said.
The raid occurred Thursday while students were in class, and a source familiar with the investigation said the computers were being held by the administration.
Cmdr. Bill Spann, academy spokesman, confirmed that an investigation into what material is on the computers is under way, but declined further comment.
He did say punishment for illegally possessing copyrighted material ranges from a court-martial to loss of leave and other restrictions.
Computers are given to each midshipman upon entering the academy. During their four years at the school, mids pay back the value of the computers through deductions from their monthly paychecks.
Amanda Collins, a spokesman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said yesterday that the Naval Academy was among the colleges and universities around the country that were sent two letters from entertainment industry and educational associations asking them to address Internet piracy and establish policies against it.
An Oct. 3 letter signed by four entertainment-based lobbying associations spelled out that Internet copyright infringement violates federal copyright laws.
"`Theft' is a harsh word, but that it is, pure and simple," the letter stated. "... It is no different from walking into the campus bookstore and in a clandestine manner walking out with a textbook without paying for it." [The Capital online]
Article comments
1 - Brad Hill
Eric -- It's a breath of fresh air to see you frame this story as a matter of civil rights, not RIAA vs. patriotism. When the RIAA tried to insert its agenda into the Terrorist Bill, *that* was a breach of patriotism. But as far as we know, the responsibility for this wild incident rests with the Navy, not the RIAA. Perhaps some back-room politicking will come to light. In the meantime, I'll take your reporting over the sensationalized coverage in The Register any day.
Brad
2 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Brad, though I didn't do a whole lot of "reporting" - I did some mean "interpreting though!