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DC++ operator says he will pull plug on hub today
Carrie Wells
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
File sharing on the DC++ hub must be shut down today by 1 p.m. or else the hub operator will be subject to discipline and loss of network privileges, according to a posting on the hub operator's blog.
The operator was contacted by OIT officials Monday and met with them Tuesday to discuss shutting down the hub if the file sharing could not be proven to be legal, the blog posting said.
Phyllis Dickerson Johnson, the Office of Information Technology spokeswoman, declined to confirm whether OIT had ordered the hub shutdown. She also declined to answer questions about how OIT would handle file-sharing hubs in the future. When asked how OIT was able to detect file-sharing hubs, she said, "We read about them in The Diamondback," and began laughing.
Although the self-described DC++ hub operator has posted several messages on his blog blaming The Diamondback for the hub's shutdown, OIT has not publicly said they decided to force its removal from the network as a result of media coverage. They have cited, however, increasing pressure from the Recording Industry Association of America to provide access to student IP addresses and the university's designation as one of the top-15 schools for illegal file sharing as reasons for the crackdown.
One sophomore who works for the OIT helpdesk said that he assumed the university would shut down DC++ because "it doesn't make sense to block the other file-sharing programs but not DC++," he said. The student declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
On Monday, OIT blocked the use of the two popular file-sharing programs LimeWire and Ares. The department has cited concern about the strain file sharing puts on network bandwidth and litigation with organizations such as the RIAA as reasons for that shutdown.
The Direct Connect hubs, however, have been for the most part left running even as stories were published about their popularity and the volume of letters threatening legal action increased. In the past, OIT only ordered hubs shut down after students complained about them, and turned a blind eye to them when they were put back on the network.
The operator was contacted by OIT officials Monday and met with them Tuesday to discuss shutting down the hub if the file sharing could not be proven to be legal, the blog posting said.
Phyllis Dickerson Johnson, the Office of Information Technology spokeswoman, declined to confirm whether OIT had ordered the hub shutdown. She also declined to answer questions about how OIT would handle file-sharing hubs in the future. When asked how OIT was able to detect file-sharing hubs, she said, "We read about them in The Diamondback," and began laughing.
Although the self-described DC++ hub operator has posted several messages on his blog blaming The Diamondback for the hub's shutdown, OIT has not publicly said they decided to force its removal from the network as a result of media coverage. They have cited, however, increasing pressure from the Recording Industry Association of America to provide access to student IP addresses and the university's designation as one of the top-15 schools for illegal file sharing as reasons for the crackdown.
One sophomore who works for the OIT helpdesk said that he assumed the university would shut down DC++ because "it doesn't make sense to block the other file-sharing programs but not DC++," he said. The student declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
On Monday, OIT blocked the use of the two popular file-sharing programs LimeWire and Ares. The department has cited concern about the strain file sharing puts on network bandwidth and litigation with organizations such as the RIAA as reasons for that shutdown.
The Direct Connect hubs, however, have been for the most part left running even as stories were published about their popularity and the volume of letters threatening legal action increased. In the past, OIT only ordered hubs shut down after students complained about them, and turned a blind eye to them when they were put back on the network.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 22
DC++ lover
posted 10/11/07 @ 8:29 AM EST
Way to go diamondback, you got your wish. Looks like it's time for a student boycott
Yosh
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:07 AM EST
Just for clarification, I in fact did NOT talk to this reporter, and instead asked that no information from any of my sites be used in any article (blatantly disregarded) and instead replied, "Fuck the Diamondback" when approached for an interview. (Continued…)
Gabriel J. Michael
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:16 AM EST
If Congress actually cares about advancing the progress of sciences and the arts, which is the only reason copyright exists, it ought to rewrite copyright legislation to reflect the changing realities of the digital age. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:18 AM EST
I'm responding to the unnamed OIT helpdesk employee quoted in the article.
Actually, it makes perfect sense for OIT to block other file-sharing programs but not DC++. (Continued…)
DBACK=WORTHLESS!!!
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:24 AM EST
I will just have to reiterate what I said on the other posts. Truly, the Diamondback brought this on the students. Frankly i think the noted journalists (actually they aren't journalists. (Continued…)
DC++ user
posted 10/11/07 @ 10:33 AM EST
Now that DC++ is going down, it will be more difficult to spread around the music that I record...
Was kinda hoping to get a good fan base in the local area. (Continued…)
User
posted 10/11/07 @ 11:01 AM EST
Good job Diamondback for screwing us all, and thanks for disregarding Yosh's wishes
poor criminals
posted 10/11/07 @ 11:04 AM EST
Honestly, all of the people crying need to take a deep breath and realize that they have been getting away with illegal activity for quite some time. Anybody remotely in touch with reality knows all good things come to an end eventually. (Continued…)
Schnuff
posted 10/11/07 @ 5:17 PM EST
I think it really does put out on display the true nature of some of the writers for this paper to not only get our hub fucked over, but to then blatantly disregard the operators wishes to not have you use his personal information when it was clearly stated to you. (Continued…)
Choop
posted 10/11/07 @ 5:47 PM EST
The Diamondback is responsible for the shutdown of the hub. Expect an article to be sent to the Diamondback about this series of events. If not published, it will show your inability to communicate the feelings of the student body. (Continued…)
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