FW: Torrents and public PCs

Wed May 21 10:07:29 EDT 2014

While we're on the subject, just thought I'd share a link to this recent
article I co-wrote on D-Lib Magazine:
BitTorrent and Libraries: Cooperative Data Publishing, Management and
Discovery <http://www.dlib.org/dlib/march14/markman/03markman.html>

There's lots of reasons why BitTorrent traffic needs to be *managed* in a
public IT setting but please please please do not categorically block
the protocol from your computers *or* your mind. There's a long list of
opportunities for libraries and librarians to build on or adapt this
technology.

BitTorrent Sync is a great example and their blog lists a variety of use
cases: http://blog.bittorrent.com/tag/sync-hacks/ :-)

—Chris

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Chris Markman
Resource Library Coordinator
Visual & Performing Arts
Clark University
cmarkman at clarku.edu

On Wed, May 21, 2014 at 6:28 AM, Riley Childs <riley at tfsgeo.com> wrote:

> But unfortunately the risk outweighs the reward, we block torrents, except
> for IT Staff.... We use a SonicWall appliance, but want to move to
> Smoothwall, if you are looking for a firewall I highly recommend Smoothwall.
>
> Riley Childs
> Student
> Asst. Head of IT Services
> Charlotte United Christian Academy
> (704) 497-2086
> RileyChilds.net
> Sent from my Windows Phone, please excuse mistakes
> ------------------------------
> From: William Gunn <william.gunn at MENDELEY.COM>
> Sent: ‎5/‎21/‎2014 4:19 AM
> To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [WEB4LIB] FW: Torrents and public PCs
>
> I think that's a great response, Phil. You might want to add that there
> are significant non-infringing uses for the bittorrent protocol, for
> example Bittorrent Sync <http://www.bittorrent.com/sync>, which is a
> service similar to Dropbox, but more secure in that it syncs directly
> between computers without cloud storage.
>
> Best,
>
> --
> William Gunn | Head of Academic Outreach, Mendeley | @mrgunn
> http://www.mendeley.com/profiles/william-gunn | (650) 614-1749
>
>
> On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 9:10 AM, Phillip Whitford <
> PWhitford at braswell-library.org> wrote:
>
>>  We support 15 libraries, some of which get their Internet access via
>> government networks and some which use commercial ISPs. We block torrent
>> sites and torrent applications at our firewalls but some traffic still gets
>> thru and we get to deal with a number of compliance requests or DMCA
>> violation notices from movie companies and entertainment industry groups
>> (or more accurately their lawyers).   We have never gotten a compliance
>> request from a commercial ISP but we get them all the time via the
>> government networks. The government network folks usually remind us that we
>> can lose our Internet access if such behavior continues and forward us the
>> compliant for a reply.
>>
>>
>>
>> We verify the date/time stamp and IP address the complaint notes (twice
>> the complaints did not apply to us) and  we verify that no offending
>> software is being kept on library owned equipment then we send a response
>> back to the complainant and the government agency providing the access
>> which reads like this (library name and location redacted):
>>
>>
>>
>> “The IP address in question is assigned to the Whatever Branch of the
>> Whatever Library System. This is a public library in Wherever, NC. The
>> alleged infringement occurred (according to the timestamp in the copyright
>> holder's agent's email) when the library was open.  The library offers
>> computers to the public,  however all such computers are locked down and
>> file sharing or other software cannot be installed on them. In addition
>> when the computers are rebooted security software restores them to their
>> approved configuration so even if someone managed to install software on
>> them or download copyright protected material to them it would be
>> automatically removed upon shut down or reboot which happens at least once,
>> and usually more often, per day.  Staff equipment is not locked down in
>> this manner but a review of staff computers did not indicate any of them
>> had been used for improper purposes.
>>
>>
>>
>> The library also offers public wi-fi access and it is most likely this
>> was used for the alleged download by someone using a privately owned
>> device. Library staff have been briefed on this matter and will try and be
>> vigilant to unauthorized use of library networks.   The library employees
>> firewalls and other technological means to block or filter unauthorized
>> traffic but as you know such measures are not foolproof.
>>
>>
>>
>> Whatever  Library supports the rights of copyright holders and does not
>> condone illegal or improper use of its networks or equipment for copyright
>> infringement and will take all reasonable steps to prevent such abuse from
>> occurring.”
>>
>>
>>
>> So far this process has served us well.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Phillip B. Whitford
>>
>> Associate Director for Support Services
>>
>> Braswell Memorial Library
>>
>> Rocky Mount, NC
>>
>> Opinions expressed are my own.
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Wright, Jen [mailto:WrightJ at FREELIBRARY.ORG]
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 20, 2014 11:25 AM
>> *To:* WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
>> *Subject:* [WEB4LIB] FW: Torrents and public PCs
>>
>>
>>
>> **apologies for cross posting**
>>
>>
>>
>> Are any libraries blocking access to torrent files or torrent sites due
>> to ISP pressure or compliance requests from movie companies?
>>
>>
>>
>> Is there a standard response to these complaints that other libraries are
>> willing to share?
>>
>>
>>
>> Jennifer Maguire-Wright
>>
>> Special Projects Director
>>
>> Information Technology
>>
>> Free Library of Philadelphia
>>
>> 215-686-5353
>>
>> wrightj at freelibrary.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>> 2014-05-20
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