Student Use of Computer Resources

All students must act responsibly and comply with local, state, and federal laws relating to copyright, security, and electronic media.

All students must make certain that their computer is secured against viruses, worms, hacker attacks, and other intrusions. Further, students are responsible for all uses of their computer and will be held accountable for network traffic originating at their computer or traced back to their computer's IP number (Internet address).

All students must be available on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana e-mail service and read e-mail in a timely manner. Faculty will send e-mail with important information about classes, and the administration, including the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, will send messages with timely, sometimes critical, announcements. These messages are sent to the “ace.tamut.edu” e-mail address assigned to each student.
Prohibited Activities

1. A student shall not damage, destroy, misuse, or otherwise endanger the University’s computing and information resources. Specific violations of this standard include, but are not limited to:
2. Using any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail, for any activity other than that for which access or use was assigned or authorized;
3. Using any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail, for commercial use;
4. Accessing any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail, without authorization;
5. Using any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail, to commit or attempt to commit any other violation of this Code of Conduct;
6. Disrupting, hindering, or damaging the service, use, or ability of others to access or use any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail;
7. Damaging, destroying, misusing, or otherwise harming any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail; or
8. Using any University computer, facility, equipment, software, network, or other resource, including e-mail, to commit or attempt to commit acts prohibited under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ's at www.copyright.gov/help/faq.