Caught in the act

caught.jpgA group on campus came together last year to take a serious look at intellectual property issues and how to communicate some of the issues to faculty and students. In the meantime, Computing and Information Technology put together a video called “Caught in the Act” (stream or download here.) I’m not sure what message they are trying to send, and I don’t know that they know either. Consider the synopsis:

We all have things we like to do for fun. But what if it gets you into trouble? What if it’s bigger than you? What if it carries a high price tag? And what if you can’t stop yourself?

Watch this video and see what trouble you can get into.

Most of my colleagues have been fairly equanimous, perhaps since the person who oversaw this effort is an adjunct member of our faculty. While I have great respect for this person, let me be among the first to say this video is wrong in so many ways.

Update: Looks like other schools are cracking down on students engaging in “risky behavior” with their computers as well. But it’s still unclear to me what exactly the film above is trying to get you not to do…

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6 Comments

  1. Posted 9/4/2003 at 6:41 pm | Permalink

    Let me be the first to agree with you.

    I was embarrassed in the same way I get when I hear someone really silly on a talk radio show and I have to turn to a different station. I didn’t actually make it all the way to the end of the clip.

    It’s probably someone I know and respect also, I’m going to assume that this isn’t representational of their body of work.

  2. Posted 9/4/2003 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

    When I first saw this a few weeks back, I felt very happy that I no longer work for CIT =)

  3. Posted 9/4/2003 at 11:09 pm | Permalink

    Sam, strange seeing you here, :-)? I just stumbled upon this site… but found the video midly amusing, linkage and trackbackage will certainly ensue.

  4. Posted 9/5/2003 at 1:29 am | Permalink

    I guess the blogosphere is a small world =)

  5. Posted 9/6/2003 at 12:26 am | Permalink

    I gotta say I didn’t know what they were trying to communicate either. It’s a rather embarassing video and the security video that JMU did some time ago was far better.

    What annoys me though is the ignorance with which the RIAA, the labels and now colleges are going about this. Instead of researching methods of distributing music online controlled with perhaps micropayments they all think we students are some form of wild animal that needs to be trained or locked up. Most students however know downloading is wrong and they will do it no matter what, just like smoking and drinking.

    One easy way to combat this would be to show students what great music is being created right in their town and Buffalo is of course a great example. Most local bands will almost literally throw their mp3s at you, and 9/10 they are far better than 85% of the present billboard charts. Case in point: Last Conservative, clearmotive and 1-4 the ditch.

  6. tde
    Posted 2/26/2005 at 4:07 pm | Permalink

    boy what a pantload

One Trackback

  1. By Fish and Roses on 9/4/2003 at 11:15 pm

    Not to exciting.
    This short video could have been a lot better considering the scope of the subject matter. It is still mildly amusing nonetheless. Post on Halavais about the video. Direct video links. Note: The bald guy who loves his monitor is…

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