Although trading of copyrighted music, movies, games and software over the Internet has become commonplace using file-sharing programs such as KaZaa, Napster, Gnutella, iMesh, CuteMX, Scour, Exchange, Morpheus and FreeNetfile, it may not be legal to do so.

Most material is copyrighted and obtaining or offering such material in violation of the U.S. copyright law may be punishable with civil and criminal penalties, including prison time and monetary damages. When copyright holders resort to legal actions, there is little the University will be able to do to protect those who infringe copyright.