Copyright Policy
All members of the Neumont community must comply with copyright laws and the institution’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The AUP governs use of the institution's information technology system and is available on the Information Technology FAQ site.
Unlawful distribution of copyrighted material, unauthorized peer-to-peer file-sharing or downloads, and other violations of copyright laws and/or Neumont’s AUP may result in criminal and/or civil liabilities. Compensation may be due to the owner of the material, with compensation ranging from $250-$150,000, plus attorney’s fees; higher penalties are possible under certain circumstances. Criminal penalties may include jail time of from one to five years, depending on the value of the copyrighted material.
Neumont will investigate reports of possible copyright-law violations. In response to a violation of copyright law or the AUP:
- A student may receive sanctions such as a written warning, community service, a topical research paper, participation in an educational program about copyright law, and, in response to repeated violations or a single case involving a substantial or valuable amount of material, suspension or expulsion from school.
- An employee may receive a written sanction in their employment file, and, in response to repeated violations or a single case involving a substantial or valuable amount of material, have their employment terminated.
- For more information about copyright laws, go to http://www.copyright.com/Services/copyrightoncampus/.