Students seem to be hitting the filesharing headlines a lot recently. In Indiana, university officials have sent out an email to students telling them that filesharing is OK — as long as they don’t share their files. The top dogs at Indiana University (IU) came up with the idea that downloading files copyright files in itself is not the problem.

IU warned students that they could be sued for thousands of dollars for sharing files using bit torrent or P2P filesharing software, such as Ares and Limewire. If the files students download are kept for personal use, however, IU says that there isn’t as much of a legal issue.

What IU is effectively saying is, “Download, but don’t share.” It is true that record companies have been known to target prolific filesharers as opposed to prominent downloaders. Hats off to IU for understanding the situation and for covering students’ asses here.

IU outlined ways in which students can download files without sharing them on this website. This move comes after three IU students were sued by record companies in September for sharing music files.

Students will, of course, continue to download music files — you can’t stop that — but at least now they can do something to protect themselves that is endorsed by their university.

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