“Opinion on this page and elsewhere has pointed toward a larger question: Should universities act simply as passive conduits, complying with the bare minimum under the law and essentially turning a blind eye to the wanton theft of creative works? Specifically for Harvard, a university that has always perceived itself as a leader among its peers, that’s a path devoid of conviction or leadership…

…We all know how aggressively university faculty and administrators pursue plagiarism. Yet they say nothing when their students illegally take thousands of songs without paying for them. This double standard is unacceptable. The Internet has made plagiarism difficult to control, just like illegal downloading, but no one suggests that universities should pursue a different “business model” and simply accept plagiarism.”

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518259

I’m not sure I like the plagiarism analogy…Universities certainly haven’t asked the RIAA, or anyone else, to prosecute plagiarism in the music industry (where there is plenty). It makes sense that combating piracy is pretty low on the priority list for universities with their hands full trying to provide an education, produce research, and deal with law enforcement issues more directly impacting student life (underage drinking, drug abuse).