Students at Vanderbilt University have new options for free digital music and video content starting this semester, with the addition of the Ruckus® and Joost™ services to the slate of offerings.
Vanderbilt has made great strides over the past few years in giving students alternatives to illegally downloading, as the Recording Industry Association of America focused on students at colleges and universities as targets of downloading lawsuits.
“There are so many safe and effective ways to get books, movies, television and music without subjecting yourself to civil liability and really enjoying a rich amount of choices in the marketplace,” said Matt Hall, assistant vice chancellor of information technology services at Vanderbilt.
“We’re putting together as many of these options as possible through the university’s auspices.”
Ruckus®, offered by Ruckus® Network, Inc., free to students, offers unlimited legal and safe downloads of music and video content from a massive and expanding catalogue of more than 3 million songs by major and independent label artists. It joins other low-cost music download services at Vanderbilt including MyTracksMusic ($3 per month), Naptster ($2 per month for students) and iTunes (99 cents per song).
“We are happy to provide a full featured digital entertainment service – and a safe and legal alternative to file-sharing – at no cost to students or to the school,” said Ed Cheely, director of campus relations for Ruckus®.
Ruckus® also offers free video content and social networking opportunities for students who participate.
Joost™, also free to Vanderbilt students, offers hundreds of channels of programming via Internet television, everything from international programs to reruns of classics. MTV, National Geographic and many foreign language programs are available on demand. The service comes with instant messaging and other chat functions.
“As a research university, we have a profound respect for intellectual property rights,” said Mark Bandas, associate provost and dean of students. “We want to convince students to take advantage of these legal services and to develop a different mindset about appropriate modes of participation in this digital economy.”
Vanderbilt has a Digital Life website, http://digitallife.vanderbilt.edu/, dedicated to educating students on how they can download legally.
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu