You’d think they would have known better.
Brooklyn Law School this week upbraided students and faculty members for illegally downloading movies and TV shows via its Internet provider, in violation of copyright law — as taught at the school.
But the initial warning by the school’s information officer also wasn’t exactly in line with the law — threatening to turn over the names of students and staff to copyright holders, which is not required.
By yesterday afternoon, cooler heads had prevailed.
The administration was continuing to demand that illegal downloads stop, but it was no longer threatening to turn over names of violators outside of the legal process.
Students and faculty were still abuzz about the e-mails and the warnings, at first wondering how the administration could have gotten its legal responsibility so confused — and then insisting that illegal downloads were commonplace.
“It comes down to a question of norms,” said a third-year student who requested anonymity. “Although it’s illegal, it’s become so acceptable that people see it as no different than jaywalking.”