UT students will no longer be able to download files such as copyright music because of the recent implementation of peer-to-peer blocker software on the campus network.

The new software is in response to Tennessee Senate Bill 3974, which demands universities to take action to reduce the amount of file sharing of copyright material on campus.

However, the peer-to-peer blocker software is not the first attempt at solving this problem.

Last year, Kent Basil, a sophomore majoring in finance, received a letter in the mail from the Recording Industry Association of America regarding 9 song files that were being shared from his computer.

The letter further explained that the University gave the RIAA permission to search the school network and trace the illegally shared files back to the original source.

Basil is one of 45 students that has been given the option of settling with a $3,000 fine for sharing copyright files.

Through the peer-to-peer software blocker system, UT hopes to stop this illegal activity.

Jay Mayfield, a UT spokesman, said, "Personally, I believe it will reduce the number of files shared because it will now be much more difficult, if not impossible, for students to share copyrighted material."

While Kent Basil disagrees with his punishment, he feels that the new software blocker is a better way to end file sharing rather than giving students a $3,000 fine.

However, Dunia Abuzeid, a sophomore majoring in nursing, feels that the new software could be ineffective.

"Students are always finding a way to beat the system, and in due time we will see this with the peer-to-peer blocker system," Abuzeid said.