Computer Labs

It is in your best interest to read and familiarize yourself with this information, since abuses or disregard of these rules and policies may result in being removed from the premises and/or denial of computer lab access. Violations of policy that is covered by law may be subject to arrest, fine and prosecution as state and federal laws allow. (We would hate to see it happen!)

• The student network is a Washington State resource. It is to be used for instructional purposes only and not for commercial or personal endeavors.
• Visiting of Internet chat rooms, pornographic and/or hate sites not related to research for classes is not allowed.
• Food and drink are not allowed in the computer labs.
• Due to the increased demand for computing resources, computer games are not allowed and cannot be loaded onto the system.
• Loud or disruptive conduct is not tolerated.
• Don't share your account. Users are responsible for all activity originating from their account.
• Tampering, hacking, and/or copying of network software and accounts is not allowed.
• Intentionally infecting any Olympic College system with a computer virus is not allowed. Any college computer suspected of containing a virus should be reported to IT at 475-7600 immediately. Software is available on the network to check and repair floppy disks suspected of carrying a virus. Due to the nature of some viruses, Olympic College cannot guarantee data or the results of virus-repaired disks.
• Modifying or tampering with computer hardware is not allowed. Notify the lab technician or the instructor if there is a problem.
• Do not move/remove, reconfigure, attempt to repair or in any way modify/configure computing equipment, software, or printers in any of the labs.
• Do not introduce hardware/software to circumvent, enhance, or further modify functionality of the network. This also includes the use of personal copies of software and enhancements for interaction with the Internet (ie, irc, mail viewers, etc.)
• Respect the rights and property of others, and do not improperly access, misappropriate, or misuse the information/files of other users. 

Olympic College licenses software for the exclusive use of students, faculty, and staff directly related to instruction. Unauthorized copying of network software is strictly prohibited and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Some software is considered public domain, shareware and/or freeware. Those choosing to take advantage of this type of software are individually liable to the author and/or governing policies of that software. 

Note: This material comes from Questions and Answers on Copyright for the Campus Community, copyright 1997, Association of American Publishers, National Association of College Stores, and Software Publishers Association.

Reproduction of copyrighted material without prior permission of the copyright owner, particularly in an educational setting, is an issue of concern for the academic community. Unfortunately, the impropriety of much unauthorized copying is often overlooked by users in an educational setting.

Copyright is the right granted by law to an author or other creator to control use of the work created. The copyright law grants owners of copyright (authors and other creators and publishers) the sole right to do or allow others to do each of the following acts with regard to their copyrighted works: to reproduce all or part of the work; to distribute copies; to prepare new (derivative) versions based on the original work; and to perform and display the work publicly.

Copyright protection covers both published and unpublished works. The fact that a previously published work is out of print does not affect its copyright.

Copyright protection exists to foster and induce the creation of all forms of works of authorship. This includes books, newspapers, magazines, computer software, multimedia works, sound recordings, audio visual works and other works. The copyright law does so by providing fair returns to creators and copyright owners. To the extent copies are made without permission, authors and publishers (including faculty) are deprived of revenues in the very market for which they have written published. This could severely reduce the incentive to create new materials in all formats.

Copyright protection in works created after January 1, 1978 generally lasts for 50 years after the death of the author. Copyright in works created by businesses, rather than individuals, or before 1978 can last for 75 years from publication. After a work is no longer protected, it falls into the public domain.

Civil and criminal penalties may be imposed for copyright infringement. Civil remedies can include an award of monetary damages (substantial statutory damages, which in cases of willful infringement, may total up to $100,000 per work infringed, or actual damages, including the infringer's profits), an award of attorney's fees, injunctive relief against future infringement and the impounding and destruction of infringing copies. 

This policy applies to employees working for the Community and Technical Colleges, the State Board for the Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), and the Communications Technology Center (CTC).

• Acceptable Use Policy

CTCNet shall be the name of the regional internet connecting all of Washington State's Community and Technical Colleges, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), and the Communications Technology Center (CTC).

Colleges using CTCNet will directly benefit if services and facilities are used in ways which build overall system efficiencies, maximize accessibility of the Internet, and eliminate inappropriate traffic over the interconnected networks.

As such, the following Acceptable Use Policy is in effect:

Use of CTCNet shall be solely for the purpose of facilitating the exchange of information in furtherance of education and research and otherwise be consistent with the purposes and objectives of the State of Washington Community and Technical Colleges, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and the Communications Technology Center (CTC).