Higher Education Opportunity Act 2008
Effective July 1, 2010 all colleges and universities that receive Federal funding for Title IV. Programs must be in full compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Public Law 110-315, also referred to as H.R. 4137. HEOA requires colleges and universities to proceed as follows to combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials:
- Institutions must make an annual disclosure that informs students that the illegal distribution of copyrighted materials may subject them to criminal and civil penalties.
- Institutions certify to the Secretary of Education that they have developed plans to “effectively combat” the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material.
- Institutions, “to the extent practicable,” offer alternatives to illegal file sharing.
- Institutions identify procedures for periodically reviewing the effectiveness of the plans to combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials.