What was the Legal Online Music at Cornell project?

It was an initiative begun by the Student Assembly to investigate legal ways for Cornell students to obtain music online. In spring 2003, the Student Assembly selected Napster as a solution that satisfied students' needs. Cornell signed a contract with Napster for a 2004-05 academic year trial, and negotiated an extension for the 2005-06 academic year.

On May 31, 2006, two years of subsidized Napster ended for Cornell students. Previously downloaded music may be listened to through Aug. 31, 2006.

For the last two years most of the expenses were covered by corporate donors, and the rest by an unrestricted gift fund in Student and Academic Services. The continuation of the program into the 2006-07 academic year and beyond depended on the inclusion of a part or all of future expenses in the Student Activity Fee.

During the fall 2005 Student Activity Fee deliberations, the Student Assembly chose not to pick up the issue. Therefore, Cornell's contact with Napster was allowed to expire. The soonest subsidized online music could again be available would be the 2007-08 academic year and this depends on the new Student Assembly.

The Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of Information Technologies, and Cornell Information Technologies helped coordinate this student-driven initiative.

Have comments or suggestions about the Legal Online Music project?

Please speak with Student Assembly representatives.