CA Schools to Offer Music, Movie Downloads

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Colorado-based Cdigix has struck a deal with both the University of California as well as California State University to offer a legal music and movie download service.

About 600,000 students would have access to the service across 36 campuses, which would be the largest contract ever for legal digital content. According to the report, the universities also are negotiating with Napster, Sony and Mindawn on similar deals to give students more choice.

"We're doing this because we do recognize that there is illegal file sharing of intellectual property," David Walker, director of advanced technology at the University of California, told the paper. "We felt we should do something to encourage legal services."

All campuses will now have the freedom to decide whether or not to offer Cdigix's services, and if they will subsidize the $3 per month music fee and $5.99 monthly video fee.

The two schools join 50 other universities offering similar programs, including Penn State University and the University of North Carolina.

School administrators hope that by offering these legal services it will indemnify them against lawsuits from record companies over illicit downloading of copyrighted work by their students.