Universities won a round in Congress last week against a proposal sponsored by Harry Reid that would have required colleges and universities to use technology that would prevent illegal downloading of copyrighted materials by students and other users on academic networks as a condition of receiving federal funds. The proposal would also have required the Department of Education to identify the 25 colleges and universities that received the most number of written complaints from copyright holders.

Reid withdrew his proposed amendment to the Higher Education Reauthorization Act without comment or explanation, and substituted instead a proviso that would require higher education institutions to advise their student users to avoid downloading copyright materials and to inform users of the measures the organization takes to prevent illegal file sharing. The diluted measure, along with the Higher Education Reauthorization Act passed the Senate 95-0.

Colleges and universities will be required to produce this warning information and make it available to student users via publications, mailings and electronic media. The material must be sent to all enrolled and prospective students. Although the Senate has passed the measure, it is part of a larger authorization that must still be reconciled with the House's version. The Bush administration has threatened to veto the bill because it also contains unfavorable modifications to the student loan program.