Earlier this year, The Guilfordian ran an article about Ruckus, a new filesharing program distinguished from the rest of the peer-to-peer networks by its unquestionable legality. Supported by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Ruckus is now officially endorsing a new bill set forth by Democrats that would require college campuses to provide their students and employees with the “policies and procedures related to the illegal downloading and distribution of copyrighted materials,” as well as legal alternatives to peer-to-peer sharing.

I can see why Ruckus supports this bill now. It practically mandates that colleges look into the kind of services that Ruckus and its competitors (few and far between as they may be) offer. Since Ruckus is the most popular college-oriented network of its kind, small wonder they are so hot to support the measure.

There has not been a better example of shameless profiteering since Haliburton moved into Iraq. I applaud Ruckus for recognizing, but only for recognizing, this as a massive business opportunity. They would be daft not to support the legislation, since it hands them colossal money-making opportunities on a platter.

In addition, campuses are required to begin developing “technology-based deterrents” to online piracy. Under this bill, the secretary of education would be authorized to make grants, not only to institutions undertaking research projects of this nature, but also to organizations operating in concert with them.

The short of the whole thing is this: Ruckus could apply for a federal grant to develop anti-piracy measures. In all likelihood, this is something they have already delved into, since a crackdown on piracy would mean they get access to an exponentially larger market. A particularly devious strategy, since college students today grew up with Napster and Limewire providing them with thousands of songs at a whim. Ruckus is counting on old habits to drive more students to utilize their services.

It all fits into a giant corporate game of connect the dots, since the RIAA officially “endorses” (use your imagination with that one) Ruckus, and Ruckus officially endorses this new bill.

If this bill passes, the RIAA would be one step closer to dominating all avenues of mainstream music distribution. At this rate, in 10 years we will have to start paying royalties every time a stray song falls on our ears.