Don't Deceive Yourself

Misuse and/or abuse of Texas Tech computing resources is a violation of institutional policies and subjects an individual to disciplinary action, as well as referral to the appropriate external law enforcement or investigative agency. Any restrictive actions taken by Texas Tech authorities will be in accordance with guidelines and procedures set forth in institutional policies, codes, or laws.

In addition to these policies, all existing federal, state, and institutional laws, regulations, and policies apply, including not only those laws and regulations that are specific to information technology but also those that apply to personal conduct.

Violating the law will not result in a slap on the wrist and a mild warning not to let it happen again, and, as we all know, "ignorance of the law is no excuse." The law has an impressive array of sanctions and punishments detailed for transgressors, which include injunctions, impounding and destruction of the offending work, damages to be paid, court costs and attorneys' fees to be paid, and, of course, criminal penalties that can include fines or imprisonment or both.

NOTE: Ignorantia facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat - Ignorance of the fact excuses; ignorance of the law excuses not. In other words, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."

There is a Texas law that states this very thing: Texas Penal Code, Chapter 8, General Defenses to Criminal Responsibility, Section 8.03.(a): "It is no defense to prosecution that the actor was ignorant of the provisions of any law after the law has taken effect."