[fraudbrand]

The foolishness has started.

Quote:

A pub owner in the U.K. has been fined £8,000 (about $13,183) because someone unlawfully downloaded copyrighted material over its open Wi-Fi hotspot, according to the managing director of hotspot provider The Cloud.

SOURCE

 

[Cerberus]

Thats why most are passworded. but they are still free... you just have to sign a disclaimer...

 

[XiDillon]

everybody become lawyers and paralegals! its where the money is at and theres going to be more!!!

 

[Atomagenesis]

hmmmm looks like that little pub aint good at security they need to learn the 1337 ways

 

[Ktulu]

That is too bad. This will just make businesses less likely to hand out free wifi.

 

[Timlander]

How stupid.

 

[Willage]

in the eyes of the law if the broadband connection account is under your name, and someone, even if it's not you downloads copyrighted files, and gets busted you take the fall, unless you can honestly prove it wasn't you, like your Wi-fi was illegally accessed

in this case the owner has allowed others to share his internet connection, and thus takes the fall

imo it's not fair but thats what the law is on about, your supposed to be responsible for who uses your internet connection, and for what purpose

 

[pablo420]

Even though the fine is really high, think about it well:

The guy isn't paying for the Wi-Fi, and then he illegally downloads Copyrighted items.

 

[venom55520]

i've heard horror stories about people put in jail because someone downloaded child pornography on their wireless.

 

[Manyak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willage in the eyes of the law if the broadband connection account is under your name, and someone, even if it's not you downloads copyrighted files, and gets busted you take the fall, unless you can honestly prove it wasn't you, like your Wi-fi was illegally accessed in this case the owner has allowed others to share his internet connection, and thus takes the fall imo it's not fair but thats what the law is on about, your supposed to be responsible for who uses your internet connection, and for what purpose

That's like saying Home Depot is responsible if someone gets shot in their parking lot.

 

[coffeejunky]

Well, if Mandy gets his way the pub would be cut off from the internet after 3 warnings too.
The innocent always suffer

Just because he offers a valuable service to customers he gets punished!

 

[PeterStoba]

This is ridiculous, not helping the customer at all

 

[Bo_Punk_2.0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manyak That's like saying Home Depot is responsible if someone gets shot in their parking lot.

^^ This!

 

[FuNkDrSpOt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manyak That's like saying Home Depot is responsible if someone gets shot in their parking lot.

low low prices will drive some people to murder.

 

[GekzOverlord]

i dont think saying sorry would help would it ? i need to somehow get online for my addiction

... personaly theres too many fools around that just dont secure there wireless, but in reality, most people dont even know there broadcasting there wireless, theres about 3 open wireless networks around my area, and 1 of them is a buisness network, and this is just straight from my home, uk sucks at stuf like this and even if there warned they wont do anything about it

 

[Unknownm]

If you are a women, marry a lawyer and just sue everyone. EVERYONE

 

[xHassassin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manyak That's like saying Home Depot is responsible if someone gets shot in their parking lot.

Apparently Walmart was blamed for the high rate of muggings in its parking lots.

 

[CrazyHeaven]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xHassassin Apparently Walmart was blamed for the high rate of muggings in its parking lots.

It also gets blamed for people being injuries during Black Friday. In some ways they should be blamed for that because they didn't take enough security measures.

Being blamed for giving out free wifi is stupid. Your doing a service that makes people feel a little more comfortable in your pub. What would be the appropriate security measures for such a thing if you wish to give it out? Make them click a box saying that if anything goes wrong it's all their fault? Or force them into using a password? Somehow I'm doubting any of the above methods are going to help you when someone decides to sue you for copyright infringement.

 

[Villainstone]

I imagine that they would have to fine actual copyrighted files on his PC right? If so and they do not find anything then couldnt the guy counter sue?

 

[Jarhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XiDillon everybody become lawyers and paralegals! its where the money is at and theres going to be more!!!

Actually what this is going to have the effect of doing is curtailing wi-fi, and ultimately an attack on the net itself, which is the whole point.