Sean Gibbins wrote: >> Terry Coles wrote: >> >> >>> It may be that our discussions about finding pubs which provide Wi-Fi may >>> be >>> pointless if the pup operators take the next logical step after this case: >>> >>> http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10405824-83.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5 >>> >>> '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.' >>> >>> There is nothing in the article about what the operators might do about it, >>> but if I was a pub landlord, I'd think twice about offering this >>> >> I really don't understand the legality of this. >> > > I wonder if the landlord in question was actually hit by one of these > 'prosecutions': > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8381097.stm > > Basically, a law firm that has been hired by a group of IP owners to go > after filesharers and goes about it by sending letters to the alleged > filesharer threatening court action if they don't voluntarily cough up. > Apparently many do, despite the fact that this has yet to be taken > through the courts and many of the accused lack the wherewithal, the > equipment and the motive to commit the 'crime'! > > The law firm in question is under investigation for its methods. > > Sean > > More than likely; it would explain why the Pub is keeping quiet (settlement clause) and being associated with porn is not good for the Pubs image. Consequently probably not a 'fine' at all and possibly nothing to do with The Cloud provision; but a clever marketing ploy by The Cloud against Pubs who offer completely open access independent from a Hotspot provider. Hypothetically - Clouds hotspot providers get told they're OK as users must register and can be tracked - this case was an independent with a DIY solution. I'm not saying that is the case, but it is such poorly researched and evidenced reporting that it could well be!
There are a lot of negative things going on with hotspot mac spoofing at the moment and imho private hotspots with correct security and WLAN isolation can go some way to protect customers vs the rather poor end user security of commercial hotspot providers this ppt might help explain what goes wrong http://www.cs.pitt.edu/~jcb/slides/net2004.ppt Steve -- Next meeting: Bournemouth, Wednesday 2009-12-02 20:00 Dorset LUG: http://dorset.lug.org.uk/ Chat: http://www.mibbit.com/?server=irc.blitzed.org&channel=%23dorset List info: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/dorset
