>Message: 1 >Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:19:20 +0000 >From: Terry Coles <d-...@hadrian-way.co.uk> >Subject: [Dorset] Wi-Fi in Pubs >To: Dorset Linux User Group <dorset@mailman.lug.org.uk> >Message-ID: <200911290919.20159.d-...@hadrian-way.co.uk> >Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset="utf-8"
>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. >-- > Terry Coles > 64 bit computing with Kubuntu Linux Terry >From reading the two articles pointed to at the end of this article http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10405824-83.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5 things appear very unclear. In theory UK law decisions apply a test of reasonableness to them. Therefore is it reasonable for those supplying any form of open public internet access such as pubs, universities etc to be prey to fines for unlawful downloads? The recent decision to give everyone in Swindon some form of free internet access would appear in theory to mean that those supplying that internet access may be prey to fines as mentioned in the above article. I think something is not right here - perhaps the pub itself has been downloading loads of copyrighted material - maybe music for example. Otherwise why would there be no appeal against the decision of the court involved mentioned in the above article? Mark Elkins -- 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
