Wi-Fi mooching and the law

[shayneon]

This was posted on the MSN homepage today. Although some of the answers are kind of vague, I found it interesting. With the growing popularity of wireless internet, and the increasing number of safety, privacy and legal questions that are arising, I thought some of you might find it interesting as well.

Wi-Fi FAQ (http:///msn.com.com/2100-1035_22-5778822.html?part=msn&subj=ns_22-5778822&tag=mobile)

[Spartacus]

I could not get your link to work. I would like to check it out.

[smoore]

Fear the FUD.

[ QUOTE ]

How about sharing? Is it legal for me to share my cable modem or DSL connection with my neighbors?
In many cases the answer is no. It depends on the wording of your contract with your broadband provider. Many don't want you to share. As far back as 2002, Time Warner Cable was sending warnings to customers with open Wi-Fi access points, and a year later it sued an apartment complex on charges of illicit sharing. Also, AT&T Broadband has acknowledged monitoring customers for "inordinately high" usage.


[/ QUOTE ]

Corporations cannot set law in the US yet, no matter what MS thinks. Violating a contract does not automatically break the law. Notice that the question here deals with "illegal" and then the answer gives it's most convincing argument in the form of a lawsuit. Civil law != Criminal law.

MS doesn't want anyone sharing anything. Remember that. I will continue to offer a hotspot from my house and continue to leech other people's hotspots. I really don't care whether they know I'm leeching or not. The EFF and ACLU would probably love to get a case like that.

The guy arrested in FL was *probably* poking at the other machines on the home network. That particular activity has been illegal for a long time now.

[JoePro]

FIXED (http://msn.com.com/2100-1035_22-5778822.html?part=msn&subj=ns_22-5778822&tag=mobile)