[Gllug] News: Two cautioned over WiFi theft

[paul at ma1.se]

amd_uk wrote:
> paul at ma1.se wrote:
>> Richard Jones wrote:
>>   
>>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/6565079.stm
>>>
>>>   "The man arrested at the weekend was cautioned for dishonestly
>>>   obtaining electronic communications services with intent to avoid
>>>   payment."
>>>
>>> Apparently the offence is under the Communications Act 2003:
>>> http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2003/30021--c.htm which reading it has
>>> some really very broad sections, which seems to make VOIP illegal, and
>>> also outlaws mesh networks and so on.
>>>
>>> Rich.
>>>
>>>     
>> probably the guy in the car got fed up waiting for BT/Enta to reconnect 
>> his broadband after moving and decided to do a spot of wardriving to 
>> collect his emails. I moved a few feet, about three weeks ago and still 
>> waiting ;o)
>>
>> Of course the curtain twitching neighbours could have secured their open 
>> networks instead, but I suppose it was easier to call the Police!
>>
>>
>> regards
>>
>>
>> Paul Lee
>> www.ma1.se
>>   
> 
> As I understand it, EU law allows a person to share their wireless 
> Internet connection with up to 10 people (I may well  be wrong, it 
> happens fairly frequently). However, It seems that the Communications 
> Act 2003 counters the EU directive.
> So, if I'm correct and that EU directive exists, which one takes precedent ?
> If the EU law exists *and* takes precedence over the 2003 Act, where 
> does that leave people wanting to share their wireless connection, and 
> those using the shared resources, if people are being arrested for 
> accessing the Internet through an open AP ?
> 

Yes you mean the EU directive legalising "Home ISP's" and which to an 
extent superceded some of the provisions of 1984 Telecommunications Act

I suspect its a matter of having adequate permissions, and "hotspot 
owners" still have a say, obviously on who can and can't connect to 
their network.

Also allowing the sharing a broadband connection might still infringe 
your T&C with the ADSL provider.

Paul Lee
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