A pub has been fined £8,000 after web users used its Wi-Fi connection to illegally download copyrighted material.
Graham Cove, managing director of Wi-Fi hotspot provider The Cloud, which provides the pub in question with internet access, told ZDNet it was the first case of its kind in the UK, and took place "sometime this summer".
The pub has yet been named but the Cloud provides internet access to a number of pub chains including Fullers, Greene King and Punch Taverns.
However, internet law professor Lilian Edwards from the Sheffield Law School, told the website that under existing copyright law, those businesses providing a Wi-Fi hotspot for their customers' use should not be held responsible for unlawful downloads.
Edwards also said the Digital Economy Bill, which includes legislation designed to crack down on illegal downloaders by potentially disconnecting them from the web, would not apply because "the business could be classified as a public communications service provider, which would make it exempt". The bill states only "subscribers" can be disconnected.
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Haku said on Mon, 30 Nov 2009
You're barred! Want a drink instead?
Sven Svenson said on Mon, 30 Nov 2009
What next? Is the MPAA gonna shutdown 3/4's of the coffee shops next? This should be interesting...
MadAxeMan said on Mon, 30 Nov 2009
This ludicrous, it is the illegal downloaders who are the criminals, not the poor chap providing a valuable public service. Any more of this kind of non-sense from this out-of-touch UK govt, and there will be no free or public WiFi in UK. That would be a real shame.
nads said on Mon, 30 Nov 2009
Hear Hear MadAxeMan! Couldn't put it better: laws written by people who think that 'twitter' is what birds do! (well, they do, but you get my point...)
Steve said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
What the hell? England is starting to sound more and more like China or the former Soviet Union. They care more about big bsiness interests than they do their own people.
Gary said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
Hmmm, in that case, surely it should have been the Cloud (and not the pub) that was fined, as they are the ISP...
Is it just me or is there a complete lack of logic in the law process?
BobHG said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
So we can safely presume that the owners of telephone services used by criminals who plan their jobs by telephone can be fined because they are accessories after the fact? Similarly, will car hire companies be fined for any crime committed by the hirers of its vehicles when their cars are used in the perpetration of crimes. What errant nonsense.
Brian said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
Well said BobHG - what about the Government who provide excellent road networks which make it easier for crooks to "getaway" with their robberies.
Pete said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
Excellent comment Brian ;-)
magwah said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
More proof of "big brother" guys, clamp down the worker, but the establishment can ROB you at their discretion!!
Andrew White said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
During the second world war Winston Churchill gave orders that any and all members of the establishment who would be likely to aid the Nazis were to be eliminated by the auxiliaries as soon as an invasion ocoured. one of the lists that i have seen included politicians,judiciary and the police. There can be no doubt that Winston knew who the enemy were and still are!
Andrew White said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
During the second world war Winston Churchill gave orders that any and all members of the establishment who would be likely to aid the Nazis were to be eliminated by the auxiliaries as soon as an invasion ocoured. one of the lists that i have seen included politicians,judiciary and the police. There can be no doubt that Winston knew who the enemy were and still are!
Andrew White said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
During the second world war Winston Churchill gave orders that any and all members of the establishment who would be likely to aid the Nazis were to be eliminated by the auxiliaries as soon as an invasion ocoured. one of the lists that i have seen included politicians,judiciary and the police. There can be no doubt that Winston knew who the enemy were and still are!
Andrew White said on Tue, 01 Dec 2009
During the second world war Winston Churchill gave orders that any and all members of the establishment who would be likely to aid the Nazis were to be eliminated by the auxiliaries as soon as an invasion ocoured. one of the lists that i have seen included politicians,judiciary and the police. There can be no doubt that Winston knew who the enemy were and still are!
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