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Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: sam on March 01, 2010, 01:50

Title: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: sam on March 01, 2010, 01:50
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/10/02/28/1432203/UK-Bill-Would-Outlaw-Open-Wi-Fi

Quote
The government will not exempt universities, libraries and small businesses providing open Wi-Fi services from its Digital Economy Bill copyright crackdown, according to official advice released earlier this week. This would leave many organizations open to the same penalties for copyright infringement as individual subscribers, potentially including disconnection from the Internet, leading legal experts to say it will become impossible for small businesses and the like to offer Wi-Fi access. 'This is going to be a very unfortunate measure for small businesses, particularly in a recession, many of whom are using open free Wi-Fi very effectively as a way to get the punters in. Even if they password protect, they then have two options — to pay someone like The Cloud to manage it for them, or take responsibility themselves for becoming an ISP effectively, and keep records for everyone they assign connections to, which is an impossible burden for a small cafe,' said Lilian Edwards, professor of Internet law at Sheffield University."
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 10:43
Not good news. :(
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Simon on March 01, 2010, 13:05
I've never found a spot that works anyway.
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 13:10
Inverness library!  :thumbs:
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Simon on March 01, 2010, 14:00
Next time I'm passing...
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 14:19
It's worth the trip for the views. :)
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Clive on March 01, 2010, 15:40
And it's a nice town.  Loch Ness is very attractive if you travel on its eastern side.   We must visit the Highlands again. 
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 15:51
You must. :)
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Clive on March 01, 2010, 15:56
Last time we went (in 1994) right up to John O' Groats and across the top coast and down to the Isle of Skye.  The scenery is totally wild in Caithness.  No trees at all. 
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Simon on March 01, 2010, 16:11
It's almost an alien landscape, isn't it Clive?
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 16:12
Careful. ;D
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Simon on March 01, 2010, 17:04
No, I love it, Rik, it's just very different with no trees.
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Rik on March 01, 2010, 17:06
Stop at Inverness or south, then. Perthshire is full of trees. :)
Title: Re: UK Bill Would Outlaw Open Wi-Fi
Post by: Clive on March 01, 2010, 17:24
 :lol2: