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Open WiFi Owners Off the Hook In Germany

Posted by timothy on from the gefehlt-mir dept.

ulash writes "Ars Technica reports that a court in Germany ruled in favor of an open WiFi network owner stating that if other users use your open WiFi network without your consent and download copyrighted material, you cannot be automatically held responsible for their actions. This does not carry much (if any) weight in the US but here is to hoping that it will at least have a positive impact in the EU as starters."

4 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm... by darklich14 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Do taxpayers get reprimanded for drug trafficking done on roads their tax dollars pay for? So why should someone providing network access be reprimanded for illegal action done by someone else on their connection? Who knows.

    1. Re:Hmmm... by davester666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sure it makes sense, otherwise all the ISP's become responsible for the child pornography flowing over their pipes. Unless there are different rules for corporations than for individual citizens. There aren't, right?

      Anyway, rulings like this is why the MPAA and RIAA are busy trying to get governments around the world to remove any kind of 'safe harbour/transport' provisions from their laws, both under the guise of saving the children as well as saving that small band/filmmaker at home, whose work is being mercilessly pirated by every Tom, Dick and Harriet around the world.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  2. Nice loophole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Step 1:get wifi router and leave it open
    step 2:use other people's wifi
    step 3:instant immunity for all

  3. You forgot to add by koinu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    one interesting fact. You are only off-hook if you didn't know that your wifi can be used by someone else (this was the case here). If you are offering wireless LAN access to people for free, you still can and WILL be hold responsible when anyone of your users commits a crime. You don't have rights like ISPs have.