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Boston College Says Using WiFi Is a Sign of Infringement

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-your-cords-out dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Boston College has a funny idea of what constitutes copyright infringement. It has a list of what might be called 'you might be a copyright infringer if...' with the sort of things you might expect, such as using file sharing programs or sending mp3s to friends. But some have noticed something odd. Included on the list is using a wireless router in your dorm. Yes, just using a wireless router. Not using it for anything. But just using such a router is considered a sign of infringement. Nice to see our top colleges and universities teaching students completely made up things."

2 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe it's right by mysidia · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Included on the list is using a wireless router in your dorm.

    It actually says....

    Using a wireless router in your room; others may share illegal material through your router, giving the appearance that you are the guilty party.

    Think about this for a moment. For the average person who does not take reasonable measures to secure their wireless AP against unauthorized access, this is true.

    The average newbie/non-geek who just buys an Wireless AP+Router combination device and plugs it in, will be operating in open wireless mode.... that means other students can connect and use their internet connection.

    This has a potential to result in claims of contributory infringement, when other students connect to the open AP and upload MP3s to peer to peer networks or perform other infringing activities.

    1. Re:Maybe it's right by gnasher719 · · Score: 1, Redundant

      This has a potential to result in claims of contributory infringement, when other students connect to the open AP and upload MP3s to peer to peer networks or perform other infringing activities.

      It is more like: It will look as if you _are_ the infringer. It's not true if others did the infringing, but you _look_ like the guilty party and may get into trouble.