Sunset1

Man Charged for Using Cafe's Free Wi-Fi (Switched)

Aug 7th 2007 10:29PM With some cities offering free wifi, and free wifi access points abound most people dont know when they have connected without authorisation. Many people set up a access point for others to "check their e-mail" without fear of breaking any half-baked law. The simple truth is that his situation created free advertising for the cafe. And how did they come up with 400.00 and community service for an act that the principals ( the defendant and the police chief as well as the cafe owner ) didn't even know was against the law in the first place. Possibly they attemtped to use a law for a unintended purpose to discourage this type of use and to make him and example.

The DCMA and other laws brought into force after 9/11 concern many peaceful and law abiding americans. They exploit the basic freedoms that we used to take for granted.

I would love the ability to check my email freely by simply donating the service to others and hope they recipricate. I have not because I do worry about security issues not to mention the cable companies would come down on me for giving away a service that I pay for.

Why make a criminal out of your neighbor for checking his email when no one knew it was a crime in the first place? Its easy to pass judgement after the fact when you are not the one in the hot seat.

I would like to hope this gets appealed to a much higher court with some common sence. However that costs money and we all know that money makes the laws in this land of opportunity.

While some have argued that he is guilty because he was not in the establishment, who is to say he was not a customer in the past? or even a good customer of the place. I will argue further and say if he had the money to spend he would have just bought a wireless card. But we really dont know any of this. Most of these arguments are simply speculation.

I don't like lawsuits but I imagine I would like jail or 400.00 fine and 40 hours of community service for getting free email even less.

Have a great day.
Sunset1