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Michigan Man Fined for Using Coffee Shop's Wi-Fi Network
Fox News ^ | 05/31/2007 | Sara Bonisteel

Posted on 05/31/2007 12:51:13 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd

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My guess is there is more to the story than is being reported here.

There usually is.

But on the face of it; this guy has been screwed.

1 posted on 05/31/2007 12:51:16 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
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To: Responsibility2nd

If they project their signal beyond their enclosure how can they complain?


2 posted on 05/31/2007 12:54:01 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: Responsibility2nd

30 minutes during lunch and he couldn’t at least buy a cup of joe?


3 posted on 05/31/2007 12:54:08 PM PDT by AU72
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To: Responsibility2nd

There does have to be more to it. Personally, if you don’t secure your system in the most basic way...it is free access.


4 posted on 05/31/2007 12:55:21 PM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Dang I do that quite often when I am on the raod. Usually outside a starbucks - I don’t always buy a coffee when I am doing it. I wonder how many states have that type of law?


5 posted on 05/31/2007 12:55:48 PM PDT by CTK YKC
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To: Responsibility2nd

Theft of services, but $400 plus 40 hours is ridiculous. I hope he doesn’t lose his guns.


6 posted on 05/31/2007 12:56:18 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney (...and another "Constitution-bot"))
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To: Responsibility2nd
I do not see that there was any "controlling legal authority" on this.

That said, the cheapskate could have parked his car, gone in and ordered something and checked his e-mail for free. Using their Wi-Fi in the parking lot is like sitting at one of their tables without ordering anything.

7 posted on 05/31/2007 12:56:28 PM PDT by Sans-Culotte
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To: Responsibility2nd
"My guess is there is more to the story than is being reported here."

You mean like downloading 15 CDs and three movies all simultaneously? LOL!

I would really question the defense attorney for not challenging the fact that the coffee shop did not encrypt or take security measures. Now, if they DID do that and the guy still hacked in, that would be illegal. But if they left their system wide open, they should have no case.

8 posted on 05/31/2007 12:56:29 PM PDT by TommyDale (More Americans are killed each day in the U.S. by abortion than were killed on 9/11 !)
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To: kinoxi
If they project their signal beyond their enclosure how can they complain?

B/c the legal system is screwed in this country.

9 posted on 05/31/2007 12:57:33 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Killing all of your enemies without mercy is the only sure way of sleeping soundly at night.)
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To: Responsibility2nd

No he hasn’t...

He parked his car on private property to steal internet service.

1. It’s Trespassing.
2. It’s Stealing Bandwith

It’s no different than someone coming over the border illegally.


10 posted on 05/31/2007 12:57:37 PM PDT by rwilson99 (Al Gore causes Global Cooling.)
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To: CTK YKC

You are a parasite! Turn in you laptop immediately!!!!!....../s


11 posted on 05/31/2007 12:57:38 PM PDT by Red Badger (Bite your tongue. It tastes a lot better than crow................)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Now I know why there is never a cop around when you need one to deal with a real crime, they are all busting these dangerous wifi moochers.
12 posted on 05/31/2007 12:57:39 PM PDT by pnh102
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To: Responsibility2nd
Overzelous prosecutor.

The law used in this case pertains to fraudulent access through hacking. The "perp" did not hack or commit fraud, and in fact the Coffee Shop owner said he was welcome to use the shop's WiFi even if he didn't spend any money in the shop.

13 posted on 05/31/2007 12:58:24 PM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: CTK YKC
Dang I do that quite often when I am on the raod. Usually outside a starbucks - I don’t always buy a coffee when I am doing it. I wonder how many states have that type of law?

Awwright...step away from that Toshiba Satellite Pro and put your hands on the car. You're gonna do some hard-wired time, buddy.

14 posted on 05/31/2007 12:58:46 PM PDT by Pharmboy ([She turned me into a] Newt! in '08)
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To: Responsibility2nd

There is a whole generation of young people that don’t understand the meaning of private property, I see it in my own kids. The recording industry cracked down on college kids downloading copyrighted music and movies with kids here in ND being fined in the 3500-4500 range. They didn’t understand downloading music and video was the same as stealing private property when the artist has not released the copyrights for the work.

This guy was using internet being paid for by someone else without their permission. That is stealing pure and simple. I don’t know what is so hard to understand about that.


15 posted on 05/31/2007 12:59:04 PM PDT by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marylin vos Savant)
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To: Responsibility2nd
I think his PC/Mac should get amnesty.
16 posted on 05/31/2007 12:59:35 PM PDT by llevrok (Beer for my horses and whiskey for my men!)
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To: CTK YKC

Same here.

I stopped at an Iowa Welcome Center on Interstate 35W and hopped on my girlfriend’s lap top.

In that small area, I had access to three Wi-Fi providers, only one of which was the state of Iowa’s.


17 posted on 05/31/2007 12:59:55 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: Responsibility2nd

Just another reminder for those who would put Wi-Fi capability into their own homes: use the encryption feature!


18 posted on 05/31/2007 12:59:59 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: Responsibility2nd

It’s hard to imagine this is theft of services if they advertise free wi-fi and don’t secure their network. Yes, the guy probably should have gone in and ordered coffee.


19 posted on 05/31/2007 1:00:49 PM PDT by Sender ("America is at that awkward stage..." - Claire Wolfe)
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To: Responsibility2nd
"I do not understand how this is illegal."

It shouldn't be. ...and certainly not a felony!

Prosecuting this guy using a law against hackers was a severe miscarriage of justice. The judge, jury and prosecutor should all hang their heads in shame.

20 posted on 05/31/2007 1:01:42 PM PDT by TChris (The Republican Party is merely the Democrat Party's "away" jersey - Vox Day)
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