02/12/2009 - Firms warned about Wi-Fi downloads
Internet law expert Lilian Edwards has warned businesses running open Wi-Fi networks to prepare for a slew of copyright warnings from rights holders.
The professor at Sheffield Law School also warned that aside from civil cases, which can already be filed against such businesses, laws in the future may lead to disconnection before any appeal - unless the business community lobbies the Government.
This summer, a pub was fined £8,000 for copyright infringement due to downloads made over the pub's open Wi-Fi hotspot, according to managing director of hotspot firm The Cloud.
Ms Edwards says businesses are "probably OK for now in terms of data retention", but advises they watch out for a "pile of copyright infringement warnings coming your way".
She also warned the forthcoming Digital Economy Bill - which could make it feasible to have internet subscribers disconnected for repeat copyright infringements - may make matters considerably worse for businesses with open Wi-Fi hotspots.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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