Thursday, February 28, 2008

more on wifi piggybacking

There is a case in the Talmud known as "when A benefits from B without B incurring a loss." The exact case is when A lives in an apartment owned by B without B's knowledge. B suffered no loss by A's mere usage of the apartment. May B sue for rent? (In the end the Talmud says A really damage B since just living in an apartment causes the walls to get dirty etc...)
Now, if A piggybacks on B's wifi, does B suffer a loss?
Rabbi Josh Flug at http://www.scribd.com/doc/62775/YU-ShavuotToGo-5767 takes a look at piggybacking on a wifi from a different angel. He is concerned with the benefit A is deriving from the ISP provider. Because of A's use they must now provide more bandwith at a cost to them. Rabbi Flug actually wrote an entire ebook on the issue of hi tech and Jewish law. He discusses issues of intellectual property rights etc... too. When I have time I will look it more of what he wrote.
I am going to Lakewood NJ for Shabbos (the Sabbath.) Lakewood has the countries second largest Orthodox Jewish community (after NYC) and I went to yeshiva there for a year and a half. Wishing everyone a great Shabbos and weekend.

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