| Many countries have started to pass what are called | | | | jury. There can be a variety of people who violate |
| three strikes laws concerning internet connections. | | | | copyright that are connected to the same |
| This means that once the account owner's internet | | | | connection, but the account owner is the one who is |
| connection has three copyright violations against it | | | | penalized. |
| where that account had somehow accessed | | | | A second problem with these is that the account |
| information under copyright a third time, there would | | | | holder is the one that is punished and not the person |
| be some sort of penalty. Some countries cut the | | | | who did it. If someone who accessed that internet |
| account owner off forever. Others have 6 month | | | | connection with or without the account holder's |
| periods along with some sort of fine. While it does | | | | permission did download illegal material, the account |
| seem like a great idea on the surface of protecting | | | | owner gets in trouble. Even with encryption, there |
| copyright, it does have it's problems. | | | | are those who are good enough to break encryption |
| First of all, the account holder has no recourse. Many | | | | and download illegal material. These are the real |
| times where there is a law one would hope that | | | | criminals but the account owner is hurt. The issue |
| there would be a way of defending oneself if | | | | with this is that it will only logically lead to account |
| accused. There is no way of going to court and | | | | owners never sharing their internet access. There are |
| trying to prove an alternative to the accusation. It's | | | | coffee shop owners and pub owners who have run |
| sad that in countries that have court systems | | | | into a problem with laws like these and shut off their |
| intended to let the accused defend themselves that | | | | free wi-fi since they don't want to get in trouble. |
| copyright holders and ISPs become the judge and | | | | |