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From: kurt@fluke.UUCP (Kurt Guntheroth)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: 'free' information from the airwaves
Message-ID: <994@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Apr-84 14:11:18 EST
Article-I.D.: vax2.994
Posted: Tue Apr 10 14:11:18 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Apr-84 01:22:34 EST
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Everett, WA
Lines: 24

In what sense is it illegal to use an unscrambler to receive HBO?  Of course
if you steal one from the cable company it is obviously illegal (you are
guilty of theft of the hardware).  But as previously noted, the government
guarantees you the right to use information sent over the air.  This is the
price built into the license the FCC grants to broadcasters.

I think this extends to all data sent over unsecure channels like radio.  I
am generally an ethical person, but I perceive the government has granted me
the right to receive radio signals including but not limited to HBO, FM
music-without-commercials side carrier signals, teletext, and computer data.
This right also includes the right to use such signaos for non-commercial
purposes within my home.  Recent decisions regarding privacy of conversations
over wireless telephones supports this opinion.

On the other hand, information encoded on secure media is more protected.  I
consider floppy disks to be such media.  The government does not recognize
your right to make copies of such data, unless you have purchased the data.
In that case the government does grant you the right to make copies for your
own use (under the 'fair use' provision of the copyright laws).
-- 
Kurt Guntheroth
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
{uw-beaver,decvax!microsof,ucbvax!lbl-csam,allegra,ssc-vax}!fluke!kurt