On June 1, 2011, lawmakers in the US state of Tennessee passed a bill that makes sharing login information for sites that provide music and movies, such as Netflix and Napster, illegal.[1] The law, pushed for by recording industry professionals, is the first of its kind in that it is actually an update for a bill originally existing to punish cable theft now targeting the Internet.
While the law punishes people for sharing passwords, it is really aimed at those sharing and selling their passwords in large quantities – up to $500 in theft resulting in a misdemeanor, and anything else after that a felony.[2]
Reaction
editThis section contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. (February 2015) |
Initial reaction to the law was negative from social network users. Many see the issue in the same light as with music piracy, the main idea being "I bought it, so I can do whatever I want with it."[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "Sharing Netflix or Other Streaming Media Login Info Is Now Illegal in Tennessee". Hometheater.about.com. July 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Voorhees, Josh (June 2, 2011). "Tennessee Netflix law: New measure makes it illegal to share login for online entertainment services like Netflix, Rhapsody". Slatest.slate.com. Retrieved July 15, 2011.