Read this story in Ars Technica. I wonder if this will cause Michigan legislators to think about the law here and whether we need to rethink a few things, if we are to achieve an economic turnound. Interestingly, I came across this story in a post to the A2B3 list by former Ann Arborite, Alan Gutierrez. A2B3 (Ann Arbor Bi Bim Bop) is a weekly lunch meeting organized by Ed Vielmetti. At this meeting I often turn on my notebook computer and access open wi-fi from somewhere else. I wonder if we’ll have to post a lookout for the cops next time?
New Ideas for a Michigan Economic Turnaround
on May 28th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Thanks for the linkage.
This story is chilling. Grand Rapids should know better. The prosecutor’s office, with it’s admonisments about serious consequences, it registered in my mind as, yes, there are serious consequences when you do business in a region that doesn’t understand the business. It would be in Michigan’s best interest to look into this. If Grand Rapids keeps charging people with felonies for using open Wifi hubs, Michigan is going to get a deserved ludditte with a pitchfork reputation.
I’m only pointing this out because I feel it so vicerally. I don’t want to live in beautiful, sunny California, but I often feel naked in my industry when I’m so far away from the cultural center of the industry. Louisiana used to be a strange place to be wired, but since Katrina, there’s a profound appreciation for technology and open information.