nanog mailing list archives

Re: Packetstream - how does this not violate just about every provider's ToS?


From: Mel Beckman <mel () beckman org>
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:57:04 +0000

Anne,

As a lawyer, I’m sure you realize those overly broad policies are unenforceable on their face. Phrases such as 
“resell...directly or indirectly” could just as easily be interpreted to mean you can’t perform paid consulting work by 
email over a residential link — something patently ridiculous. 

Can you cite any case law where these restrictions have been enforced? I believe if a case every cane to court, the 
defense would have an excellent argument that the plain meaning of these restrictions is to prevent others from buying 
direct Internet access from another communications channel (e.g., WiFi) from the residence, not passing data through 
the residence. 

-mel via cell

On Apr 26, 2019, at 8:48 AM, Anne P. Mitchell, Esq. <amitchell () isipp com> wrote:



On Apr 26, 2019, at 9:24 AM, Mel Beckman <mel () beckman org> wrote:

With all due respect, you haven’t yet cited an example of an ISP TOS at “every provider” that this new company’s 
product violates. I’m not asking you to critique TORs, I’m asking that you tell us the TOS restriction that you 
believe is so obvious to everyone? Because it’s not obvious to me, and I own an ISP. 

A few examples:

Comcast:

You are prohibited from reselling or permitting another to resell the Service(s) in whole or in part, or using or 
permitting another to use the Xfinity Equipment or the Service(s), directly or indirectly, for any unlawful purpose, 
including, but not limited to, in violation of any policy we post applicable to the Service(s).

https://www.xfinity.com/Corporate/Customers/Policies/SubscriberAgreement

---

CenturyLink:

Also, you agree not to use the Service for high volume or excessive use, in a business or for any commercial purpose 
if your Service is a residential service, or in a way that impacts CenturyLink network resources or CenturyLink’s 
ability to provide services. You agree not to: (i) offer public information services (unlimited usage or otherwise), 
or (ii) permit more than one high-speed Internet log-on session to be active at one time, except if using a roaming 
account when traveling, in which case 2 sessions may be active. A log-on session represents an active connection to 
your Internet access provider. The active session may be shared to connect multiple computers/devices within a single 
home or office location or within a single unit within a multiple dwelling unit (e.g., single apartment or office 
within an apartment complex) to your modem and/or router to access the Service (including the establishment of a 
wireless fidelity (“WiFi”) hotspot), but the Service may only be used at the single home or office location or single 
unit within a multiple dwelling unit for which Service is provisioned by CenturyLink.

http://www.centurylink.com/legal/en/highspeedinternetsubscriberagreement_LQ.html

---

Google:

you agree not to use or allow third parties to use the Services provided to you for any of the following purposes:

...

   • To make the Services available to anyone outside the property to which the Services are delivered, to resell the 
Services directly or indirectly, except as explicitly approved by Google Fiber in writing, or to create substitute or 
related services through the use of or access to the Services (for example, to provide Wi-Fi services to third 
parties outside of your residence).

https://fiber.google.com/legal/accepteduse/residential/

---

Anne

Attorney at Law
GDPR, CCPA (CA) & CCDPA (CO) Compliance Consultant
Author: Section 6 of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (the Federal anti-spam law)
Legislative Consultant
CEO/President, Institute for Social Internet Public Policy
Board of Directors, Denver Internet Exchange
Board of Directors, Asilomar Microcomputer Workshop
Legal Counsel: The CyberGreen Institute
Former Counsel: Mail Abuse Prevention System (MAPS
California Bar Association
Cal. Bar Cyberspace Law Committee
Colorado Cyber Committee
Ret. Professor of Law, Lincoln Law School of San Jose





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