BAD NEWS :( Government amendments reinforce Big Browser

[Nicholas Bohm]

At 07:25 PM 6/8/2000 +0100, Charles Lindsey wrote:
>	On Thu, 08 Jun 2000 09:51:18 +0100
>	Nicholas Bohm <nbohm@ernest.net> said...
>
>> >I can follow you up to the point where you say "ie" and no further.
Please
>> >explain where in the bill the definition of a telecommunications syst=
em is
>> >given in such a way that web servers in general could be said to be
>> >apparatus comprised in it.  The two amendments refer to control signa=
ls
for
>> >such apparatus, not to control signals for apparatus that is not comp=
rised
>> >in a telecommunications system.
>>=20
>> Section 2(1)
>>=20
>> =93telecommunication system=94 means any system (including the apparat=
us
>> comprised in it) which exists (whether wholly or partly in the
>> United Kingdom or elsewhere) for the purpose of facilitating the
>> transmission of communications by any means involving the use of
>> electrical or electro-magnetic energy.
>>=20
>> This seems to me to include web servers, since they are there to trans=
mit
>> web pages in response to requests, and that facilitates the transmissi=
on of
>> communications (i.e. the pages sent).
>
>If that includes web wervers, then it also includes the PC on your desk,
>since you use it to transmit messages to the likes of us, and you use it
>to receive them also. I think I could argue that neither is a part of
>the telecommunicatiosn system, but the matter is sufficiently unclear
>that it is imperative to clear it up.

I thought when I first read this that it included the PC on my desk, and
subsequent discussion has reinforced that view.

>Their lordships have been made aware of this - we must just hope they do
>not screw it up.

I am even hoping they may unscrew it a bit.

Regards,

Nicholas Bohm

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