Watching TV via a VPN

[David Wade]

If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?

Dave

[Woody]

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

There was an item on the news this morning about TV Licencing sending
out random letters threatening legal action, even to people who held a
current and valid licence.

[Rupert Moss-Eccardt]

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

[David Woolley]

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

I believe the OP meant a real virtual private network, emerging in his
UK home. An identity hiding service doesn't hide the fact that it is
such a service, so BBC would, in principle, know that one was being used.

Also, I find the "you won't get caught" argument to be the one that is
causing a big decline in the UK, with fly tipping being one of the main
examples. Law enforcement is resourced on the basis that most people
obey the law because it is the law.

I think the main offence here is actually a civil offence, although, if
the home VPN option is in use, I suppose there might be fraud, within
the UK jurisdiction. I've no idea what the Spanish criminal position is.

[Tweed]

Post by David Woolley

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

I believe the OP meant a real virtual private network, emerging in his
UK home. An identity hiding service doesn't hide the fact that it is
such a service, so BBC would, in principle, know that one was being used.
Also, I find the "you won't get caught" argument to be the one that is
causing a big decline in the UK, with fly tipping being one of the main
examples. Law enforcement is resourced on the basis that most people
obey the law because it is the law.
I think the main offence here is actually a civil offence, although, if
the home VPN option is in use, I suppose there might be fraud, within
the UK jurisdiction. I've no idea what the Spanish criminal position is.

If you are in Spain aren’t you outside the jurisdiction of the law that
requires you to have a TV licence to watch iPlayer? Is there any offence to
be committed?

[Andy Burns]

Post by Tweed
If you are in Spain aren’t you outside the jurisdiction of the law that
requires you to have a TV licence to watch iPlayer? Is there any offence to
be committed?

Depends if the watching over the VPN involves iPlayer, or something
similar t

[David Wade]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Tweed
If you are in Spain aren’t you outside the jurisdiction of the law that
requires you to have a TV licence to watch iPlayer? Is there any offence to
be committed?

Depends if the watching over the VPN involves iPlayer, or something
similar to a Slingbox (i.e. using a tuner sited in the UK).

I use iPlayer.
There are no TV licences in Spain.
I think I could watch my UK TV via the Samsung App or via the Security
web cam which makes things even more fun....

Dave

[charles]

Post by David Woolley

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

I believe the OP meant a real virtual private network, emerging in his
UK home. An identity hiding service doesn't hide the fact that it is
such a service, so BBC would, in principle, know that one was being used.
Also, I find the "you won't get caught" argument to be the one that is
causing a big decline in the UK, with fly tipping being one of the main
examples. Law enforcement is resourced on the basis that most people
obey the law because it is the law.
I think the main offence here is actually a civil offence, although, if
the home VPN option is in use, I suppose there might be fraud, within
the UK jurisdiction. I've no idea what the Spanish criminal position is.

If you are in Spain aren‘t you outside the jurisdiction of the law that
requires you to have a TV licence to watch iPlayer? Is there any offence
to be committed?

When the BBC first introduced a TV service, the Irish Governement
instituted a TV Licence. They had no tv service at the time, so it was nice
little earner.

[David Woolley]

Post by Tweed
If you are in Spain aren’t you outside the jurisdiction of the law that
requires you to have a TV licence to watch iPlayer? Is there any offence to
be committed?

Given they are using iplayer, there will be a click wrap contract
somewhere, so there will be a breach of contract. I would argue that
pretending to be somewhere you are not gain access to a free service
would constitute fraud by misrepresentation. The relaying arrangements,
in the UK, may be covered by UK law.

I imagine that, from the civil point of view, they wouldn't be
interested in taking action if someone who had a valid UK licence was
doing it for their own personal benefit, but the might reserve the right
to do so

[Woody]

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

But not to TVLicencing?

[Rupert Moss-Eccardt]

Post by Woody

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt

Post by Woody

Post by David Wade
If I watch the BBC in Spain via a VPN am I breaking any laws?
Dave

Whether you are not is irrelevant, they have to catch you first and
there is zero chance of that.

It isn't zero. If the various bills that failed wash-up resurface you
might find your VPN provider makes a bit more cash selling your usage
to others.

But not to TVLicencing?

But possibly to content creators.

[Graham.]

Post by Rupert Moss-Eccardt
It isn't zero.

Let's not forget Andrew Crossley. ACS:Law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACS:Law