• German court rules ISPs must compensate users for outages as internet is an 'essential part of life'
    26 replies, posted
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/wkfs.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-germany-internet-idUSBRE90N15H20130124[/url] [quote]A German court ruled on Thursday that people have the right to claim compensation from service providers if their Internet access is disrupted, because the Internet is an "essential" part of life. The Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe made the ruling after hearing the case of a man who was unable to use his DSL connection, which also offered a telephone and fax line, for two months from late 2008 to early 2009.[/quote]
A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] North Korea is with out many things.
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] North korea isn't a first world country with high standards of living.
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] There would have been a revolution by now if they all had the internet though
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] They're alive, but it's not a place I think anybody wants to live.
Read the article. It's not comparing Internet access to food and shelter, it's comparing Internet access to important commodities like cars. If a company denies you access to your car for two months and you need it to work, you are entitled to claim compensation for it. The law is, as written, that this only applies to physical goods, but the ruling expands it to include services like Internet access. It's not as big a deal as the title makes it sound.
Makes sense, there are many jobs that require internet now and losing it can result in a lot of problems. But do they also force power companies to compensate for outages?
2 months is a pretty long time to have no access to a service you're still paying for.
I don't agree with "an essential part of life", but if I'm dishing dollars for data, I want my goddamn data. And if I'm dishing dollars and not getting data, I want my dollars back.
I feel your pain Germany, just be glad you guys don't have AT&T. My fucking DSL has disconnected over 50 times just this morning...
It's not an essential part of life, but it's still a service you are paying for and expect to be delivered.
That actually sounds pretty cool, BUT will it be enforced as much as it should be?
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] Its not so much that its a necessity, its that in first world countries, the internet is often essential for communication, work and entertainment, which causes obvious problems during outages. Makes sense though, nothing too heavy, but if an ISP has an outage for over a day, they should compensate all of their affected customers extra time.
[QUOTE=itisjuly;39354757]Makes sense, there are many jobs that require internet now and losing it can result in a lot of problems. But do they also force power companies to compensate for outages?[/QUOTE] Even my school uses online homework like crazy now. It'd be easier to count the number of classes I've had written homework than online homework.
I wouldn't call it a necessity for bare-bones living; but it's certainly a requirement where I live. Good luck job hunting, filling out applications, or doing college without internet access. (Yes, you can go to the college/work-place and use their computers, but have fun in the gas cost and time wasted.)
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] North Korea is not a good model
I think given all the internet offers, it makes sense. It IS a form of communication, so I'd agree. I do think people themselves shouldn't be so reliant on it though.
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] Who needs basic human rights? Is it a necessity? I don't think so, I mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without basic human rights.
Guys, it's "essential for life" as in, modern life like cars, electricity, etc., not "essential for survival" which is what water, food and all that is.
[QUOTE=Lizzrd;39355291]It's not an essential part of life, but it's still a service you are paying for and expect to be delivered.[/QUOTE] Depending on your lifestyle, it actually might be essential, in the same way a job is essential, that is. [editline]25th January 2013[/editline] Also Poland needs such a law.
If this came to my area, I'd get free internet That's how reliable my ISP is.
I'm inclined to agree that the internet is becoming essential. More job applications, communications and general organization is done online, and if you're without internet you're out of the loop with respect to those things. Perhaps the phone is on par with this, though
Telstra would go out of business if something like this was ordered.
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] This is a poor application of logic and you should consider rethinking [editline]January 25th, 2013[/editline] Is shelter a necessity? I don't think so, i mean, look at early Humans, they survived without shelter
[QUOTE=Andokool12;39361386] Is shelter a necessity? I don't think so, i mean, look at early Humans, they survived without shelter[/QUOTE] They had very basic shelter.
[QUOTE=areolop;39354679]A sign that life is changing. Is it a necessity? I dont think so, i mean, look at North Korea, they're still alive without the internet[/QUOTE] i honestly can't tell whether or not you're joking
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