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Court Rules That People Who Share Online Passwords Are Violating Federal Law

Court Rules That People Who Share Online Passwords Are Violating Federal LawCourt Rules That People Who Share Online Passwords Are Violating Federal Law

U.S. Circuit Court: Violation of Law to Share Netflix Passwords

A United States circuit court recently held that people who share passwords for online Video On Demand (VOD) services such as Netflix and HBO Go are actually violating federal law and could be subject to criminal charges.

Court Says It Is Against the Law to Share Online Passwords

The recent case involved David Nosal, who left Korn Ferry and started his own headhunting firm. Nosal later got a former coworker at his old firm to share login info and grant him access to the Korn Ferry database. This action, held the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, was a clear violation of the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

As a result of the federal court’s ruling, anyone who uses another person’s password to access Netflix, HBO Go, or any other popular online service without authorization from the service provider could be found to be violating federal law. This would potentially affect millions of Americans who share their online passwords. That’s a major reason why Judge Stephen Reinhardt dissented. Reinhardt’s concern is that the federal court’s ruling will make a lot of people who swap passwords “unwitting federal criminals.”

Moreover, said Reinhardt, the court’s ruling could be expanded to include people who share logins on on social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram.

Reinhardt also argued that the court had wrongly concluded “that a person necessarily accesses a computer account ‘without authorization’ if he does so without the permission of the system owner.” In actuality, said the dissenting judge, many people willingly give their passwords and other login info to friends and family because they want the other person to have access.

For more information, check out the Variety.com article, “Sharing Netflix or HBO Go Password Technically Federal Crime Under 9th Circuit Ruling.”

If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could be subject to significant penalties that include prison time. Jill R. Cohen, Esq., is an experienced criminal defense attorney who will fight to help you avoid the most severe penalties. Contact The Law Offices of Jill R. Cohen today to schedule a free consultation.

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