On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 2:53 PM, Kyle Sexton ks@mocker.org wrote:
James Sissel jimsissel@yahoo.com writes:
A lease is created when a property owner (the offeror) makes an offer to another party (the offeree), and the offeree accepts the offer. The offer must authorize the offeree to possess and use property owned by the offeror for a certain period of time without gaining ownership. So, getting my IP address, assuming it is not static, means I get to possess and use the "property". This does not mean the "landlord" can open/alter/block/steal my mail. You seem to be confusing the IP address with the Internet traffic.
But what if I have a static IP address?
Another example, suppose I hire a trucking company to move some boxes from my house to yours. Does that give the trucking company the right to open the boxes, take stuff out, put other stuff in, or just not deliver the boxes because they are "just too busy"?
From http://help.twcable.com/html/twc_misp_aup.html
"The ISP Service may not be used in a manner that interferes with Operator's efficient operation of its facilities, the provision of services or the ability of others to utilize the ISP Service in a reasonable manner. Operator may use various tools and techniques in order to efficiently manage its networks and to ensure compliance with this Acceptable Use Policy ("Network Management Tools"). These may include detecting malicious traffic patterns and preventing the distribution of viruses or other malicious code, limiting the number of peer-to-peer sessions a user can conduct at the same time, limiting the aggregate bandwidth available for certain usage protocols such as peer-to-peer and newsgroups and such other Network Management Tools as Operator may from time to time determine appropriate."
When one purchases/.leases/whatever an internet connection, you are promised x amount of download bandwidth and y amount of upload of bandwidth. Regardless of if i'm watching donkey shows, uploading child porn, hacking the CIA or organizing a hit on someone, once I am within my alloted bandwidth, my connections should be left alone. Unless I am cracking their systems to go beyond my alloted bandwidth, nothing should be done to shape it.
So in this case your landlord could check your mail to make sure that you aren't a terrorist. And the movers could open your boxes to ensure you weren't moving bombs[1].
And they should fully expect to lose their head by tripping a wire doing so.