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by gumby 957 days ago
The README says "The author does not endorse or encourage any unethical or illegal activity."

Is it actually illegal anywhere to bypass a paywall?

2 comments

Certainly in Illinois it would be a crime to violate the TOS of a website. Misdemeanor for first offense, felony for second, IIRC.
Can’t be that simple. What if TOS has ridiculous shit in it. Stuff about life long servitude to the webmasters pet goldfish, for example?
Believe it or not, straight to jail.
Link to a story like that?
(720 ILCS 5/17-51) (was 720 ILCS 5/16D-3) Sec. 17-51. Computer tampering. (a) A person commits computer tampering when he or she knowingly and without the authorization of a computer's owner or in excess of the authority granted to him or her: (1) Accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or any part thereof, a computer network, or a program or data;

    (a-10) For purposes of subsection (a), accessing a computer network is deemed to be with the authorization of a computer's owner if:
        (1) the owner authorizes patrons, customers, or guests to access the computer network and the person accessing the computer network is an authorized patron, customer, or guest and complies with all terms or conditions for use of the computer network that are imposed by the owner;
Not sure about the paywalls. But it might be used for "drive by attacks" or phishing.