Wee-Fi: Germans Can Leave Networks Open; Belkin Announces Wireless High-Def

A German appeals court says an open Wi-Fi network isn’t equivalent to the owner’s responsibility for actions over that network: This decisions overturns a lower court’s ruling in a peer-to-peer file sharing copyright infringement case that the owner of a Wi-Fi network was de facto culpable for any activity that could be tracked back to the network’s IP address. The appeals court said without specific evidence that the person charged had committed the infringement there’s no case—and no requirement to lock down the network to avoid such lawsuits. If the decision had been upheld, it would have likely led to more broadside charges worldwide, as well as a vast reduction in open networks.

Belkin gives us plenty of time to get ready for streaming high def: FlyWire uses an adapted form of Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band to stream HD without having the HD set in close proximity. They’re not shipping until October, which could give you some time to get used to the price tag. A $1,000 model is designed to cover a home, and has various infrared and wireless options to control current A/V gear, some of which might be hidden in cabinets away from view. A cheaper $700 option covers just one room, Belkin says, and excludes the IR help. The transmitter has 3 HDMI jacks, including DVI support with audio inputs, along with two component and one composite video and audio input panels. The receiver has a single HDMI output. All HD resolutions are supported. These devices are aimed at people who buy large HDTVs and want to wall mount them.

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