And it could cost you £250,000 this Digital Bill

So you have a WiFi network which is open, as many people do - out of choice or because you don't understand the technology.

And someone next door joins your WiFi, and your router gives him an IP for his computer on the internet, which is what it does (it re-routes information sent to your IP by address translation to the one it gives him).

Under the new Digital Bill you are now classed as an ISP since you provided an IP.

Since you are now an ISP you have obligations under the proposed bill: if the person next door downloads copyright material and the owner complains, then you have to send him a warning letter. Failure to do so could mean a fine of up to £250,000! If he persists and you do not send him the required 3 letters and do not also inform the copyright owners about him, you can definitely be prosecuted.

Of course the same goes for free WiFi provided by Pizza Express, Costa coffee, McDonalds,etc. They could do it, but they will have to maintain a log of every one who connects, it's expensive, and be able to trace them, it's impossible they just wandered in for a coffee...

Same goes for your local, or the British Library.

So says Lilian Edwards is professor of internet law at Sheffield University

Excuse me! This is ridiculous.