[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites blocked by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers
Richard Wagner
r.w.wagner at verizon.net
Mon Nov 13 11:53:34 PST 2023
To me, circumventing ads and gaining access to web content that the web
site spent resources to establish are two different "beasts". I want
access to the web content, so paying for it has an ethical and, likely,
a copyright aspect to it. I DID NOT request a popup ad that requires
that I must disable my ad-blocker in order to gain access to the
information I am seeking. My assumption has been that the ad-blocker is
present to eliminate malware, viruses, etc. that may exist in the ad (am
I incorrect in this assumption?). Thus, I would like to learn how to
circumvent such ad-blocker turnoff requests without turning my
ad-blocker off! Incidentally, I have no (or maybe a little) problem with
ads that accompany the content I am wishing to peruse. I have lived with
this annoyance my whole life: radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, web-site
content, etc.
Dick
On 11/13/2023 2:23 PM, David Lees via LCTG wrote:
> George,
> Perhaps micropayments and whatever the software infrastructure for
> them would be a good topic for an LCTG talk? Maybe you have already
> had one of those in the past, but hopefully, it is an area that is
> changing, because I know they (the payment processing costs) used to
> be expensive. But, agreed it would be great if you could pay a small
> amount by the article rather than a subscription. I know for
> technical articles, the cost per article is rather high for an
> individual, but given the potential volume for news and mass
> distribution material, why not have 25 or 50 cents per article?
>
> David Lees
>
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 2:10 PM George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com>
> wrote:
>
> I understand the ethics if you access a website a lot bypassing
> paying, but what I find an issue, is when you have one article
> that might be of interest, say published by Kansas City Tribune.
> You don’t want to pay and read articles published by them daily.
> So maybe there could a payment say of $.50 to read that one article.
>
> Just a thought
>
> George
>
> *From:* LCTG <lctg-bounces+ggamota=stma-llc.com at lists.toku.us> *On
> Behalf Of *carllazarus--- via LCTG
> *Sent:* Monday, November 13, 2023 1:17 PM
> *To:* 'David Lees' <joeoptics at gmail.com>; 'Robert Primak'
> <bobprimak at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* 'Lex Computer Group' <lctg at lists.toku.us>; 'Steve Isenberg'
> <smisenberg at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites
> blocked by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers
>
> Exactly my thought. We may be talking about large entities such
> as the NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc. but if
> we want them to continue to exist they need to be able to pay
> their expenses and make some money.
>
> -- Carl
>
> *From:* LCTG <lctg-bounces+carllazarus=comcast.net at lists.toku.us>
> *On Behalf Of *David Lees via LCTG
> *Sent:* Monday, November 13, 2023 1:12 PM
> *To:* Robert Primak <bobprimak at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>; Steve Isenberg
> <smisenberg at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for sites
> blocked by paywalls or remove-ad-blockers
>
> You could also discuss the ethical issues of not paying for things
> that people trying to make a living are doing?
>
> David Lees
> From Pixel 6 Pro
>
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023, 1:00 PM Robert Primak via LCTG
> <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
> You are NOT committing any crime by using most evasion
> techniques available to the general public (not tech-savvy
> hackers).
>
> I don't know what Steve has or had in mind, but no one can
> take any legal actions against anyone for publicly discussing
> these tactics.
>
> Please refer to You Tube's Terms of Use and Zoom's code of
> user conduct if in any further doubt. Other sites also have
> terms of use.
>
> -- Bob Primak
>
> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 12:52:44 PM EST, Steve
> Isenberg via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
> Gentlepeople,
>
> After much consideration, discussing with several people, and
> consulting with ChatGPT, I've decided _not_ to demonstrate
> this. We can discuss the situation on Wednesday's Potpourri
> but I no longer feel comfortable giving a demonstration for
> legal reasons. My apologies.
>
> I'm open to comments.
>
> -steve
>
> Here's what I've learned from ChatGPT:
>
> Steve asks ChatGPT:
>
> suppose I have found a way to get around a paywall without
> paying or subscribing, or to get around a site's requirement
> to disable all ad blockers without disabling ad blockers, and
> I can do this only on my computer and without accessing or
> tampering with the website. Am I committing a crime or doing
> something that would subject me to a lawsuit or other legal
> action by the website owner?
>
> ChatGPT responds (edited):
>
> Circumventing paywalls or other access restrictions without
> authorization may be a violation of the website's terms of
> service, which could potentially lead to legal consequences.
> Additionally, in some jurisdictions, such actions could be
> considered unauthorized access, hacking, or a violation of
> computer security laws.
> If you find a way to bypass paywalls and other measures that
> protect the website content without permission, it may be seen
> as a violation of the website's rights and could result in
> legal action.
>
> I asked Aria the same question and it responds(edited):
>
> It's important to note that bypassing paywalls or
> circumventing a website's requirements without permission may
> be considered unethical or even illegal in some jurisdictions.
> Here are a few points to consider:
> Websites have the right to protect their content and enforce
> their terms of service.
> Unauthorized access to paid content or finding ways to bypass
> paywalls may violate copyright laws or terms of service
> agreements.
> Engaging in such activities could potentially subject you to
> legal action by the website owner, such as a lawsuit or other
> legal consequences.
>
> Harry asked a similar question addressing only circumventing
> paywalls, and got the response (edited):
>
> Bypassing a paywall of a website without a subscription could
> potentially be considered a violation of the website's terms
> of service or terms of use. It may also infringe upon
> copyright laws or other applicable laws, depending on the
> jurisdiction. Engaging in such activities could potentially
> have legal consequences, including the possibility of facing
> legal action from the website owner. It is always advisable to
> respect the terms and conditions set by website owners and to
> seek proper legal means to access content.
>
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 12:01 PM Robert Primak
> <bobprimak at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> The Boston Globe and the New York Times hide a lot of
> their content.
>
> Then there's the somewhat more problematic case of You Tube.
>
> -- Bob Primak
>
> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 08:25:34 AM EST, Steve
> Isenberg via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us> wrote:
>
> Gentlepeople,
>
> This Wednesday as part of the presentation I plan to show
> how to proceed to web sites that prevent you from
> accessing their content unless you (a) remove all of your
> ad-blockers, or (b) subscribe or pay to see the content
> (paywalls).
>
> Could you send me (and not the list) the URL of sites you
> have run into that block your access, and I'll add them to
> the list I'll use as demonstrations.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -steve
>
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