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The Tennessee state legislature just approved a measure that would make it illegal to share passwords for online entertainment accounts like Netflix and Hulu Plus. Apparently championed by recording industry officials and heavy tax dollar providers in the country music capital, the law targets hackers and enterprising college students who sell their passwords in bulk. Services that believe they've been targeted can alert authorities and based on the estimated impact of the account sharing, perpetrators could face felony charges. In all likelihood, the vast majority of cases would amount to less than $500 in theft making the crime amisdemeanorpunishable with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The Associated Press asked college students what they thought of the new law. (After all, selling your Netflix password to your entire freshman dorm is a quick way to scrounge up beer money.) "I think it's stupid," said one 20 year-old music major. Your move, California. Want to add to this story?Commentbelow or send the author of this post, Adam Clark Estes,an email. Have a hot tip or story idea? Let us know on theOpen Wire. Read More ...
