German Court: Internet is an "essential" part of life

[Gahars]

This internet fad is pretty damn ubiquitous nowadays. It's ingrained in every part of life nowadays - the classroom, the workplace, the bedroom home, and beyond. As someone who basically grew up with the internet, it can be hard to imagine the world without it.

Okay, so that sounds a little sad, but I mean it in a... not sad way.

It seems a German court not only agrees with that point, but has taken it one step further.

(Reuters) - A German court ruled on Thursday that people have the right to claim compensation from service providers if their Internet access is disrupted, because the Internet is an "essential" part of life.

The Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe made the ruling after hearing the case of a man who was unable to use his DSL connection, which also offered a telephone and fax line, for two months from late 2008 to early 2009.

He had already received compensation for the cost of having to use a mobile phone, but wanted to be compensated for not being able to use the Internet. Under German law the loss of use of essential material items can be compensated.

Reuters

This is a nice ruling... which is a bit of a shame. I've been saving "Deutsch-bag" for quite awhile now; I guess I'll have to hold on to it for a little bit longer.

This decision could have some huge ramifications. Right now, this ruling only applies to this part of Germany. However, when it comes to courts, there is nothing more important than precedent; judges look to the past to determine how laws should be interpreted and enacted. This case may very well influence (however slightly) future decisions beyond Germany.

Plus, it's just nice to see the justice system get with the times, man.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some procrastinating to do - some essential procrastinating to do, I mean.

 

[shakirmoledina]

At least he didn't say 'facebook' is an essential part of life

 

[Hells Malice]

I wish we had that over here. My ISP compensates us when it feels like it, which is maybe 1/4 of the time.

At least he didn't say 'facebook' is an essential part of life

Well that's just a given.

 

[FAST6191]

I am more drawn to wonder if this will frustrate the "three strikes" type nonsense that variously seems to be gaining ground these days.

 

[dickfour]

great! I can't wait to get my big five cent credit on my next bill. Meanwhile your internet bill will go up because he isp will have to pay the people they hire to implement this silly ruling. Okay if my internet in down for a week or two I don't expect to be charged but for an hour or a day, give me a break

 

[Veho]

a) The man successfully argued that internet access is essential to his in particular daily life and activities. This may not be the case for someone who only uses the internet to update Facebook and look at cat pictures.

b) This:

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said a customer who is able to use a cell phone to access the web during the time of his Internet disruption at home cannot be granted full compensation.

Dietlind Weiland, spokeswoman for Germany’s Federal Supreme Court, told Stars and Stripes that the court did not set a maximum amount a plaintiff can receive. She said that the Supreme Court turned the case back to the court in Koblenz to rule on the plaintiff’s compensation.

The Koblenz court may yet rule a compensation of 1 Euro.

 

[Foxi4]

I'm glad that the ruling is what it is. The Internet is an essential part of life for many, many people.

I for example wouldn't be able to wrap my head around all my daily duties if not for the Internet - people who are still studying spend their life traveling from one library to the other unless they have Internet access, and there's other things to take care of outside of studying too.

Providing Internet is a service and if a service is not up to the standards of the contract, compensation is something one should expect. The ISP isn't doing us a favour - you're paying for your Internet connection, right?

 

[The Catboy]

As someone who basically grew up with the internet, it can be hard to imagine the world without it.
Okay, so that sounds a little sad, but I mean it in a... not sad way.

You merely adopted the internet, I was born in it!

In all seriousness. An interesting ruling, that it is.

 

[Taleweaver]

Veho beat me to it: the internet isn't essential for everyone. It may be essential to certain individuals, though. And even then, "the internet" is perhaps too broad of a term to use. Access to porn sites or facebook isn't essential, but access to mail, your work's VPN connection or the vast information on all topics might just be.

The percentage will rise, though. Teleworking over the internet is becoming more and more common, voice apps are starting to threaten the normal phones and the social life is also moving into the cloud nowadays (Christ...does anyone still send out real letters when applying somewhere?). I very much doubt this'll be the last case...

 

[triassic911]

Thinking about it, it really is essential. The internet has created tons of jobs and has made tasks easier. Can't imagine life without it anymore.

 

[Canonbeat234]

I don't get how this will work, the compensation for interrupted Internet service is silly. The usage of the Internet for an individual ranges from casual to heavy. In this case you'll only get compensated from the amount of timeout or offline service that happens with the Internet company. So basically you're not getting anything back from them, just an apology with a discount on your next Internet bill.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

At least he didn't say 'facebook' is an essential part of life

Pft, fuck that, I moved on to the new MySpace and twitter fad!

But honestly, this is great. Our ISP (shaw) has great packages and shit, and we get good speeds for living out in the boonies. However, in the last year alone, they've raised prices by 5 bucks 3 times, and we've gotten no added benefits. Their customer service is a joke to the point where if you call to find out what's wrong with the net and why it's down or report anything, you can't get ahold of them at all. And the internet goes down a lot.

 

[Pleng]

Access to porn sites ... isn't essential.

the hell are you talking about?!

 

[pasc]

Deutsch-bag ? What is that ?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I had basically no internet for a week during the Hurricane Sandy blackout (well I did at a few friends' houses but my own house was without power). And yeah, it's pretty rough. I realized how much time I spend on the internet (either on here, Facebook, Reddit, or Youtube) and it's pretty sad.

Still I find it pretty essential to keep in touch with people and do work.

 

[JoostinOnline]

And here I was thinking people survived for quite some time before the Internet. I guess I have a lot to learn.

 

[Pattonfiend67]

the only essential things in life are loving God, breathing air, eating food and drinking water, taking care of your family and not wasting your life in front of the "internet..."

 

[Ethevion]

the only essential things in life are loving God, breathing air, eating food and drinking water, taking care of your family and not wasting your life in front of the "internet..."

That used to be the way, but times have changed.

I myself spend a lot of time on the internet. If I'm at home I'm on my computer surfing the net. I have no need for television anymore and I haven't touched my 360 in a while.

 

[WiiUBricker]

Deutsch-bag ? What is that ?

It's a satire of the insult "douchebag".

 

[MegaAce™]

It's a satire of the insult "douchebag".

It's not even pronounced that way.