I have neither a TV set nor a TV licence. But I do have a web-connected PC that can get live television. Am I a criminal? Peter Scott
The TV licensing website says: "You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV". The emphasis appears to be on "use" where the Communications Act 2003 mentions "the installation and use". Certainly the BBC's advice is that "you are free to watch archived programmes or downloadable clips without a licence," so you should be OK as long as you don't use your PC to watch or record live TV from any station broadcasting within the UK. If the authorities intended to take a tougher line, I'd expect them to require retailers to provide details of anyone who buys a PC, games console, multimedia phone, MP3 player, digital camera, fridge or other device with a display screen and a web browser.
