Posted: 8/8/2012 8:59:55 AM EDT
| Would it be illegal to slip a political ad into a "free" newspaper and replace it in its rack? What about doing it to every paper in the rack? |
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Of course it could be illegal. There's probably a law against it somewhere. That's not the issue though, the issue is whether or not an LEO is going to give a shit enough to find the law to cite you, because at most, I'm guessing it's a fineable offense. I can't see any cop really caring enough to do anything more than tell you to stop doing it. |
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I'd consider it theft. 
Many freely distributed newspapers get their revenue from advertisements. Sticking in your own ad circumvents paying the newspaper for the ad, all while using the labor and cost that the publisher put forth to distribute the newspaper. That's theft. It might not be criminal theft, but it is theft none the less. |
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How could it be illegal? You are giving something away. Not like you are taking something from the newspaper. You are "adding value." Just my take on it. Hessian-1  For starters, what you're "giving away" may or may not be of the same philosophy as the publisher. Further, usually racks need a permit to be located on public property. That cost him money and you're piggybacking on top of it. If you want to distribute "free stuff", do as he did and jump the same hurdles and pay the same fees. I was brought up with a simple code: "If it's not yours, don't touch it without permission." simple really, and it keeps you out of a lot of trouble. |
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I'd consider it theft.
Many freely distributed newspapers get their revenue from advertisements. Sticking in your own ad circumvents paying the newspaper for the ad, all while using the labor and cost that the publisher put forth to distribute the newspaper. That's theft. It might not be criminal theft, but theft none the less. Most likely this, but it might be dependent on the way your state's statute reads. |
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Probably. Why not just pay the publication to do it for you? If it's a free one, it's probably cheap.
You want some project mayhem stuff, check this out. A couple of folks put these kind of stickers all over the subway a few weeks ago. It's really odd just being there for your commute and staring at it for 20 minutes and before realizing it doesn't say "hang on to handle" or "don't lean on doors". 
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The publisher charges a fee for "inserts".
Theft of services is the legal term for a crime which is committed when a person obtains valuable services — as opposed to goods — by deception, force, threat or other unlawful means, i.e., without lawfully compensating the provider of said services.
What do you think your answer would be if you asked the publisher to do it? 
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Quoted: They are a bit late.A couple of folks put these kind of stickers all over the subway a few weeks ago. http://www.globalgraphica.com/main/archives/donotbombiraq_1_doors.jpg |
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Probably. Why not just pay the publication to do it for you? If it's a free one, it's probably cheap. You want some project mayhem stuff, check this out. A couple of folks put these kind of stickers all over the subway a few weeks ago. It's really odd just being there for your commute and staring at it for 20 minutes and before realizing it doesn't say "hang on to handle" or "don't lean on doors". http://www.globalgraphica.com/main/archives/donotbombiraq_1_doors.jpg Interesting take. |
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Case law says that the stack of papers are the property of the entity who printed them, until you take one at which point it becomes "yours" and you are only allowed to take one, not the whole stack. So basicaly, the answer is no because you are tampering with someone elses property. Also keep in mind that the stack of papers is sitting someplace that is also owned by an entity, that entity likely has an informal or formal agreement in place with the publisher that they could put the papers there in the first place. This agreement does not include allowing random people to come and fuck around with the papers. And no I'm not providing any citations deal with it  |
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Case law says that the stack of papers are the property of the entity who printed them, until you take one at which point it becomes "yours" and you are only allowed to take one, not the whole stack. So basicaly, the answer is no because you are tampering with someone elses property. Also keep in mind that the stack of papers is sitting someplace that is also owned by an entity, that entity likely has an informal or formal agreement in place with the publisher that they could put the papers there in the first place. This agreement does not include allowing random people to come and fuck around with the papers. And no I'm not providing any citations deal with it
The paper in question doesn't post anything like "Take one" on their stands; it just says "Free." Would it be legal for me to take one, read it on the bus, leave it there and grab another one at lunch time, leave it in the break room, grab another one after work to soak up some grease from my fried chicken, etc.? Would it be legal for me to put a sticker in ONE? Once I pick it up it becomes mine, right? What if I'm now done with it and wish to replace it so that another person can read it? Don't want to cut too many trees down, do we? |
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I'd be inclined to say this would be considered theft....followed closely by vandalism/tampering.
Back in the WI union/Walker/recall shitstorm the unions were organizing their troops to hit grocery stores putting anti-Walker stickers on all the products from companies that donated money to his campaign. Believe it or not the authorities threatened them vandalism/tampering if they went through with it. As far as I know they didn't do it, but would have been nice to have a little visual reminder of what products to buy.
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