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What is the legal force of a ‘free’ sign, anyway? I found a sign that said ‘FREE - WORKS’ and was putting on things for amusement until I realized that might b
by code_duck 8y ago
What is the legal force of a ‘free’ sign, anyway?
I found a sign that said ‘FREE - WORKS’ and was putting on things for amusement until I realized that might be a very bad idea.
When taking something that says ‘free’ how does one verify the sign was written by the owner?
- pbhjpbhj 8y agoAsk? You could protect yourself from inadvertently depriving the owner by leaving a note - "thanks for free stuff, me@example.com".
- tapland 8y agoHow do you verify that goods on craigslist wasn't stolen before being sold? Reasonable assumptions that will be tried if you are caught carrying home the sofa.
- isostatic 8y agoDoesn't have to be. You have to believe it was and thus not be being dishonest
- shaki-dora 8y agoThere is two sides here, civil and criminal law. As for the first, It’s the same as someone uploading a stolen photo with a CC0 license, i. e. none. If the true owner finds you, they are highly likely to be entitled to get their property back. As for criminal charges, a reasonable assumption of permission should usually work as an excuse. This will depend on the specifics, such as the item’s value, local customs, etc. I actually found a rather valuable chair (the rietvelt) on the street, and did leave my phone number because I could not quite believe my luck. The previous owner called and told me to enjoy it.