Quote:
Originally Posted by andy_m
if it was your intention at the time you acquired the goods to use them in the correct manner, and only became your intention later to do with them what you like, then you haven't committed theft and the box cannot be considered "stolen".
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No, but a person acting in this manner could be wide open to a criminal prosecution under the Fraud Act 2006, under section 2 (fraud by false representation, the representation being that they are entitled to sell the TiVo box) - providing they are acting dishonestly, i.e. they knew they were not entitled to sell the box.
The same Act, in section 11, can also be used to prosecute people who buy cable boxes and modems with the intention of getting services without paying for them. The OP seems aware that there's a TiVo charge and, on a certain reading of his posts, also seems to be willing to attempt to circumvent that charge by purchasing a box off eBay (or wherever). Under these circumstances he could be at risk of committing an offence under the Fraud Act. I would say whoever sold the box to him almost certainly has done so.