Legal Definitions - multiple access

Definition: Multiple access refers to the ability of multiple users to access a shared resource or network simultaneously.

For example, in a wireless network, multiple devices can connect to the same network and access the internet at the same time. This is possible because the network uses a multiple access protocol that allows for efficient sharing of the available bandwidth.

In the context of a paternity suit, multiple access is a defense that suggests the mother had sexual relations with other partners around the time of conception. This defense is based on the idea that the mother must prove that only the defendant could be the child's father. However, this defense has been largely discredited due to the availability of highly accurate paternity testing.

In the context of copyright law, access refers to the ability of a defendant to see, hear, or copy a copyrighted work before the alleged infringement took place. Proof of access is required to prove copyright infringement unless the two works are strikingly similar.

Overall, multiple access is an important concept in various fields, including networking, law, and intellectual property. It allows for efficient sharing of resources and can be used as evidence in legal cases.