Legal Definitions - multiple access

Multiple access refers to a situation where more than one individual, group, or entity has the legal right or practical ability to use, enter, view, or otherwise interact with a particular resource, location, system, or piece of information. This often implies shared or concurrent use, and it can sometimes raise questions about responsibility, security, or priority of use among the parties involved.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a commercial building where two separate businesses, a law firm and an accounting practice, lease offices on the same floor. Both businesses, along with their employees and clients, share a common main entrance, a reception area, and a hallway to reach their respective offices. This arrangement demonstrates multiple access because more than one distinct entity (the law firm and the accounting practice) and their associated individuals have the right to use and pass through these shared physical spaces to conduct their operations.

• Consider a team of software developers collaborating on a new application. They use a cloud-based version control system where each developer has their own login credentials and permissions to access, modify, and upload code to the central repository. This is an example of multiple access to a digital resource, as numerous individuals can concurrently interact with and contribute to the same codebase, ensuring that everyone works on the most current version of the project.

• Think about a public library that offers online access to its digital collection of e-books, audiobooks, and research databases. Any card-carrying member of the community can log in from their personal device and access these resources, often simultaneously with many other patrons. This scenario illustrates multiple access to information and digital services, as a large number of authorized individuals can independently utilize the same shared digital library resources.