As you may or may not have heard, there is a big TV licence shakedown taking place in the UK. Since the BBC has been broadcasting the FIFA World Cup online, the TV Licensing Authority (TVLA) in the UK has said users who watch at work need to purchase a licence if the business does not have one. According to the TVLA, if a business purchases a licence, all the TV equipment the business owns will be covered. That would include PCs.

If there isn't a licence covering the building, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

The BBC has created a FAQ to help determine whether you need a licence or not to watch online using your PC.

So how does that affect media you broadcast to your laptop and mobile phone using the Slingbox or LocationFree TV? Stuff Magazine went and asked the TVLA just that. According to the TVLA, any device that is self-powered does not require a licence as long as you have one at your residential address. Interesting stuff.