. 24/7 Space News .
DirecTV Files Federal Suit Against Satellite Piracy Ring

The imported pirate - which included pirated access cards and the devices used to re-program them -- enabled those who purchased the pirate devices to unscramble and view DirecTV programs without legal authorization.

El Segundo - May 15, 2001
Continuing its aggressive enforcement activity against satellite television piracy, DirecTV Inc. today announced it has filed a federal lawsuit against 80 individuals whom it believes trafficked illegal signal theft equipment imported from Canada for sale in the United States.

The imported pirate technology -- which included pirated access cards and the devices used to re-program them -- enabled those who purchased the pirate devices to unscramble and view DirecTV programming without legal authorization. The Federal complaint was filed on March 16 in the United States District Court, Central District of California.

DirecTV believes the 80 defendants purchased the illegal equipment from Reginald Scullion and his wife, Frances Callan, both Quebec residents, against whom DirecTV won a $19 million federal judgment in January for the illegal exportation of pirate technology and equipment from Canada to the United States.

It is alleged in the complaint that the 80 defendants acted as dealers for the Scullions, buying programming devices and selling the hacked access cards.

"This aggressive action, against multiple defendants, underscores our steadfast commitment to protect the integrity of our signal," said Larry Rissler, vice president, Signal Integrity for DirecTV.

"From those individuals buying or selling illegal signal theft equipment, to end users purchasing and using illegally modified access cards, we intend to prosecute those involved in this illegal activity to the fullest extent of the law."

In addition to the $19 million judgment in January and a prior $34 million judgment received from a federal court in Seattle against an international satellite piracy ring, DirecTV continues to disable illegally modified cards through electronic countermeasures.

DirecTV, through its Office of Signal Integrity, continues to provide technical support to law enforcement officials working to prevent the theft of DirecTV programming signals.

Related Links
DirecTV
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Fuel Cells Keep Remote Satellite Monitoring Terminals Powered Up
Valencia - May 15, 2001
DCH Technology, Inc. a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen-specific sensors, announced that IPS MeteoStar, a global supplier of remote data-logging systems that communicate information back to customers real-time via satellite, will begin distributing products with DCH portable fuel cells serving as the internal electric power supply.







  • No More Space Tourism For At Least Two Years: Russia
  • US Space Tourist Tito Hopes To Blaze Trail For Other Cosmic Trippers
  • Tito Takes Up Quarters On ISS
  • Endeavour Computer Problems Delay Shuttle Return and Tito's Launch

  • Humans Could Set Foot On Mars By 2020: Nasa Chief Humans Could Set Foot On Mars By 2020: Nasa Chief
  • Genetically Modified Earth Plants Will Glow From Mars
  • Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2001 - Part Five
  • Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2001 - Part Three



  • Orbital Restructures Orbimage Finances
  • EarthWatch Rebrands Itself DigitalGlobe

  • Nuclear Power On The Outer Rim
  • The Medium Cut Of Space Exploration
  • The Medium Cut Of Space Exploration
  • The Medium Cut Of Space Exploration

  • No Time Like the Present for Planet Watching
  • Gamma-Ray Bursts May Originate In Star-Forming Regions
  • Japan's Solar-B Mission Gets International Boost
  • Missing In Action: Oort Cloud Blown Away

  • NASA Seeks Berth On India's Moon Mission

  • Forum Considers Euro GPS System
  • Delta 2 Lofts GPS Bird
  • Delta 2 GPS Launch Scrubbed
  • Euro GPS System Gets A Road Test

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement