Thursday, September 18, 2003
More than 11,000 lawsuits have been filed across the country since late last year.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- California-based DIRECTV Inc. is suing several Mahoning Valley residents, alleging the defendants used illegal equipment to pirate the company's satellite broadcast signals.
DIRECTV filed lawsuits last week in U.S. District Court, Youngstown, seeking $10,000 in damages from each defendant, as well as legal expenses. The actions are civil, not criminal.
According to court documents, DIRECTV of El Segundo, Calif., is a direct-broadcast satellite system delivering more than 225 channels of television and other programming to more than 10 million homes and businesses in the United States.
The programming includes major cable networks, studio movies and special events programming, as well as a variety of sports and other shows.
DIRECTV programming is available on a subscription and pay-per-view basis only. Customers are required to obtain a DIRECTV access card and other system hardware and create an account with DIRECTV.
Robert Mercer, director of public relations, said the suits target people who the company alleges bought and installed equipment that allows them to receive the DTV signal without paying for it. The equipment and software are available mainly through the Internet.
In the past, DIRECTV has focused mainly on stopping those companies from providing the equipment and software, but now it's going after the "end users," who use the illegal items.
Background
In May 2001, DIRECTV took legal action against several of the companies. As part of proceedings against them, DIRECTV was given access to the companies' client lists, allowing DIRECTV to find out who had bought the illegal devices.
"That took away the cloak of anonymity," Mercer said. "Until then, everyone thought they could get away with it because no one knew who they were."
Mercer said DIRECTV sent a letter to each person suspected of having illegal equipment, demanding that he stop using the equipment and pay a cash settlement to the company.
"We gave them a fair chance to come clean," he said.
Those who did not comply within a year are being sued, Mercer said. He said the company started filing lawsuits late last year, and that more than 11,000 have been filed nationwide so far.
"We feel this is an effective way to send a message," Mercer said. "What they are doing is illegal. It is theft, and there are serious consequences."
Mercer said the use of illegal equipment to illegally receive satellite TV signals is a problem for the entire pay-TV industry.
"We've got to protect our business, and we've got to protect the copyright holders of the material we broadcast," he said.
bjackson@vindy.com