Posted on 02/12/2003 12:23:33 PM PST by RCW2001
LOS ANGELES Feb. 12
A federal grand jury has indicted 17 people who authorities say hacked into satellite television transmissions, causing millions of dollars in losses to DirecTV and Dish Network, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Six of the defendants were charged with violating the anti-encryption provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The other charges involved conspiracy or manufacturing a device for the purpose of stealing satellite signals. All three counts carry a maximum prison sentence of five years.
The indictments were returned last month and unsealed Tuesday.
Ten defendants already have agreed to plead guilty, authorities said, including a 43-year-old West Los Angeles man who has acknowledged causing $14.8 million in losses to satellite TV companies.
The investigation was aimed at people who develop software and hardware devices that crack the scrambled signals designed to limit satellite TV services to paying customers. DirecTV, for instances, uses "smart cards" as part of their set-top boxes that descramble satellite signals.
The defendants named Tuesday are charged with thwarting that security, often meeting in secret online chat rooms to exchange data and techniques and using such nicknames as "FreeTV," authorities said.
The defendants range in age from 19 to 52. Most live in California, although some are from Kentucky, North Carolina, Texas, Indiana, Florida and Ohio.
"This case demonstrates our commitment to identifying and prosecuting sophisticated computer hackers who steal the intellectual property of others for their own economic benefit," U.S. Attorney Debra Yang said.
In order to receive the Services it will be necessary for you to purchase or lease certain reception equipment consisting primarily of a DISH Network compatible satellite receiver, a satellite antenna, LNBF unit and remote control ("Equipment"). You will also be provided with a conditional access card (Smart Card) that is inserted into your satellite receiver. The Smart Card remains the property of EchoStar Communications Corporation, the corporate parent of DISH Network and any tampering or other unauthorized modification to the Smart Card is strictly prohibited and may result in, and subject you to, legal action. You agree to return the Smart Card to us upon request.
Smart Cards are nontransferable. Your Smart Card will only work in the DISH Network receiver to which it was assigned by DISH Network. If you report to the Customer Service Center that your Smart Card was lost, damaged, defective or stolen we will replace it, as long as there is no evidence of unauthorized tampering or modification. A replacement fee will apply. In addition, in order to minimize downtime for your Equipment, DISH Network will, upon your request, deliver a replacement Smart Card to you via overnight delivery. Our Overnight Delivery Fee will apply.
DISH Network reserves the right to alter the software in your DISH Network receiver through periodic updates. DISH Network will use commercially reasonable efforts to schedule the updates in a manner that result in the least amount of interference with or interruption to your Service.
Your DISH Network receiver contains certain components and software which are proprietary to DISH Network. You agree that you will not try to reverse-engineer, decompile or disassemble any software or hardware contained within your receiver or our Smart Card. Such actions are strictly prohibited and may result in the termination of your Services and/or legal action.
I've heard some rumors that this stuff was close to home. I believe it made the local papers but I don't read them.
If you infringe upon the FCC reserved bands, you have committed a crime. If your signal is out of the Public domain's spectrum, and it is not infringing upon other signals; then you would need to register it with the FCC and wait for them to decide whether they will permit you to use it. (National Security issues then crop up). If it's in the public domain's range, it's fair game.
I didnt see it in the article but Ill bet they were involved in some gimmick to make money from it. I bet they were selling an info pack or kit or something. 17 people cant steal 14-something million dollars worth of services without doing something like that.
WRONG
Wrong!! The card is included when you buy the unit from Sams, Wal-Mart, Costco, Target or Bob's Appliance store. Quite a few people buy the cheap units to get a 'virgin' card, and throw away the hardware.
The Smart Card remains the property of EchoStar Communications Corporation, the corporate parent of DISH Network and any tampering or other unauthorized modification to the Smart Card is strictly prohibited and may result in, and subject you to, legal action.
"Remains the property of EchoStar" means that you don't own it. Clear enough?
The Smart Card remains the property of EchoStar Communications Corporation, the corporate parent of DISH Network and any tampering or other unauthorized modification to the Smart Card is strictly prohibited and may result in, and subject you to, legal action.
Also:
You agree that you will not try to reverse-engineer, decompile or disassemble any software or hardware contained within your receiver or our Smart Card. Such actions are strictly prohibited and may result in the termination of your Services and/or legal action.
That's IF you sign an agreement. Not only that but I could put ANY stipulation on something I sold. Like saying that the buyer has to run around a pine tree naked during the full moon three times a year. That still does NOT make it binding ... oh BTW I could build my own smart card ... does that make me a criminal ... BS
The Access Card will work only in the Receiving Equipment that it came with. Access Cards are nontransferable and will at all times remain the exclusive property of DIRECTV.
If, however, you bought your equipment, then signed a release for the card; I would be in total harmony with the legality.
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