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DirecTV Sues Anyone Who Bought Smartcard Reader?

MImeKillEr writes "The Register is reporting that DirecTV is suing anyone known to have purchased a smartcard programmer, regardless of whether or not they're actually using the device to enable stealing their programming. They're sending out letters & when people call to clear up the confusion, DirecTV is demanding a $3500 settlement as well as the programming device. They've filed 9000 federal lawsuits against alleged pirates thus far. They're obtaining lists of who purchased the devices during raids against the sites that offer them for sale."

13 of 1,072 comments (clear)

  1. Great! by brakk · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is exactly what we need to clog up out legal system! I guess the murderers and rapists can wait, someone's stealing TV!!!

    1. Re:Great! by laugau · · Score: 5, Funny

      You know what's funny is that we can go to prison for getting free cable and sattelite where we are punished by getting free satellite and cable.

  2. Target card by gouldtj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Damn it! I knew I should have read the fine print when I applied for that Target card - but I didn't realize it was going to cost me $3500! Get a free smartcard reader

  3. In other news... by stmfreak · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Kwikset is suing everyone who bought paperclips and thin blade flathead screwdrivers in the last fifty years.

    Realizing that their locks can be circumvented with a modicum of patience and the above mentioned tools, Kiwkset raided sales records at local home and office supply chains to locate citizens who had purchased paperclips and screwdrivers. Citing that no one who purchased the two items in the same month could possibly be up to any good, Kwikset sent out cease and desist letters to approximately 40,000 citizens demanding that they turn over the screwdrivers and paperclips to local authorities.

    --
    These opinions guaranteed or your money back.
  4. Re: The bastion of freedom and democracy by gizmonic · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here is your list:

    --
    WWJD?
    JWRTFM!
  5. Damn damn damn! by AndroidCat · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was going to buy one of those smartcard programmers to steal free wash and dry in my building's laundry room. But now DirecTV is going to sue me if I do. Damn you!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  6. Re:CD Burners by rootofevil · · Score: 5, Funny

    yea, and if you got anything faster than a 1x, say a 52x theyd sue you for having 52 cd burners, like the BSA claimed to find.

    --
    turn up the jukebox and tell me a lie
  7. Re:If you can't do the time.... by Pentagram · · Score: 4, Funny

    Would an intelligent consumer buy white flour from a cocaine dealer? I think not.

    Seems reasonable to me! On the other hand though, I wouldn't buy cocaine from a white flour dealer.

  8. Re:BARRATRY! by bjtuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    If companies would be less greedy and not charge as much for services maybe people would want to buy things instead of stealing them

    Yeah well if the Queen had balls, she'd be king. Companies are out to make money -- it's what they do. You think DTV was started for the common good of mankind?

  9. Re:Legal extortion. by ShavenYak · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ten people representing themselves in court would be disasterous to a judge's schedule. A thousand people doing the same will clog the system so badly ...

    And ten thousand people, that would be a movement. And that's what it is, the Alice's Restaurant Anti-DTV-extortion movement....

    Oh, never mind. Average /. reader is far too young to get that.

    --

    Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
  10. Re:BARRATRY! by asscroft · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do you own kitchen knives? Perhaps You're the one who killed Nicole. Quick! Someone tell OJ so he can clear his name.

    Just because a knife can be used to kill someone, doesn't mean it's a MURDER DEVICE. So why is a smart card programmer a PIRATE DEVICE?

    The only Pirate Devices I don't think I could argue the definition of woul be a Parrot, a Wooden Leg, an Eye Patch, a Funny hat with skull and cross bones, a wine bottle wrapped in dried grasses, a sword, potentially a mustache? No, some people own parrots and aren't pirates at all, so there goes that too.

    --
    because I have been enjoined by this Holy Office to abandon the false opinion which maintains that the Sun is the centre
  11. Re:BARRATRY! by Jardine · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, some people own parrots and aren't pirates at all, so there goes that too.

    That's just what they want you to think.

  12. Quite a pity... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... a gun cannot be qualified as a circumvention device.

    So, you cant be sued for having a gun (and possibly killing a person in the future) -- but you can be sued for having bought a card reader?!?

    Oops, almost forgot! Were talking about profits here, not lives!

    My bad... :-/