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."

Comments

The RIAA business strategy

[wayward_son]

1. Sue everyone.
2. ?????
3. Profit.

They just kind of forgot that giant corporations suing ordinary people isn't too popular.

Use ASCII, Starve A Lawyer

[reallocate]

I know this is about satellite TV, but....None of this would be happening if people would just stick to ASCII and stop trying to treat the Internet as if it was some kind of big, distributed boombox.

Don't play into the hands of people who think the web is a broadcasting medium.