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Racketeering Suit Filed Against DirecTV

Posted by michael on from the one-reason-why-i-chose-cable dept.

dki writes "Another attempt is being made to head off the lawsuits DirecTV has been filing against purchasers of smart-card programmers. This time, lawyers have filed suit under the mob-busting Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) federal organized crime statute, accusing DirecTV of organized extortion, money laundering and fraud. Background on the ongoing saga can be found here and here."

7 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. In other news... by Sklivvz · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...said lawyers were brought away by a medical task force after they started drooling heavily. An eye witness reported that they showed all the symptoms of rabies, including a heavy dose of paranoia...

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  2. Re:A blatant karma grab by wembley · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cool. Now I understand "The Sopranos".

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    Share and Enjoy!

  3. Dateline: Boston by JavaSavant · · Score: 5, Funny

    Irish Mob accuses DirectTV of copyright infringement over the use of extortion as a business practice...

  4. It's interesting... by dspyder · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm glad somebody is taking them to task and filing lawsuits to at least slow them down a little..... but realistically it's not a bad deal.

    You can get the equipment to watch all the TV (read: porn) you want for a mere $3500....

    The RIAA wants $15,000 for one measly song. Although you can theoretically listen to it indefinitely.

    Although for around 700 bucks you can pick up a Linux license... fun for hours (and that's just the install process)

    --D

    p.s. I pay my DirecTV bill. It ain't that bad and I'm happy to be off cable!!!

  5. Re:About time! by mkldev · · Score: 4, Funny
    I think Drew Carey put it best with a line that was something along the lines of "I'd get [the porn channel], but I already get Disney, and if you get them both together, they put you on some kind of list."

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  6. Re:They Know They're Crooked Too.. by mkldev · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...how long until America becomes a completely corporate-run state with a puppet government to speak for it, again?

    Are negative time values legal?

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    120 character sigs suck. Make it 250.
  7. Re:It'll fail... by Alien+Being · · Score: 4, Funny

    "If they don't have a case, simply refuse the offer and see them in court (if they at all try)."

    It's like the schoolyard bully who threatens to beat you up if you don't give him your lunch money.

    You can give him your lunch money; you lose, he becomes even more brazen. You can tell him no; you get beaten up and have your lunch money stolen. You can give your money to someone else to *try* to protect you; your money's gone and you might still get clobbered. Or you can join forces with others who are in the same boat and teach the bully a lesson. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense.

    Not only do I hope they send a strong message to DirecTV, I hope DirecTV's legal staff faces some consequences with the bar association.