Echostar/NDS case result

pinkhelmets

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A California jury today found that NDS Group Americas, a division of News Corp., had violated a pair of piracy laws by hacking EchoStar Communications’ conditional access system, however it only awarded $1,500 in statutory damages—a far cry from the $1 billion in damages EchoStar had been seeking.

EchoStar (now Dish Network) alleged that NDS Group in 2003 reverse-engineered its "smart cards" then leaked the hacking information on the Internet. EchoStar asserted the company sought to improve its position as a system security provider by diminishing the reputation of NagraStar LLC, EchoStar's security provider.

EchoStar owns 50% of NagraStar.

EchoStar could opt to accept the statutory damage award or the actual damages. But the latter award was even smaller: $46.95 for each of the two counts the jury believed EchoStar had proved.

The jury felt EchoStar had met its burden of proof that NDS violated an anti-piracy section of the Cable Communications Policy Act and California state law against piracy. The award represents the cost of a single piece of EchoStar's anti-theft system. The jury voted no damages for co-plaintiff Nagrastar.

EchoStar's attorneys rebuffed questions, referring inquiries about a possible appeal to EchoStar itself.

Darrin Snyder, one of the attorney's for NDS, said "NDS is pleased with the jury verdict."

The trial put an end to the lie that NDS had any responsibility for piracy at EchoStar, he said, adding the jury's verdict was consistent with the evidence.

Source: Multichannel News
 
Victory for NDS, slap in the face for Echostar!

Craqzy.
 
It should have been the other way round lol but atleast we still have the ofcom hearing to look forward to.
 
if thats what went on over EchoStar the ofcom one better be good or he is at his work that is a joke of a fine going by what people get in the states
 
Darrin Snyder said:
The trial put an end to the lie that NDS had any responsibility for piracy at EchoStar, the jury's verdict was consistent with the evidence.
No 'evidence' could be provided to show NDS publically released the hack that they admitted they had engineered.
Just to confirm, there is also NO evidence for-
#Nds hacking DirectTV before the court action that was dropped when Nds bought them out.
#Nds hacking Canal+ before the court action that was dropped when Nds bought a Canal+ owned subsidery.
#Connection with Seca hack, responsible for destruction of OnDigital/ItvDigital, the main uk rival of the Murdoch empire.
#The conax hack. A previously unbreakable encryption that was hacked just as VIA renewal contract was due. Resulting in VIA choosing Nds as its new provider.
#Any connection with the Seca2 hacks causing a main competitor Mediaguard to have financial trouble and result in being sold to kudelski.
#Any connection with the Italian corruption claims, surrounding the forced change of laws at the time Nds encryption replaced Seca Mediaguard, the established provider in Italy.
#Connection to losses to spanish D+ who are very much oposing the Nds world domination. Of course this includes Nds having no connection to the Knot team and its commercial hacks.
#Any connection with Nagra2 hacks that cost their number 1 world rival massively. Just months before the German providers guarantee expired a hack resulted in Kudelski being financially responsible.
#No proven connection with the ongoing hack that has resulted in German Premiere now chosing Nds as encryption provider, with likelyhood that kudelski will now be dropped.

So the point to make is that even if Nds admit to hacking as part of their everyday business (which happened in court), if there is no evidence you are responsible for distributing for gain, there will be no conviction. Thats the law. This applies even if you admit to paying hackers huge amounts in cash hidden in hollow electrical items. Also, even if you employ previous mafia and criminally connected, the point remains it is all circumstantial rumour. :)
 
thats some crazy stuff they really do have their fingers in quite a few pies
 
It's laughable but slightly unnerving at the same time, those fookers are untouchable.
 
but the fact they are around in so many places you would think that somebody would have cracked them properly by now but then again they just bring out their next rev
 
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