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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
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