Feds OK DirecTV Takeover

Grok Headline matches for Feds OK DirecTV Takeover

The end of DIRECTV piracy?

The end of DIRECTV piracy? 04/15/2004 09:03 AM
The sky is falling! [some links require reg] The years of hacking DIRECTV's signal and pirating its program offerings seem to be coming to an end.

DirecTV can't sue for gear possession

DirecTV can't sue for gear possession 06/15/2004 09:09 PM
Appeals court affirms that suit defendants have to use--not just own--equipment for intercepting satellite TV.

DirecTV Deletes TiVo

DirecTV Deletes TiVo 06/09/2004 10:58 AM
DirecTV sells its 4% stake in TiVo and resigns its board seat.

DirecTV Helps TiVo

DirecTV Helps TiVo 12/11/2003 04:57 PM
DirecTV helps TiVo... but not TiVo users. While CNET reports that TiVo's partnership with DirecTV has driven subs up to the 1 million mark, my poor DirecTiVo satellite/DVR combo is orphaned sans the Home Media Option and any of the cool new software features (e.g. folders)--and, indeed, any software updates to speak of--appearing on the standalone Tivo boxes. The Web-based recording and ability to stream audio from my MP3 store to my hifi via TiVo were the very reasons I upgraded to a Series 2 TiVo. Sure is nice to see TiVo doing so well though; mind you, I do mean that--this particular beef is with DirecTV.

DirecTV to ease use of DMCA hammer

DirecTV to ease use of DMCA hammer 06/15/2004 06:45 AM
DirecTV will no longer file lawsuits against people that simply purchased shamrt card wreaters and writers. It is unclear how this move will affect thousands who have already received letters that have threatened lawsuits.

DirecTV to sell set-top box unit to
Thomson

DirecTV to sell set-top box unit to
Thomson 05/12/2004 05:26 PM
SiliconValley.com May 12 2004 9:26PM GMT

DirecTV Extortion Program stopped by EFF

DirecTV Extortion Program stopped by EFF 06/15/2004 11:32 AM

RIAA and DirecTV file more suits

RIAA and DirecTV file more suits 11/04/2003 07:33 AM
Drag thousands to court

Ex-investigator's suit against DirecTV
dismissed

Ex-investigator's suit against DirecTV
dismissed 06/04/2004 05:57 AM

BellSouth debuts DirecTV service

BellSouth debuts DirecTV service 08/03/2004 09:28 PM
The local phone giant starts selling access to the satellite TV network in a bundle with phone and broadband services.

DirecTV changes Smart Card Stance

DirecTV changes Smart Card Stance 06/15/2004 03:44 AM

DirecTV will no longer prosecute people who simply own smart card devices. This comes as major change after an significant number of people have had money extorted from them by DirecTV for simply owning Smart Card devices. They have not stated the exact criteria they will use to go after people pirating there service with the devices. [EFF]

A failed DirecTV acquisition of TiVo?

A failed DirecTV acquisition of TiVo? 04/05/2005 05:42 PM
Blog: DirecTV at one time discussed acquiring TiVo, but TiVo turned DirecTV down, according to a Monday column by Phillip Swann in TVpredictions.com....

KVH boosted by car antenna deal with
DirecTV

KVH boosted by car antenna deal with
DirecTV 01/06/2005 07:32 PM
SiliconValley.com Jan 6 2005 10:34PM GMT

DirecTV Again Clips Pegasus' Wings

DirecTV Again Clips Pegasus' Wings 06/02/2004 01:42 PM
TheStreet.com Jun 2 2004 5:09PM GMT

EFF Gets DirecTV To Stop Extortion
Program

EFF Gets DirecTV To Stop Extortion
Program 06/15/2004 03:32 AM
It only took a few years of pressure, but DirecTV is backing down from their policy of extortion when it comes to anyone who has bought a smart card reader. The situation, in case you hadn't followed the case, was that DirecTV got access to the sales lists of some companies that sold smart card readers - which can be used to create cards for illegally accessing satellite TV. Of course, there are other, perfectly legitimate, reasons why someone might want a smartcard reader as well - but DirecTV didn't really care. Instead, they sent out threatening letters, demand ing $3,500 or filing a lawsuit, where you would need to prove your innocence, rather than have DirecTV show you had actually done something illegal. Last year, the EFF got involved in the case, and it appears they've convinced DirecTV to back off. They say they will "no longer sue or threaten to sue people merely for possessing smart card devices." They'll also make it easier for anyone they contact to prove their innocence prior to the case going to court. Of course, this doesn't solve the legal problems of many who have been hounded over the past few years by DirecTV.

TiVo, DirecTV extend ad pact

TiVo, DirecTV extend ad pact 04/05/2005 02:02 PM
CNN Money Apr 5 2005 5:22PM GMT

Former DirecTV Bag Man Discusses
Extortion Campaign

Former DirecTV Bag Man Discusses
Extortion Campaign 04/16/2004 08:58 PM
As DirecTV continues their campaign to threate n anyone who bought a smart card reader, even if they did so for completely legitimate reasons, it looks like some more evidence is coming out against them. A former employee working in their anti-piracy division is now suing the company suggesting they forced him to do illegal and unethical things in forcing innocent people to pay up. He says he felt like "a bag man for the mob" and talks about how the anti-piracy operation "was an elaborate extortion racket," that rewarded employees based on how much settlement revenue they brought in. He points out that this encouraged them to work as hard as possible to make everyone pay up, whether or not they had done anything illegal.

DirecTV sells its TiVo stake

DirecTV sells its TiVo stake 06/08/2004 06:27 PM

EFF and Stanford Law School to the
rescue against DirecTV

EFF and Stanford Law School to the
rescue against DirecTV 06/15/2004 03:05 PM

Dan Gillmor

DirecTV Reins in the Legal Attack Dogs

In one of the uglier "intellectual property" abuses, DirecTV has been suing people for possession of tools it claims can be used to get TV shows without paying for them. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society have challenged the satellite TV company on this conduct, and on Monday DirecTV agreed to modify its approach, according to this press release, which says in part:

The company will no longer pursue people solely for purchasing smart card readers, writers, general-purpose programmers, and general-purpose emulators. It will maintain this policy into the forseeable future and file lawsuits only against people it suspects of actually pirating its satellite signal. DirecTV will, however, continue to investigate purchasers of devices that are often primarily designed for satellite signal interception, nicknamed “bootloaders” and “unloopers.”

DirecTV also agreed to change its pre-lawsuit demand letters to explain in detail how innocent recipients can get DirecTV to drop their cases. The company also promised that it will investigate every substantive claim of innocence it receives. If purchasers provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that they did not use their devices for signal theft, DirecTV will dismiss their cases. EFF and CIS will monitor reports of this process to confirm that innocent device purchasers are having their cases dismissed.

Perhaps DirecTV saw some writing on the wall. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court has ruled that the company can't sue solely because someone possesses such equipment.

These are the kinds of stories that make me sometimes wish I lived in America. Good job EFF and Stanford Law School.

The Rocky TiVo-DirecTV Relationship

The Rocky TiVo-DirecTV Relationship 04/04/2005 04:17 PM

DirecTV Says Sold Stake in TiVo

DirecTV Says Sold Stake in TiVo 06/09/2004 04:12 AM
Boston Globe Jun 9 2004 8:34AM GMT

DirecTV to buy Pegasus Satellite for
$875 million

DirecTV to buy Pegasus Satellite for
$875 million 08/02/2004 02:00 PM
SiliconValley.com Aug 2 2004 6:00PM GMT

CEO Interview: How DirecTV Plans to Grow

CEO Interview: How DirecTV Plans to Grow 04/26/2004 10:24 AM
Fortune Apr 26 2004 2:02PM GMT

DirecTV Machine Will Compete With TiVo

DirecTV Machine Will Compete With TiVo 01/07/2005 12:15 AM
New York Times Jan 7 2005 4:12AM GMT

DIRECTV and DIRECWAY Satellite Systems

DIRECTV and DIRECWAY Satellite Systems 04/05/2005 04:08 AM
directway .. DirecTV

satellitetvboutique.com
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Will A DirecTV Customer On Comcast's
Payroll Switch?

Will A DirecTV Customer On Comcast's
Payroll Switch? 08/20/2004 12:52 PM
Comcast's latest attempt at "reality TV" has some quite skeptical. Broadband Reports tells us that the latest advertising gimmick from the company to try to win back customers they've been losing to satellite TV is to put on a "reality TV" style commercial, where they follow around a happy DirecTV user as he debates whether or not to switch. Of course, the extra detail is that the happy DirecTV user just happens to be a copywriter for the ad agency Comcast hired to create these commercials. Everyone involved claims that he's free to make up his own mind -- but if he chooses poorly, it could mean (a) the end result of the experiment is never told to the public and (b) the ad agency loses a big customer in Comcast. But, they still insist... no bias at all. Of course, these days, I think most people are skeptical enough to already assume that the whole thing has been scripted in advance.

TiVo, DirecTV Sign Advertising Deal

TiVo, DirecTV Sign Advertising Deal 04/05/2005 02:58 PM
In a possible sign that relations between satellite television provider DirecTV and DVR-maker TiVo may be improving, details of a new advertising agreement between the two companies were made public Tuesday. The deal allows for both companies to leverage TiVo's "advanced advertising capabilities" on DirecTV TiVo units.

DirecTV exec quits TiVo board

DirecTV exec quits TiVo board 06/04/2004 01:48 PM

DIRECTV Debuts New Hardware Strategy at
CES 2004.

DIRECTV Debuts New Hardware Strategy at
CES 2004. 01/09/2004 09:58 PM
DIRECTV Debuts New Hardware Strategy at CES 2004. "Over the course of the year, authorized manufacturers of DIRECTV hardware will migrate to a new standardized hardware specification, which will ensure that all DIRECTV customers enjoy a consistent user interface and experience. Similarly, the various consumer electronics brands currently associated with DIRECTV equipment will be replaced by the DIRECTV brand." Translation: All your base are belong to us.

DirecTV sells its equity stake in TiVo

DirecTV sells its equity stake in TiVo 06/08/2004 06:58 PM
CNET Jun 8 2004 10:08PM GMT

DirecTV Posts Strong User Gains

DirecTV Posts Strong User Gains 08/05/2004 12:14 PM
TheStreet.com Aug 5 2004 3:43PM GMT

DirecTV Reins in the Legal Attack Dogs

DirecTV Reins in the Legal Attack Dogs 06/15/2004 01:39 PM

In one of the uglier "intellectual property" abuses, DirecTV has been suing people for possession of tools it claims can be used to get TV shows without paying for them. The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society have challenged the satellite TV company on this conduct, and on Monday DirecTV agreed to modify its approach, according to this press release, which says in part:

The company will no longer pursue people solely for purchasing smart card readers, writers, general-purpose programmers, and general-purpose emulators. It will maintain this policy into the forseeable future and file lawsuits only against people it suspects of actually pirating its satellite signal. DirecTV will, however, continue to investigate purchasers of devices that are often primarily designed for satellite signal interception, nicknamed “bootloaders” and “unloopers.” DirecTV also agreed to change its pre-lawsuit demand letters to explain in detail how innocent recipients can get DirecTV to drop their cases. The company also promised that it will investigate every substantive claim of innocence it receives. If purchasers provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that they did not use their devices for signal theft, DirecTV will dismiss their cases. EFF and CIS will monitor reports of this process to confirm that innocent device purchasers are having their cases dismissed.

Perhaps DirecTV saw some writing on the wall. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court has ruled that the company can't sue solely because someone possesses such equipment.

DirecTV launches non-TiVo digital
recorder

DirecTV launches non-TiVo digital
recorder 01/07/2005 02:02 AM
ZDNet Jan 7 2005 5:48AM GMT

Glitch hits DirecTV TiVo boxes

Glitch hits DirecTV TiVo boxes 07/28/2004 06:20 PM
A software download apparently hits "pause" on some some digital video recorders.

DirecTV "Consumer Guilty before proved
Innocent"

DirecTV "Consumer Guilty before proved
Innocent" 10/28/2003 11:07 PM
Wired ask some hard questions of DirecTV. It is obvious they are able to circumvent the innocent until proved guilty...

Court dismisses DirecTV whistleblower
case

Court dismisses DirecTV whistleblower
case 06/01/2004 12:21 PM
Legal setback for former anti-piracy 'bag man'

DirecTV Boosts HD As VOOM Prepares for
Doom

DirecTV Boosts HD As VOOM Prepares for
Doom 09/14/2004 03:38 AM
New research from tThe Diffusion Group suggests that satellite HD services will boom despite the impending failure of VOOM. [PRWEB Sep 14, 2004]

DirecTV Adds Users but Posts Loss

DirecTV Adds Users but Posts Loss 05/04/2004 01:38 PM
TheStreet.com May 4 2004 5:03PM GMT

Briefly: BellSouth debuts DirecTV
service

Briefly: BellSouth debuts DirecTV
service 08/03/2004 09:28 PM
roundup Plus: BEA's Beehive buzzing...Real updates player for Linux...GoRemote appoints new chief.
Grok Description matches for Feds OK DirecTV Takeover
GrokA matches for Feds OK DirecTV Takeover

Feds OK DirecTV Takeover

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