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Group Targets EchoStar Suit on Piracy
An advocacy group has started a legal challenge that targets work by EchoStar to address its piracy issue.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation said it has asked a federal court to reject efforts by EchoStar to get the names and addresses of consumers who purchased a free-to-air satellite receiver. EchoStar has claimed that the receiver can be modified to pirate its satellite TV programming.
The foundation said EchoStar's demand would violate user privacy and leave innocent purchasers vulnerable to bogus legal threats. "Innocent customers should not be dragged into federal litigation just because they bought a product that other, less scrupulous purchasers may be hacking for unlawful purposes," said EFF Senior Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann.
The demand for customer records is part of litigation involving EchoStar/DISH and Freetech, manufacturer of Coolsat free-to-air satellite receivers. The legal case also involves distributors of Coolsat receivers.
EchoStar/DISH declined to comment on the foundation's moves.
An advocacy group has started a legal challenge that targets work by EchoStar to address its piracy issue.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation said it has asked a federal court to reject efforts by EchoStar to get the names and addresses of consumers who purchased a free-to-air satellite receiver. EchoStar has claimed that the receiver can be modified to pirate its satellite TV programming.
The foundation said EchoStar's demand would violate user privacy and leave innocent purchasers vulnerable to bogus legal threats. "Innocent customers should not be dragged into federal litigation just because they bought a product that other, less scrupulous purchasers may be hacking for unlawful purposes," said EFF Senior Intellectual Property Attorney Fred von Lohmann.
The demand for customer records is part of litigation involving EchoStar/DISH and Freetech, manufacturer of Coolsat free-to-air satellite receivers. The legal case also involves distributors of Coolsat receivers.
EchoStar/DISH declined to comment on the foundation's moves.