Douglas County-based Dish Network Corp. won a jury verdict today in its piracy case against NDS Group, a News Corp. company.
However, the federal jury in Santa Ana, Calif. awarded the nation’s second-largest satellite provider limited damages of $45.69 and $1,000 in statutory damages. That’s a far cry from the $1 billion Dish Network sought in statutory damages or $181 million in compensatory damages to replace equipment and recoup lost profits.
Dish charged that NDS used hackers to crack security in Dish’s access cards. The jury found that NDS violated some U.S. and California laws.
“We are pleased that after four weeks of testimony on all the facts, the jury concluded that NDS violated the Federal Communications Act and the California Penal Code,” said Dish Network in a written statement. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute those individuals and companies that engage in stealing our satellite signals. While we are disappointed in the jury’s damages award, we are pleased that NDS will be responsible for our attorney fees in this case, and that we were completely vindicated on NDS’ meritless counterclaims.”
