Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Chatter > General Discussion


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-20-2004, 02:42 PM   #1 (permalink)
Reclusiarch
 
PredeconInferno's Avatar
 
Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX
So I'm being sued...

So here's the news:

Direct TV is under the impression that I've been purchasing equipment for stealing satellite signals from them and subscribing to "memberships of illegal piracy forums to gain unauthorized access to DIRECTV programming."

This is quite humorous as I don't even own a TV. In fact, once the RIAA stuff started going down, I even got rid of all of my mp3s.

What's even stranger: this letter is addressed to my dorm room. I haven't lived there since last May.

weird, huh?

I'm supposed to call them before 6:00 PM PST on the 24th to work out the "settlement."

In case you're curious, the settlement includes:

1) Surrender of all illegally modified access cards or other satellite signal theft devices in my posession.
2) Execute a written statement to the effect that I will not purchase or use illegal signal theft devices to obtain satellite programming in the future, nor have any involvement in the unauthorized reception of DIRECTV programming
3) Pay a monetary sum to DIRECTV for your past wrongful conduct and the damages hereby incurred by the company






oh happy day.
__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.
PredeconInferno is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 02:57 PM   #2 (permalink)
Ssssssssss
 
Kaos's Avatar
 
Location: Ontario
You should call some of your dorm roommates and see if anyone else has gotten the same letter. They may be doing a mass suing to catch one culprit and trying to scare you into doing the work for them and pointing the finger at someone.
Kaos is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 03:22 PM   #3 (permalink)
Psycho
 
Don't sign shit. If they say you have to, even threaten you, say no.
Aletheia is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 03:22 PM   #4 (permalink)
Addict
 
Location: In the id
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/6402
iamnormal is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 03:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: PA
This sickens me. I hate companies that do this. Do not pay or give into their bull. Try to find some other people being sued and maybe you guys can work something out to share the cost of a lawyer or something.

-Robert
1337haxor is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 09:39 PM   #6 (permalink)
Addict
 
Location: Virginia
What a bunch of idiots.

Hope you can beat those fools.
AL9045 is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 09:43 PM   #7 (permalink)
Reclusiarch
 
PredeconInferno's Avatar
 
Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX
thanks for the article <B>iamnormal</B> it was actually quite informative.

Comment: I've never ever ever purchased anything of this kind. The farthest I've gone into buying signal receiving devices is wireless adaptors for laptops to allow access to wireless ethernet.

Oh, btw, the address on the letter was addressed to "McCutheon Hill" where I actually lived in(I don't live there anymore) "McCutcheon Hall"

Oh, as extra hurt on DirecTV, my father is an attorney at law so muhahaha. He's a corporate lawyer for 3M corporation. TAKE THAT!

Basically, he's representing me in this act of.... well it sounds like intimidation to me.
__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.
PredeconInferno is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 09:52 PM   #8 (permalink)
Misanthropic
 
Crack's Avatar
 
Location: Ohio! yay!
Did any one else notice the article was written by By Kevin Poulsen?

http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence...io/bio_07.html
__________________
Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex.

~Halx
Crack is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 10:00 PM   #9 (permalink)
Addict
 
Location: In the id
It reminds me of mobs threatening protection. Pay up now or pay more later.
iamnormal is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 10:01 PM   #10 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Have you $een a p$ychiatrist due to all the $tre$$ that thi$ ha$ cau$ed in your life?
__________________
Book 'em Danno
glasscutter43 is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 10:34 PM   #11 (permalink)
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
 
Bill O'Rights's Avatar
 
Location: In the dust of the archives
Quote:
Originally posted by glasscutter43
Have you $een a p$ychiatrist due to all the $tre$$ that thi$ ha$ cau$ed in your life?


Oh!!



I can be a little...slow, at times.

Glad to hear that your father's an attorney. That was the first thing that I was going to suggest.
__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.
Bill O'Rights is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 10:51 PM   #12 (permalink)
Quadrature Amplitude Modulator
 
oberon's Avatar
 
Location: Denver
Quote:
Originally posted by PredeconInferno
Oh, btw, the address on the letter was addressed to "McCutheon Hill" where I actually lived in(I don't live there anymore) "McCutcheon Hall"
Is that McCutcheon Hall at Purdue University?

I used to live there, for 2 semesters.

Who the hell would set up satellite TV in a dorm like that?
__________________
"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb
oberon is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 11:01 PM   #13 (permalink)
Is mad at you.
 
Location: Bored in Sacramento
Quote:
Originally posted by glasscutter43
Have you $een a p$ychiatrist due to all the $tre$$ that thi$ ha$ cau$ed in your life?
Seeing as I am not a lawyer I don't have anything importaint to add to this post. I just wanted to say ---^.

I love corporate strong arm tactics.
__________________
This too shall pass.
Harshaw is offline  
Old 02-20-2004, 11:09 PM   #14 (permalink)
Swashbuckling
 
Location: Iowa...sometimes
Quote:
Originally posted by crackprogram
Did any one else notice the article was written by By Kevin Poulsen?

http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence...io/bio_07.html
HAHA that guy rules

Quote:
In 1990 Poulsen took over all telephone lines going into Los Angeles area radio station KIIS-FM, assuring that he would be the 102nd caller. Poulsen won a Porsche 944 S2 for his efforts.
__________________
Watch More TV
BuddyHawks is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 01:32 PM   #15 (permalink)
Drifting
 
amonkie's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Windy City
I'd try to get as many details as you can. The guy who used to live in my dorm room before me gave out the room information to tons of people, and apparently he owes all these people tons of stuff and $$, so I get mail and phone calls requesting him. Then the people get mad at me when i tell them he hasn't lived here in a year. You might want to double check exactly who they're looking for, and get yourself out of the picture if they're going after you wrongly.
__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna
amonkie is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 05:25 PM   #16 (permalink)
Loser
 
I guess I'll never get interested in programming SmartCards for various uses. It seems to bear a hefty price.
2kids1headache is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 06:28 PM   #17 (permalink)
Crazy
 
Location: Good Ol' Iowa.. Home of The Hawkeyes
Tsk Tsk .. shame on them for pointing a finger. Sounds as though they may have just benifited you for the better. Good luck.. I think perhaps I'll stick to cable theft.
__________________
Can you imagine Moses asking Congress to pass the ten commandments?
EruptiveDreamz is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 08:14 PM   #18 (permalink)
eat more fruit
 
ChrisJericho's Avatar
 
Location: Seattle
If you are at a major university, there usually is some kind of legal organization for students to consult. I would advise doing that.
__________________
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche
ChrisJericho is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 08:41 PM   #19 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: ?
I'll give you $100 for your unlooper.
__________________
wish you were here
floydthebarber is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 09:25 PM   #20 (permalink)
High Honorary Junkie
 
Location: Tri-state.
definitely corporate intimidation...don't accept any bull! :-) good luck and be sure to let up know
macmanmike6100 is offline  
Old 02-21-2004, 11:56 PM   #21 (permalink)
Reclusiarch
 
PredeconInferno's Avatar
 
Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX
Quote:
Originally posted by ChrisJericho
If you are at a major university, there usually is some kind of legal organization for students to consult. I would advise doing that.
I would definitely do this if I thought it would do any good. As it is, my father is quite capable of handling the situation. Just to play around, he brought up the idea that maybe he's going to talk to one of his lawyer friends (he has quite a few... and GOOD lawyers at that) and have them write a "nastygram" to them.

I lauged at that.
__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.
PredeconInferno is offline  
Old 02-22-2004, 07:57 AM   #22 (permalink)
Banned
 
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Intimidate them back??

"In response to your 'protection' letter, we feel it would be appropriate if you would send $3.5M to us as compensatory damages for your libel.

"We accept cash. Just cash. Have it delivered to (address) by (date) and we won't crush you in court for much more cash."
denim is offline  
Old 02-23-2004, 10:16 AM   #23 (permalink)
Talk nerdy to me
 
God of Thunder's Avatar
 
Location: Flint, MI
There is a mom in New Jersey that is counter-sueing the RIAA, based on the same principles. She is accusing the RIAA of racketeering and scare tactics.

Linky
__________________
I reject your reality, and substitute my own

-- Adam Savage
God of Thunder is offline  
Old 02-23-2004, 09:16 PM   #24 (permalink)
Warrior Smith
 
Fire's Avatar
 
Location: missouri
keep us posted- I wanna see "The MAN " get fucked for once...
__________________
Thought the harder, Heart the bolder,
Mood the more as our might lessens
Fire is offline  
Old 02-23-2004, 09:36 PM   #25 (permalink)
Metal and Rock 4 Life
 
Destrox's Avatar
 
Location: Phoenix
While I am on agreement that p2p and mp3 file sharing is illegal, I am also completely AGAINST the RIAA and thier bloodhound tactics.

Thier mafia style sueing methods are just horrid, and would be illegal by any other business out there.

As for your case, good luck, seems like you have a damn good hand and a poker face to match it.
__________________
You bore me.... next.
Destrox is offline  
Old 02-23-2004, 10:10 PM   #26 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: SLC, UT
thank god directv hasnt found me muahahaha

j/k, i have cable
__________________
<Arcane> so if you banged 2000 chicks then at least one had a pen0r?
arcane is offline  
Old 02-24-2004, 02:24 AM   #27 (permalink)
Trevlyn
Guest
 
Whatever they are doing to sue you is illegal- to find out what you bought before the Patriot Act is pretty illegal, and a violation of the 4th Amendment. I would consider a counter-suit of invasion of privacy and also for wasting your time with their shenanigans.

But that nastygram should do that, and prolly include some of what I said.
 
Old 02-24-2004, 07:55 AM   #28 (permalink)
Industrialist
 
Mondak's Avatar
 
Location: Southern California
Please keep up this post as things turn out. There are a lot of terrible things about this and I really don't like it one bit. I have a healthy fear of our government and things like this smack of their involvement. DirectTV took everyone on a "list" and took this scare tactic with them. The bigger question is where did they get their list. Even if your dad convinces them to give it up against you, there are lots of people who don't have an intelligent dad who knows what to do and are probobally very scared by this.

DirectTV took this into account when sending out the letters. They knew a certain % would fight and a certain % would pay no questions asked. I don't doubt that you would win in court, getting to court is the problem.
__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

Mondak is offline  
Old 02-24-2004, 08:23 AM   #29 (permalink)
Insane
 
yatzr's Avatar
 
what a bunch of bastards. I might even hate directTV more than the RIAA now....wait....almost but not quite. But seriously, if it wasn't illegal to purchase the smart cards, it has to be illegal to sue anyone who bought one. it just seems so wrong to me. I say take them down hard, and try to win for those 7 guys who couldn't. i think they're just gonna drop the case with you since you never actually bought one, but I say you should go after them if your dad is willing.

and yes, please keep us updated
__________________
Mechanical Engineers build weapons. Civil Engineers build targets.
yatzr is offline  
Old 02-24-2004, 10:48 AM   #30 (permalink)
MSD
The sky calls to us ...
 
MSD's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: CT
Damn, and I thought the threat of a few hundred in fines if I ever re-listed the S card on ebay was bad.

Good luck, get as much cash out of them as possible for libel.
MSD is offline  
Old 02-24-2004, 11:15 AM   #31 (permalink)
Crazy
 
I think DTV shut down a bunch of companies that were selling unloopers and programmers. They took there list of clients and sent those letters out to everyone.

Thats my .02
__________________
Go hard or go home;
Just don't go home hard.

canucker is offline  
Old 02-25-2004, 12:12 PM   #32 (permalink)
Reclusiarch
 
PredeconInferno's Avatar
 
Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX
All right, so you asked to keep updated.

My father, upon returning home sent them the following:

February 24, 2004


XXXXXXXXXX
Attorney at Law VIA FACSIMILE NO: XXX-XXX-XXXX
P. O. Box YYYYYY
XYXYXY, MN Unnununn



Re: PredeconInferno
Case No. XX-XXXX-XX



To whom it concerns:

Mr. Inferno has contacted me regarding your unsigned and unattributed letter dated February 10, 2004. I am an attorney at law specializing in the practice of intellectual property law. All future correspondence regarding this matter should be directed to me.

Mr. Inferno has never lived at 1398 McCutheon Hill in West Lafayette, Indiana. Additionally, Mr. Inferno denies that he has ever purchased any illegal signal theft devices and is unaware that he has ever had any membership in any illegal piracy forums to gain access to DIRECT TV programming.

If you have documentary evidence to the contrary, please forward copies of that evidence to me at the above address. Unless I hear from you by March 10, 2004 with evidence that establishes your allegations, I will presume that this matter has been resolved in Mr. Inferno's favor.

Very truly yours,




XXXXXXX
Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX
Facsimile: XXX-XXX-XXXX
__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.
PredeconInferno is offline  
Old 02-26-2004, 12:59 PM   #33 (permalink)
Misanthropic
 
Crack's Avatar
 
Location: Ohio! yay!
Nice... That should get the point across...
__________________
Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex.

~Halx
Crack is offline  
Old 02-26-2004, 01:15 PM   #34 (permalink)
Rawr!
 
skier's Avatar
 
Location: Edmontania
short and sweet. very nice.
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim
skier is offline  
Old 02-27-2004, 05:41 PM   #35 (permalink)
Insane
 
Location: The Internet
These kinds of tactics make my blood boil !!

I strongly believe that a counter-suit should be launched! Imagine the reverse situation - Imagine that subscribers started suing DIRECT BS for some irrational claim .. what would DIRECT BS do? They would counter-sue and probably win.

They can't have their cake and eat it too. I imagine that the case involving $100k in damages will be revered by a higher (and more sane) court than that jack-ass judge that presided.

Grr!

We protect these companies FAR too much !! I'd LOVE to see a few hang by the balls !!
__________________
rm -f /bin/laden
Sapper is offline  
Old 02-27-2004, 06:36 PM   #36 (permalink)
don't ignore this-->
 
bermuDa's Avatar
 
Location: CA
I'm just glad I don't have directTV or have any interest in smart card programmers... though that doesn't even seem to matter in your case, inferno... o_0

as i typed that a commercial came on with some douchebag yammering about how great directTV is. makes me want to put my foot through the TV.
__________________
I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.
bermuDa is offline  
Old 02-27-2004, 07:38 PM   #37 (permalink)
Reclusiarch
 
PredeconInferno's Avatar
 
Location: Unfortunately Houston, TX
So here's the last update:

DirecTV called my father at his office. To set this us... let's make up a name for me... um... John P. Smith

So DirecTV called my father and they said, "Oh... well we <I>actually</I> meant to call John... um..... D. Smith. Yeah, yeah, John <B>D<B> Smith. Sorry."

When I inquired about a counter-suit, my attorney had no desire to do so.

Alas, no awesome ending.

Sorry all.
__________________
Samurai in Training
Knowledge is power. Guard it well.
PredeconInferno is offline  
Old 02-28-2004, 07:40 AM   #38 (permalink)
Crazy
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
That's a bummer that you don't get to screw the bastards! But at least you got it settled and had a good laugh at their idiocy. I assume that since they just dropped it that you didn't sign any kind of non-disclosure statement? Maybe give a call to your local newspaper or TV station and let them know about this
__________________
We may lose, and we may win, but we will never be here again.
jfranco13 is offline  
 

Tags
sued

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:37 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360