Mike
16th November 2002, 21:49
http://winnipeg.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=mb_satellitercmp021113
How bloody stupid can they get ?
Winnipeg company busted for selling banned TV
WINNIPEG - It could be the beginning of a crackdown on the selling of illegal satellite dishes. The RCMP has charged a Winnipeg company with selling equipment allowing Canadians to receive pirated American satellite channels. It's the first time police have done this since a landmark court ruling.
Police seized boxes and electronic gizmos they say allow Canadians to receive DirecTV signals with receivers purchased in the United States or on the Canadian black market. After a five-month investigation into XGEN Technologies, charges were laid.
"People who use equipment similar to what is seized is basically stealing that and robbing those companies who employ Canadians," says Const. John Ryll.
Police say these are the first charges since a landmark Supreme Court ruling in April turned DirecTV dishes from being so-called grey-market items to black-market items.
When contacted by CBC News, several satellite dealers would not comment for fear of attracting unwanted attention. That's because many of these dealers admit they sell black-market equipment.
Retailer Laurrie Gobeil doesn't. She says she gets several calls every day looking for illegal American programming.
"When I mention it's illegal, a lot of them are shocked, which is a common misconception. I think they see so much of it around that they don't realize what they're doing isn't within the law."
Gobeil says there's a lot of money to be made by companies that do sell the illegal products: "Whether it's $50 for an update or $200 for a card, you start adding that up by 10 or 20 people and that's cash in your pocket with no taxes paid or no declaration."
The RCMP is investigating similar companies across the country. If convicted, people could be fined $10,000 or face up to a year in jail.
At this point, people who have the illegal dishes at home don't need to worry. Police say they are too busy to go after individuals.
How bloody stupid can they get ?
Winnipeg company busted for selling banned TV
WINNIPEG - It could be the beginning of a crackdown on the selling of illegal satellite dishes. The RCMP has charged a Winnipeg company with selling equipment allowing Canadians to receive pirated American satellite channels. It's the first time police have done this since a landmark court ruling.
Police seized boxes and electronic gizmos they say allow Canadians to receive DirecTV signals with receivers purchased in the United States or on the Canadian black market. After a five-month investigation into XGEN Technologies, charges were laid.
"People who use equipment similar to what is seized is basically stealing that and robbing those companies who employ Canadians," says Const. John Ryll.
Police say these are the first charges since a landmark Supreme Court ruling in April turned DirecTV dishes from being so-called grey-market items to black-market items.
When contacted by CBC News, several satellite dealers would not comment for fear of attracting unwanted attention. That's because many of these dealers admit they sell black-market equipment.
Retailer Laurrie Gobeil doesn't. She says she gets several calls every day looking for illegal American programming.
"When I mention it's illegal, a lot of them are shocked, which is a common misconception. I think they see so much of it around that they don't realize what they're doing isn't within the law."
Gobeil says there's a lot of money to be made by companies that do sell the illegal products: "Whether it's $50 for an update or $200 for a card, you start adding that up by 10 or 20 people and that's cash in your pocket with no taxes paid or no declaration."
The RCMP is investigating similar companies across the country. If convicted, people could be fined $10,000 or face up to a year in jail.
At this point, people who have the illegal dishes at home don't need to worry. Police say they are too busy to go after individuals.