A Californian jury has found NDS guilty of violating anti-piracy laws on just two counts. The decision awarded Dish Network just $1,500 in statutory damages, far less than the $1 billion that had been sought by the US DTH operator.
The ruling largely exonerated NDS, which said proved the News Corp technology company had not been engaged in piracy, even though an employee may have conducted a test that may have technically violated US law.
“NDS is pleased that the four-week long trial in which NDS faced baseless allegations, widely repeated and exaggerated to suggest the involvement of our majority shareholder News Corporation, has ended in a resounding affirmation of NDS and its business ethics and proper conduct,” read a company statement.
Dish Network expressed its disappointment in the ruling, but stressed it would continue to take action against the piracy of its signals. “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,” the company said.
In addition to the damages NDS will also pay Dish Networks’ legal costs.