Dream Multimedia, a supplier of Linux-based set-top boxes, has said it continues to “pursue vigorously” all merchants attempting to market pirated copies of its DM500. In Poland, the manufacturer of the Dreambox has achieved three convictions, against two companies and a private person.
The Polish company Visoduck, based in Warsaw, was convicted and sentenced to a payment equivalent to more than €50,000 in damages to Dream. In addition, the company Telcomnet from Radom will have to pay just over €6,000 to Dream. In both cases, the court in Warsaw found the companies had sold cloned boxes of the DM500 commercially. At this stage, both companies can still appeal against the convictions.
No further appeal is possible against the finding of a higher court in Warsaw in the case of a private person who attempted to import 150 cloned DM500 receivers into Poland. Customs officials confiscated the satellite receivers to ensure they did not go into circulation. The person concerned now has to bear the costs for the destruction of the pirated copies.
Following the three convictions, Dream spokesperson Alpaslan Karasu, said in a statement: “The success in Poland has strengthened our resolve to continue to pursue everybody who attempts to bring pirated copies of our Dreamboxes into circulation by all legal means. I can only advise consumers not to fall for such so-called bargains. Only the originals produced by Dream Multimedia will provide the expected high quality.“
