DirecTV Hacker Is First Person Convicted Under Digital Millennium Copyright Act

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.nbc4.tv/technology/2502786/detail.html

September 22, 2003

LOS ANGELES -- In what prosecutors say was the first jury conviction
ever under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a Florida man was
convicted in Los Angeles of selling hardware used to pirate DirecTV
broadcasts.

Thomas Michael Whitehead, 38, of Boca Raton, was found guilty of one
count of conspiracy, two counts of selling unlawful decryption devices
and three counts of violating the DMCA, Assistant U.S. Attorney James
Spertus said.

Whitehead faces up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $2.75
million when he is sentenced Jan. 26 by U.S. District Judge Christina
Snyder.

Spertus said Whitehead -- also known as Jungle Mike -- paid a
co-conspirator $250 a month to continually update software to
circumvent the latest DirecTV security measures. Whitehead then used
the software to create and sell modified DirecTV access cards, the
prosecutor said.

The conduct violated the DMCA, which bars trafficking in technology
primarily designed to get around security measures to access a
copyrighted work.

Whitehead was indicted earlier this year as part of Operation Decrypt,
an undercover FBI investigation that targeted computer programmers and
hardware manufacturers who distribute devices used to steal signals
from DirecTV and DISH Network.

Several other defendants in the case previously pleaded guilty to
various charges, including violations of the DMCA, Spertus said.



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