Plaintiffs: D*sh Network, LLC, E*hostar Technologies LLC and N*grastar, LLC
Defendants: Melvin Woods

Case Number: 1:2009cv00438
Filed: December 9, 2009

Court: North Carolina Western District Court
Office: Asheville Office
County: Burke
Presiding Judge: District Judge Martin Reidinger
Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell

Nature of Suit: Other Statutes - Cable/Satellite TV
Cause: 47:0605 Unauthorized publication or use of communications
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff


1. Plaintiffs bring this action against Defendant for unlawfully distributing and otherwise trafficking in devices, components, and/or technologies intended to facilitate the illegal and unauthorized reception and decryption of D*SH Network’s subscription and pay-per-view television programming.

2. D*SH Network is a multi-channel video provider, providing video, audio, and data services to customers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands via a Direct Broadcast Satellite (“DBS”) system. D*SH Network uses high-powered satellites to broadcast, among other things, movies, sports, and general entertainment services (“Programming”) to consumers who have been authorized to receive such services after payment of a subscription fee (or in the case of a pay-per-view movie or event, the purchase price).

3. To provide customers with a variety of Programming channels, D*SH Network continues to contract with and purchase the distribution rights of copyrighted Programming from providers such as network affiliates, pay and specialty broadcasters, cable networks, motion picture distributors, sports leagues, event promoters, and other content providers including without limitation, HBO, ESPN, SHOW Time, Cinemax and Disney among others.