[20040818]RS21912_私人诉讼权和窃听法：“DirecTV”诉讼.pdf

1 DirecTV, Inc. v. Treworgy, 373 F.3d 1124 (11th Cir. 2004).2 Id. at 1125.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21912August 18, 2004Private Rights of Action and the Wiretap Act:The “DirecTV” Litigationname redactedLegislative AttorneyAmerican Law DivisionSummaryAttempts by DirecTV to reduce the piracy of its satellite broadcast signal havegarnered significant legal and congressional interest. Over the past several yearsDirecTV has been engaged in an aggressive campaign to prevent the theft and piracy ofits satellite television signal. One element of this campaign has been to bring civillawsuits against individuals who possess certain devices that apparently can be used tointercept satellite transmissions. DirecTV has brought these lawsuits primarily pursuantto the civil remedies section of the Electronic Communications Piracy Act (WiretapAct), arguing that the statute allows them to bring a civil suit for any violation of theWiretap Act. Numerous defendants to these suits have responded by arguing thatDirecTVs use of this civil remedy is inappropriate because the act does not provide thestatutory author