Technological Developments Present New Challenges for the Criminal Law
Can a broadcast be stolen?. CNet gives some more details on the 17 people charged with producing and distributing devices for descrambling satellite television broadcasts. Only six face DMCA charges; the others are accused of "stealing satellite signals". It's not clear how someone can be charged with stealing something that is broadcast into every home in the country. Seventeen defendants were indicted in all, but only six were charged under the criminal antidecryption provisions of the 1998... [vigilant.tv]
The question posed here is profound and suggests the new challenges which will be faced by legislators drafting criminal statutes in the years to come. The taking of "intagibles" such as a sattelite signal is likely to present new prosecutorial challenges as well. I for one will continue to be an interested observer.
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