RISKS-LIST: RISKS-FORUM Digest Thursday 18 February 1993 Volume 14 : Issue 33
FORUM ON RISKS TO THE PUBLIC IN COMPUTERS AND RELATED SYSTEMS
ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy, Peter G. Neumann, moderator
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Date: Mon, 8 Feb 1993 12:43:14 -0600 (CST)
From: Tony Scandora 708-252-7541 <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Cable freeloaders
Continental Cablevision of Hartford broadcast a special offer of a free
T-shirt during last fall's Holyfield/Bowe fight (14Nov92). Unlike most pay-
per-view broadcasting, this one did not show up through legitimate decoders.
The ad and its 800 number only showed up when watched through illegal
decoders. 140 freeloaders called the 800 number within minutes of the ad's
broadcast. Continental sent the T-shirts by certified, return receipt mail,
and then sent them a followup letter reminding them of the federal law (fines
up to $10,000) and demanding a $2000 fine. [Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb 1993]
Tony Scandora, Argonne National Lab, 708-252-7541
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
[Also noted by [log in to unmask] (Alex L. Bangs) in
Newsweek, Feb 15, 1993 ("A Technical Knockout" -- Periscope) and
[log in to unmask] (Gary McClelland). Sorry for the
long delay in getting this issue out. It was unavoidable. PGN]
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Steve Carr [log in to unmask]
Dept. of Radio-TV-Film 512/471-4071
20903 fax: 512/471-4077
University of Texas at Austin
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