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> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Di

> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards. > Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoroughly cracked by pirates, and the company wanted to level the playing field with its competitors. How does increasing piracy of your competitor help you?

gajus 6y ago
My guess is that it makes it harder to acquire content. That is, if we are two competing providers, and my network is compromised, then I no longer can give an exact number of users for whom the content is being licensed and I will be made to pay a premium for the unknown.
HPsquared 6y ago
It's going to be near the top priority when buying a copy protection system. If there are two options and one has been cracked, you choose the one that hasn't been cracked. If on the other hand both have been cracked, the first system now has a chance since it's not totally outclassed.
mschuster91 6y ago
> How does increasing piracy of your competitor help you? Pretty easy. Assume I'm an end consumer of the competitor's client stations... and my contract is up for renewal while at the same time I can get a cracked cardfor a hundred dollars, I'd be a fool to renew the contract. Also, the competitor's client stations may decide to drop the competitor (and come to your company), especially if there is a fundamental unfixable flaw in the system.
- aidenn0 6y ago
  Or more obviously; I'm a purchaser of your product, I tell you I'm going to switch because your cards are hacked, my response is "see, so is the competition" and you don't bother switching.
michaelt 6y ago
TV networks want to buy the smart card system that's best at preventing piracy, in order to get the lowest piracy. If your competitor's system has lower piracy than yours, TV networks will choose their system over yours.

gajus 6y ago

My guess is that it makes it harder to acquire content. That is, if we are two competing providers, and my network is compromised, then I no longer can give an exact number of users for whom the content is being licensed and I will be made to pay a premium for the unknown.

HPsquared 6y ago

It's going to be near the top priority when buying a copy protection system. If there are two options and one has been cracked, you choose the one that hasn't been cracked. If on the other hand both have been cracked, the first system now has a chance since it's not totally outclassed.

mschuster91 6y ago

> How does increasing piracy of your competitor help you? Pretty easy. Assume I'm an end consumer of the competitor's client stations... and my contract is up for renewal while at the same time I can get a cracked cardfor a hundred dollars, I'd be a fool to renew the contract. Also, the competitor's client stations may decide to drop the competitor (and come to your company), especially if there is a fundamental unfixable flaw in the system.

aidenn0 6y ago
Or more obviously; I'm a purchaser of your product, I tell you I'm going to switch because your cards are hacked, my response is "see, so is the competition" and you don't bother switching.

michaelt 6y ago

TV networks want to buy the smart card system that's best at preventing piracy, in order to get the lowest piracy. If your competitor's system has lower piracy than yours, TV networks will choose their system over yours.