Dish Allowed to Email Video Piracy Complaint to Caribbean Defendant

Dish Network's civil complaint against the Trinidad operator of websites used to traffic Dish security passcodes can be served by email because the company tried hiring a private investigator, left service with the defendant's sister in Trinidad and tried to call the defendant multiple times on his personal cellphone, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal of Houston said in an order (in Pacer) Monday. Rosenthal in January ordered that Dish had to file proof of service on the complaint by Feb. 20 or risk dismissal of the case. Filed in November, Dish and co-plaintiffs EchoStar Technologies and NagraStar, both Dish suppliers, said defendant Robert Gittens bought at least 480 separate Internet key sharing (IKS) server passcodes and then resold them repeatedly through www.fladishnet.com, www.lfpsiksdonation.com and www.craftyarts2.com, and Gittens on his Craftyarts2.com consents to U.S. jurisdiction. The companies ask for injunctive relief, an order allowing Dish to take possession and destroy all IKS server passcodes and other piracy software and an order transferring ownership of the three websites to Dish, plus damages. Gittens didn't comment Tuesday.