[Darkbob]

hxxp://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2005/11/07/videotron-051107.html

Quebec cable company Videotron is suing Bell ExpressVu for $374.2 million, accusing the Bell Canada subsidiary of not doing enough to protect its digital satellite delivery system from piracy.

"The plaintiffs [Videotron] have alleged that Bell ExpressVu has failed to adequately protect its system against signal piracy, thereby depriving the plaintiffs of subscribers who, but for their alleged ability to pirate Bell ExpressVu's signal, would be subscribing to plaintiffs' services," a statement from Bell Canada said.

Bell ExpressVu said it has a strong defence and would "take all appropriate actions to vigorously defend its position."

The lawsuit is an expansion of one Videotron first laid against Bell ExpressVu in August. At that time, the cable company was seeking $1 million in damages.

Last Friday, Videotron amended its claim and is now looking for "$49.5 million for profits allegedly lost over the last three years, $314.7 million for alleged future losses and $10 million in punitive damages," according to the Bell release.

Videotron has about 1.5 million cable TV subscribers in Quebec. It is a subsidiary of Quebecor Media. Bell Canada is owned by BCE.