gunsmoke2
September 8th, 2000, 10:28 AM
Friday, September 8, 2000
Satellite decision consumer victory
B.C. court rules against Bell Expressvu
By MARYANNA LEWYCKYJ, TORONTO SUN
British Columbia's Court of Appeal has ruled that Canadians have the right to choice when it comes to satellite service.
The decision is a victory for sellers of satellite services not sanctioned by Canadian regulators and for consumers who have so-called "grey-market" satellite services.
In a court case titled Bell Expressvu vs. Rex et al, the B.C. Appeal Court yesterday upheld a lower court ruling that stated Can-Am Satellites of Maple Ridge, B.C., was not acting illegally by selling services not approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
"It's probably the biggest victory in Canada to date," said Richard Rex, owner of Can-Am Satellites. "The ruling enforces the idea that you're not a criminal if you have a satellite system from the U.S."
Rex has incurred $70,000 in legal fees fighting Expressvu, which sued Can-Am last November. He expects Bell Expressvu will appeal to the Supreme Court.
A spokesperson for Bell Expressvu said no one was available to comment on the case.
Both Bell Expressvu and StarChoice are CRTC-sanctioned services, while U.S.-based Directv is not.
GS2 http://www.legal-rights.org/images/smilesmok.gif
Satellite decision consumer victory
B.C. court rules against Bell Expressvu
By MARYANNA LEWYCKYJ, TORONTO SUN
British Columbia's Court of Appeal has ruled that Canadians have the right to choice when it comes to satellite service.
The decision is a victory for sellers of satellite services not sanctioned by Canadian regulators and for consumers who have so-called "grey-market" satellite services.
In a court case titled Bell Expressvu vs. Rex et al, the B.C. Appeal Court yesterday upheld a lower court ruling that stated Can-Am Satellites of Maple Ridge, B.C., was not acting illegally by selling services not approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
"It's probably the biggest victory in Canada to date," said Richard Rex, owner of Can-Am Satellites. "The ruling enforces the idea that you're not a criminal if you have a satellite system from the U.S."
Rex has incurred $70,000 in legal fees fighting Expressvu, which sued Can-Am last November. He expects Bell Expressvu will appeal to the Supreme Court.
A spokesperson for Bell Expressvu said no one was available to comment on the case.
Both Bell Expressvu and StarChoice are CRTC-sanctioned services, while U.S.-based Directv is not.
GS2 http://www.legal-rights.org/images/smilesmok.gif