Lawsuit Filed By Videotron Against Bell ExpressVu
MONTREAL, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Bell Canada today announced that on November 4, 2005 Videotron Ltee and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Plaintiffs”) amended their statement of claim in connection with a lawsuit originally filed against Bell ExpressVu on August 31, 2005. Bell ExpressVu, a subsidiary of Bell Canada, provides digital television services. The amendment increases the amount of damages claimed from $1 million to approximately $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.
The Plaintiffs 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.
Bell ExpressVu believes it has strong defences to this lawsuit and intends to take all appropriate actions to vigorously defend its position.
About Bell Canada
Bell Canada, Canada’s national leader in communications, provides connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions and satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly owned by BCE Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.bell.ca/.
BELL CANADA
CONTACT: Pierre Leclerc, Bell Canada Media Relations,(514) 391-2007, 1 877 391-2007, pierre.leclerc@bell.ca