News Broadcasting
NDS files countersuit against DirecTV, subsidiaries
LOS ANGELES (California): NDS has countersued DirecTV Enterprises and two of its subsidiaries, along with a chip manufacturer and its North American sales affiliate.
The countersuit alleges that DirecTV and the chip manufacturer misappropriated NDS’ trade secrets and proprietary information, conspired to infringe NDS’ patents, colluded to create unfair competition and breached agreements and licenses restricting the use of NDS’ intellectual property.
NDS claims that DirecTV has been secretly working with the chip manufacturer to develop a knock-off of NDS’ latest generation smart card for DirecTV that infringes NDS’ patents and misappropriates its technology for the last two years.
DirecTV, the biggest satellite television firm in the US had initiated legal action against NDS, the Middlesex supplier of smart cards that prevent pirating, in September. The lawsuit comes six months after Canal Plus Technologies (CPT) of France began a $3 billion legal action against NDS alleging it helped fund hackers who published secrets on the Internet about its pay-TV technology, say reports. The DirecTV suit, filed under seal in a US district court in Los Angeles, made a series of allegations against NDS including breach of contract, fraud, breach of warranty and misappropriation of trade secrets.
DirecTV on its part sought damages, the delivery of software which it claims is required by contract and an injunction to prevent any further breaches.
NDS, meanwhile, in its countersuit filed yesterday, has claimed that DirecTV induced the chip manufacturer to breach its agreements with NDS and that DirecTV has been leaking confidential information related to NDS’ smart card to pirate websites to give DirecTV an excuse to break its agreements and unveil its competing knockoff smart card. NDS has also sued DirecTV for negligence and breach of contract, claiming that DirecTV’s faulty distribution policies and gross mismanagement of satellite television piracy jeopardize NDS’ technology and resulted in widespread piracy of DirecTV’s service.
NDS has sought compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction prohibiting DirecTV and the chip manufacturer from producing the new smart card, infringing NDS’ patents and misappropriating its technology. It has also sought an injunction against DirecTV preventing it from soliciting NDS’ employees and from assuming control of its conditional access technology.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
