The grumpy editor's e-book reader

<http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?asse...>

They spell it out even more explicitly in the "Equipment Lease Addendum":

<http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?asse...>

> YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NOT PURCHASED THE DIRECTV
> EQUIPMENT, YOU DO NOT OWN THE DIRECTV EQUIPMENT AND THE DIRECTV
> EQUIPMENT MUST BE USED AND RETURNED TO DIRECTV STRICTLY IN
> ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS EQUIPMENT LEASE ADDENDUM AND
> THE DIRECTV CUSTOMER AGREEMENT.

And just in case that doesn't stick, in the "Customer Agreement" they toss in restrictions specifically on the DVR software:

<http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?asse...>

> (c) Ownership. The Software is licensed, not sold, to you solely for
> your use under the terms of this license agreement, and DIRECTV and its
> suppliers reserve all rights not expressly granted to you. You shall own
> the media, if any, on which Software or End User Documentation is
> recorded, but DIRECTV and its suppliers retain ownership of all copies
> of the Software itself.

For more hilarity check out the FAQ:

<http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetI...>

Like this for example:

> Q: I am charged a lease fee. I paid for my equipment upfront, so don't I
> own it?

> A: As technology becomes more advanced, leasing allows us to provide the
> latest equipment with minimal upfront cost to the customer. The upgrade
> fees allow us to keep our monthly lease fees low. Many leased items
> require an upfront payment as well as monthly fees. Just like leasing a
> car, a customer pays an amount upfront and that amount allows the
> customer and the company to keep the monthly lease fee low.

The funny thing about Corporate service agreements is... you know they're screwing you. But you gotta read the agreement if you want to find out the exact manner and method of the screwjob.