Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Hi all

What do people think of this Macrovision stabiliser/remover advertised on ebay........do you think it's a good buy or could anyone recommend another device...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...707558489&rd=1

this is all this ebayer seems to sell :shocked:

Regards

Mike

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

very grey area - device intended to enable copying of copyright material.

Ebay are not liable for the use stuff sold on their site is put to, but I'm fairly sure discussion about this device won't be allowed on this site. :erm:

I'm happy to join in, if it is :)

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

We can always throw a legitimate use into the pot.

If you have a limited number of SCART sockets on your television, you could route the signal from a DVD player through the SCART-through on a VCR, but the Macrovision would kick in an affect playback. With this device you could do it, so it could have a legitimate use.

Is that enough to keep the thread alive? After all, I`m sure that could be the only reason why Mike was asking ;)

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

looks ok if not a little expensive

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

And another legitimate reason would be to condition the signal fed to a projector. Some projectors do not like Macrovision too much so removing it helps the picture quality.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Looked at his feedback - he's been selling this item before and other users seem happy with it.

Although feedback itself is not rock solid - this one looks OK at least.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

I'm not aware of them being illegal in themselves - only using them to break copyright laws (unless someone can tell me different), so I'm going to leave this topic in place to discuss legal uses of them. It may be removed if my understanding proves to be incorrect.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

fair enough :)

I have heard that some ATI capture enabled cards are oversensitive to macrovision, a device like this to enable capture of legal vcr pictures, for example ( like a birthday party) could be useful.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Maplin used to sell a box which did the same thing as this... It was withdrawn under 'pressure' from film companys.

Which is a shame as the box was rather good (from what I hear ;))

Maybe some shops may still have one or two in their bargain bin type thing?

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Oddly my TV card (Hauppage one) on my fileserver computer doesn't seem to be affected at all by macrovision - Not from DVD / Sky OR Video's....

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Just for information I have seen another one advertised...........http://www.satalogue.com/section1/page2.htm

The advert rightly points out that All copies made must be for private use only and (note:it is illegal to duplicate copyright protected material without the express permission of the copyright owner) ;)

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

An article from the register about Macrovision (The company)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07...vision_vision/

Sorry if it's a bit OT - but it's kind of interesting.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

I believe it is now illegal to sell such devices in the UK (although many places still do).

I'll try and find a relevant link....

Edit
Indeed....
http://www.macrovision.com/company/n...9%20PST%202003
(read down a bit)

Also found this:

UK retailer dumps devices that skirt DVD protection

Digital rights management and copy protection technology company Macrovision announced February 3 that UK retailer Maplin Electronics has declared that it will fully comply with the European Copyright Directive. The new law, implemented in the UK October 31, 2003, brings into force important new measures prohibiting the sale and advertising of circumvention devices designed to illegally circumvent Macrovision copy protection technologies on DVDs and VHS cassettes that protect the copyrights of content owners and their publishers.

Maplin Electronics, a specialist electronics retailer with 781 stores in the UK, has agreed to destroy its entire stock of video enhancers, which could be used as circumvention devices. Maplin Electronics says it is "fully aware of the recent changes to the copyright law and is keen to comply with this change in the legislation."

As a consequence, Maplin has withdrawn the range of three devices that may be used to circumvent copy protection technologies. David O'Reilly, Commercial Director of Maplin Electronics Ltd, stated: 'We acted promptly on this matter because it its important for us to provide our customers with products that do not contravene the law. We have discontinued these items following the change in the legislation, and out of respect for the law.'

'We appreciate Maplin Electronics Ltd's prompt compliance with the broad scope of the new IP legislation," stated Martin Brooker, European Director of Sales for Macrovision. "As part of an ongoing enforcement programme, Macrovision will be working with retailers to ensure compliance with the law."

here:
http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums...&Thread=274016

and the actual law concerned with this here:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/s...0032498.htm#24

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

But home recorded VCR footage would not have macrovision copy protection anyway.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

My parent`s first video recorder was perfectly happy being fed a signal with Macrovision, it is the only VCR I've ever seen that did that.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

The devil, as always, is in the detail. Assuming this news report is worded accurately, the European law prohibits sale of equipment designed to circumvent copyright law. However Macrovision eliminators have a range of legitimate uses. I think what is really happening here is that Macrovision is sniffing around for a test case which it can use to get a court to rule on whether Macrovision eliminators are designed to circumvent copy protection - in which case they are illegal - or merely rendering copy protection innefective as an unintended side-effect of their legitimate use, which under the current law would appear not to be illegal. Maplin electronics just doesn't want to be the retailer that gets taken to court, so when politely 'asked' to cease and desist by Macrovision, they have chosen to comply.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

The actual Statutory Instrument is here:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/s...0032498.htm#24

I guess it all depends whether you can argue that the device is designed not just to defeat Macrovision - which is why many are advertised as 'video enhancers'. Advertising something as a 'Macrovision defeater' is clearly illegal.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

In any case - I'm glad I already have one.

And - to be honest - I didn't buy it to 'enhance' videos.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

I'd agree with that. And for that reason, I think the law is effectively meaningless so far as Macrovision Inc. is concerned. It would be easy to demonstrate in court that there is a legitimate need for such a device for video enhancement/stabilisation. Once this is proven, the fact that it also disables Macrovision is irrelevant.

However I don't think this will prevent Macrovision doing a bit of sabre-rattling. They would be quite prepared to take people to court and are hoping that the threat of court costs will be enough to get get retailers to back down.

Note by the way in point (b) that private and domestic use is specifically excluded from the law - you can't be prosecuted for buying one of these things from an American website, even if it is sold on that site as a 'Macrovision Eliminator'.

Re: Macrovision stabiliser/remover
 

Looks an average price for one, I have seen them for more & for less.

I have 2 designers here at work who have home brew ones, one made his 20 years ago (or whenever macrovision first came out) and is about 10" 8 6" with hundreds of transistors, IC's coils etc on & the other designed one thats about 2"x3" with 1 IC on.

I'm waiting for one off the smaller ones to be bought in as with 1 AMD processor on it removes the macrovision & allows me to record Sky movies.
Which is something that I see as being legal.

I have no interest in copying Disney videos (which afaik are the only ones that use it).