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Originally Posted by altis
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As a consequence, Maplin has withdrawn the range of three devices that may be used to circumvent copy protection technologies.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 |
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.