Cable Forum - View Single Post

**Chris** · 09-02-2005, 16:17

We had a discussion about this some time ago:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ion+eliminator

Once upon a time you could buy a device called a Macrovision Eliminator, that would strip the Macrovision from the video signal and allow you to tape or DVD it. European Law, however, clearly outlaws sale of any device whose primary purpose is to circumvent copyright protection, which is what Macrovision is. The thing is, the technology behind the Macrovision Eliminator has legitimate uses ... it cleans up a TV picture, especially useful if you have a lot of devices connected in a chain of SCART leads and if your TV has a large screen. Maplin Electronics caved in and stopped selling 'Video Enhancers' two years ago, however having looked into this I believe the reason they did so was because they didn't think it was worth the cost of a court battle with Macrovision over the issue, and not because they genuinely believed that all Video Enhancers are inherently illegal because they can be used to strip copy protection.

Still, Maplin may no longer sell them, but there are places in the UK you can pick one up. Try here: http://www.sonel.com

Note the exhaustive legal notice on the homepage; their device is intended to allow you to improve the picture quality of your TV, *not* to strip macrovision from the signal in order to facilitate copying. If you use it to copy Macrovision-protected TV, then you are not using it for its intended purpose.

09-02-2005, 16:17	#8
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,567	Re: Macrovision problem We had a discussion about this some time ago: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ion+eliminator Once upon a time you could buy a device called a Macrovision Eliminator, that would strip the Macrovision from the video signal and allow you to tape or DVD it. European Law, however, clearly outlaws sale of any device whose primary purpose is to circumvent copyright protection, which is what Macrovision is. The thing is, the technology behind the Macrovision Eliminator has legitimate uses ... it cleans up a TV picture, especially useful if you have a lot of devices connected in a chain of SCART leads and if your TV has a large screen. Maplin Electronics caved in and stopped selling 'Video Enhancers' two years ago, however having looked into this I believe the reason they did so was because they didn't think it was worth the cost of a court battle with Macrovision over the issue, and not because they genuinely believed that all Video Enhancers are inherently illegal because they can be used to strip copy protection. Still, Maplin may no longer sell them, but there are places in the UK you can pick one up. Try here: http://www.sonel.com Note the exhaustive legal notice on the homepage; their device is intended to allow you to improve the picture quality of your TV, not to strip macrovision from the signal in order to facilitate copying. If you use it to copy Macrovision-protected TV, then you are not using it for its intended purpose.