Maplin Electronics (UK) to destroy Macrovision removal tools

[Roundabout]

Leading Consumer Electronics Retailer in the United Kingdom Removes Circumvention Devices in co-operation with Macrovision



London – 3 February 2004 – Macrovision Corporation, the leading provider of digital rights management and copy protection technologies, today announced that Maplin Electronics Limited has declared that they will fully comply with the European Copyright Directive, which was implemented in the UK on 31st October 2003. The new law 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 Ltd., 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 Ltd additionally declared that “Maplin 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 As a consequence, Maplin has withdrawn the range of three devices that may be used to circumvent copy protection technologies.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.”

About Maplin Electronics Ltd

Founded in 1972, the specialist electronics retailer, Maplin Electronics Ltd., with 81 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland offers 12,000 products through the catalogue e-commerce and store network. The product range is very diverse, and the broad categories are Sound & Vision, Computer product and Hobbies & Electronics. Maplin Electronics can be found on the Internet at www.maplin.co.uk.

[Gazorgan]

I guess it's back to building your own. It's an amazingly simple device (Don't ask, do your own web searches). It's still usefull when viewing on VHS tapes!

[bugster]

Maplin Electronics Ltd., 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.

So the fact that a device has a possible use that may, or may not, infring the law means it is illegal??!!

I am appalled that Maplins would do this.

[rcb]

wonder who is picking up the tab for all that "destroyed" product..

[MrMungus]

Maplin Electronics Ltd., 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.

So the fact that a device has a possible use that may, or may not, infring the law means it is illegal??!!

I am appalled that Maplins would do this.

I'd think it has more to do with how they're marketing the product.

If you advertise your car brand as being great killing machines, you'd have a lot more lawsuits than if not.

[bugster]

I'd think it has more to do with how they're marketing the product.

I see where you are coming from mrmungus but these devices do have legitimate uses. As long as they were advertised as 'video stabilisers' or signal enhnacers, whats wrong with that, as that is the purpose for which they are being sold.

And don't come back with 'but we all know the real reason people are buying them ', the same argument could be used for may items, including VCR's and DVD recorders.

I just think it is disappointing seeing yet another major company caving in to the media organisations.

[SLK001]

It does set an ugly precedence. What's next, ICs that can be used to build your own?

This kind of market intervention had NEVER worked. The need in the market place will always be met in some innovative way.

[FOO]

I have a PCB layout , Parts list , and firmware for a
Microprocessor based "signal enhancer" that I'll give away.
Will I become the next DVDfoo if I publish it in Norway ?

[MrMungus]

I'd think it has more to do with how they're marketing the product.

I see where you are coming from mrmungus but these devices do have legitimate uses. As long as they were advertised as 'video stabilisers' or signal enhnacers, whats wrong with that, as that is the purpose for which they are being sold.

And don't come back with 'but we all know the real reason people are buying them ', the same argument could be used for may items, including VCR's and DVD recorders.

I just think it is disappointing seeing yet another major company caving in to the media organisations.

Yes, but, the reason they got noticed is because of the way they were marketing their product:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/noframes/35269.htm

· Removes distortions caused by spurious video signals such as time-code, teletext and copy-protection

[Roundabout]

wonder who is picking up the tab for all that "destroyed" product..

Good point, the product isn't free, someone had to pay for it. Dollars to Doughnuts, Macrovision is paying for the destruction of the "removers". They have to make sure someone will keep paying them for using their product (however easy to defeat) or they won't have a company. But how do they think they'll get everyone to turn MV back on, on their DVD players? It's an open secret with all the DVD player hacks out there, easy to find on this site as well as a Google search.

That's not counting all the "Clarifiers" out there already. They aren't gonna magically disappear either. Means the price for them on eBay will probably go up, and someone will make more money off them.

[painkiller]

This is by no means precedent setting.

Directv, for example, is suing people left and right for simply having purchased smartcard technology. And many have caved in and paid up rather than go to court. Even if they claim they never used it for nefarious purposes.

http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/June/01/news/SatTVsuit.html
http://www.directvdefense.org/
http://www.legal-rights.org/DTV/dtvdocketpage.html

And to emphasize the problem, GEICO is on record saying it will not insure people who own radar detectors.

So much for legal products and multiple uses, eh?

Do you hear anybody fighting this and winning?

In fact, do you hear any legislator fighting any of this?

[bugster]

Yes, but, the reason they got noticed is because of the way they were marketing their product:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/noframes/35269.htm

· Removes distortions caused by spurious video signals such as time-code, teletext and copy-protection

So all they have to do is remove two words from their marketing and they are legal!

[bugster]

This is by no means precedent setting.

Directv, for example, is suing people left and right for simply having purchased smartcard technology. And many have caved in and paid up rather than go to court. Even if they claim they never used it for nefarious purposes.

http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/June/01/news/SatTVsuit.html
http://www.directvdefense.org/
http://www.legal-rights.org/DTV/dtvdocketpage.html

And to emphasize the problem, GEICO is on record saying it will not insure people who own radar detectors.

So much for legal products and multiple uses, eh?

Do you hear anybody fighting this and winning?

In fact, do you hear any legislator fighting any of this?

This kind of thing may have happened before in the US, but its the first time I have ever heard of such a thing in the UK.

[JohnnyCNote]

What's surprising is that these devices have been around for years. Why did it take so long for them to crack down?

[RabidDog]

I think the reason for them cracking down now is that many people are buying dvd-recorders (Non-PC owners) and simply hooking them up with their dvd players?? scratched head..puzzlement..then I need a clarifier..

reason ..stopping dvd-to-dvd-recording for the masses.

[energy80s]

It seems odd that Maplin are taking this course of action now. They have been selling illegal items for years and no-one gives a shit. I remember importing the first Macrovision decoders into Portadown in the late 1980s to friends who worked in video rental shops!

[camm]

forgive my ignorance but surely the macrovision anti copy system merely stops one recording to VCR? Surely if that's the case this is a complete and utter waste of time in this digital world where most people buy films on dvd. Who buys video cassettes anymore, bar taping the odd tv programme when you're out?

[FOO]

There are a lot of people with lots of tapes that they want
to move to DVD before they dissolve. I know people with hundreds.
And they can't because of the stupid f#cking macrovision.

[camm]

There are a lot of people with lots of tapes that they want
to move to DVD before they dissolve. I know people with hundreds.
And they can't because of the stupid f#cking macrovision.

a fair point - hadn't thought of that !

[bugster]

forgive my ignorance but surely the macrovision anti copy system merely stops one recording to VCR? Surely if that's the case this is a complete and utter waste of time in this digital world where most people buy films on dvd. Who buys video cassettes anymore, bar taping the odd tv programme when you're out?

Actually DVD player incorporate Macrovision on the analog outputs to stop you copying a DVD by simply recording it on a VCR.

The way it works is pretty lame though. The DVD simply contains a flag that tells the player to use macrovision when outputting the signal, there is no 'encoding' of the actual DVD data required, just a freakin flag! For this the disk producers pay a license fee for each disk sold. It is no surprise to me that we are seeing more and more DVD's that don't bother with it.