Directive 98/84/EC aims to provide a minimum level of legal protection for "conditional access" services in other words services where access depends on the user having a "key", generally provided by the operator in return for payment. For pay-TV services, this key is usually in
the form of a smart card on to which the necessary information is downloaded. For Internet-based services, it is usually in the form of a password authorised by the service operator. The Directive prohibits all commercial manufacturing, distribution and marketing activities related to pirate smart cards and other devices circumventing the access protection of pay
...[+++]-TV, radio and internet services.
Pour les services internet, il s'agit en principe d'un mot de passe autorisé par l'opérateur du service. La directive interdit la fabrication, la distribution et la vente, à titre commercial, des cartes à puces piratées et autres dispositifs permettant de contourner la protection de l'accès à la télévision, à la radio et aux autres services internet à péage.
