Conditional Access Convention

The Conditional Access Convention, formally the European Convention on the Legal Protection of Services based on, or consisting of, Conditional Access is a convention of the Council of Europe, designed to prevent unauthorized access to services protected by conditional access. The convention is based on the Conditional Access Directive which already required European Union member states to enact similar legislation.

Conditional Access Convention

European Convention on the Legal Protection of Services based on, or consisting of, Conditional Access
Signed	24 January 2001
Location	Strasbourg
Effective	1 July 2003
Condition	3 ratifications
Signatories	11
Parties	7 COE states and the European Union
Depositary	Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Languages	English and French[1]

Parties to the convention must outlaw the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, rental, possession, installation, maintenance, replacement, or commercial promotion, marketing, or advertising of "illicit devices". The convention defines "illicit devices" as equipment and software which bypasses conditional access measures for television, radio broadcasting, and "information society services".^[1]

As of September 2015, seven COE members as well as the European Union are party to the convention, covering in total 31 states.^[2]