The inventor of the gadget that has been used to turn-off TVs at pubs, to the annoyance of hosts and customers, has defended the tool as a device to improve the atmosphere in public spaces.
Mitch Altman, American inventor of TV-B-Gone, said his gadget is not intended to stop people enjoying sport in bars.
TV-B-Gone is disguised as a key ring and uses an infrared beam to switch off TV sets.
The device has gone on sale at selected shops in Britain, including Brighton, where it has reportedly been used to switch off TV sets in pubs.
But Altman told the Morning Advertiser: "My intention with TV-B-Gone is to turn off TVs that people are not watching. The main message that I wish to convey with TV-B-Gone is that turning a TV on or off is a choice. And TV-B-Gone is a fun way to get that message across. As such, I do not turn off a TV if anyone is choosing to watch it (such as at a sports bar playing a game on TV).
"But there are countless situations where TVs are powered on in public spaces where no-one is watching them. In these situations, when I've turned off the TV, the atmosphere in the room instantly changes for the better."
He added: "I regret that there may be some people who may misuse TV-B-Gone. If, regrettably, an occasional person does misuse this tool, unlike misuse of a hammer, no grievous harm is done, since no TV or person is harmed in the process."