diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f4fe0385d1..48bce581f4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ add_subdirectory(include)
 ocv_add_modules_compiler_options()
 
 # OpenCV modules
-add_subdirectory(modules)
+ocv_register_modules()
 
 # Generate targets for documentation
 add_subdirectory(doc)
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ endif(WIN32)
 
 # ========================== GUI ==========================
 status("")
-status("  GUI: ")
+status("  GUI: " "${OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND}")
 
 if(WITH_QT OR HAVE_QT)
   if(HAVE_QT5)
diff --git a/cmake/OpenCVModule.cmake b/cmake/OpenCVModule.cmake
index 7c48aad9c2..9981620f25 100644
--- a/cmake/OpenCVModule.cmake
+++ b/cmake/OpenCVModule.cmake
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ function(_glob_locations out_paths out_names)
     list(LENGTH paths before)
     get_filename_component(path "${path}" ABSOLUTE)
     # Either module itself
-    if(NOT path STREQUAL CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR AND EXISTS "${path}/CMakeLists.txt")
+    if(NOT path STREQUAL "${OpenCV_SOURCE_DIR}/modules" AND EXISTS "${path}/CMakeLists.txt")
       get_filename_component(name "${path}" NAME)
       list(APPEND paths "${path}")
       list(APPEND names "${name}")
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ macro(_add_modules_1 paths names)
       list(GET ${names} ${i} __name)
       #message(STATUS "First pass: ${__name} => ${__path}")
       include("${__path}/cmake/init.cmake" OPTIONAL)
-      add_subdirectory("${__path}" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/.firstpass/${__name}")
+      add_subdirectory("${__path}" "${OpenCV_BINARY_DIR}/modules/.firstpass/${__name}")
     endforeach()
   endif()
 endmacro()
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ macro(_add_modules_2)
       endif()
       string(REGEX REPLACE "^opencv_" "" name "${m}")
       #message(STATUS "Second pass: ${name} => ${OPENCV_MODULE_${m}_LOCATION}")
-      add_subdirectory("${OPENCV_MODULE_${m}_LOCATION}" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${name}")
+      add_subdirectory("${OPENCV_MODULE_${m}_LOCATION}" "${OpenCV_BINARY_DIR}/modules/${name}")
     endif()
     ocv_cmake_hook(POST_MODULES_CREATE_${the_module})
   endforeach()
@@ -369,7 +369,6 @@ macro(ocv_glob_modules main_root)
   __ocv_resolve_dependencies()
 
   # create modules
-  set(OPENCV_INITIAL_PASS OFF PARENT_SCOPE)
   set(OPENCV_INITIAL_PASS OFF)
   ocv_cmake_hook(PRE_MODULES_CREATE)
   _add_modules_2(${OPENCV_MODULES_BUILD})
@@ -377,6 +376,37 @@ macro(ocv_glob_modules main_root)
 endmacro()
 
 
+# called by root CMakeLists.txt
+macro(ocv_register_modules)
+  if(NOT OPENCV_MODULES_PATH)
+    set(OPENCV_MODULES_PATH "${OpenCV_SOURCE_DIR}/modules")
+  endif()
+
+  ocv_glob_modules(${OPENCV_MODULES_PATH} ${OPENCV_EXTRA_MODULES_PATH})
+
+  # build lists of modules to be documented
+  set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN "")
+  set(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA "")
+
+  foreach(mod ${OPENCV_MODULES_BUILD} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_USER} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_AUTO} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_FORCE})
+    string(REGEX REPLACE "^opencv_" "" mod "${mod}")
+    if("${OPENCV_MODULE_opencv_${mod}_LOCATION}" STREQUAL "${OpenCV_SOURCE_DIR}/modules/${mod}")
+      list(APPEND OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${mod})
+    else()
+      list(APPEND OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA ${mod})
+    endif()
+  endforeach()
+  ocv_list_sort(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN)
+  ocv_list_sort(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA)
+  set(FIXED_ORDER_MODULES core imgproc imgcodecs videoio highgui video calib3d features2d objdetect dnn ml flann photo stitching)
+  list(REMOVE_ITEM OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${FIXED_ORDER_MODULES})
+  set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${FIXED_ORDER_MODULES} ${OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN})
+
+  set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN} CACHE INTERNAL "List of main modules" FORCE)
+  set(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA ${OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA} CACHE INTERNAL "List of extra modules" FORCE)
+endmacro()
+
+
 # disables OpenCV module with missing dependencies
 function(__ocv_module_turn_off the_module)
   list(REMOVE_ITEM OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_AUTO "${the_module}")
@@ -877,6 +907,7 @@ macro(ocv_create_module)
 endmacro()
 
 macro(_ocv_create_module)
+  add_definitions(-D__OPENCV_BUILD=1)
 
   ocv_compiler_optimization_process_sources(OPENCV_MODULE_${the_module}_SOURCES OPENCV_MODULE_${the_module}_DEPS_EXT ${the_module})
   set(__module_headers ${OPENCV_MODULE_${the_module}_HEADERS})
diff --git a/modules/CMakeLists.txt b/modules/CMakeLists.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 6a8004036b..0000000000
--- a/modules/CMakeLists.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-add_definitions(-D__OPENCV_BUILD=1)
-
-if(NOT OPENCV_MODULES_PATH)
-  set(OPENCV_MODULES_PATH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}")
-endif()
-
-ocv_glob_modules(${OPENCV_MODULES_PATH} ${OPENCV_EXTRA_MODULES_PATH})
-
-# build lists of modules to be documented
-set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN "")
-set(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA "")
-
-foreach(mod ${OPENCV_MODULES_BUILD} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_USER} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_AUTO} ${OPENCV_MODULES_DISABLED_FORCE})
-  string(REGEX REPLACE "^opencv_" "" mod "${mod}")
-  if("${OPENCV_MODULE_opencv_${mod}_LOCATION}" STREQUAL "${OpenCV_SOURCE_DIR}/modules/${mod}")
-    list(APPEND OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${mod})
-  else()
-    list(APPEND OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA ${mod})
-  endif()
-endforeach()
-ocv_list_sort(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN)
-ocv_list_sort(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA)
-set(FIXED_ORDER_MODULES core imgproc imgcodecs videoio highgui video calib3d features2d objdetect dnn ml flann photo stitching)
-list(REMOVE_ITEM OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${FIXED_ORDER_MODULES})
-set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${FIXED_ORDER_MODULES} ${OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN})
-
-set(OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN ${OPENCV_MODULES_MAIN} CACHE INTERNAL "List of main modules" FORCE)
-set(OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA ${OPENCV_MODULES_EXTRA} CACHE INTERNAL "List of extra modules" FORCE)
diff --git a/modules/highgui/CMakeLists.txt b/modules/highgui/CMakeLists.txt
index bc31b84c74..2b630bfed8 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/modules/highgui/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -218,7 +218,8 @@ endif()
 if(NOT OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND)
   set(OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND "NONE")
 endif()
-message(STATUS "highgui: using builtin backend: ${OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND}")  # FIXIT: propagate to root CMake
+message(STATUS "highgui: using builtin backend: ${OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND}")
+set(OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND "${OPENCV_HIGHGUI_BUILTIN_BACKEND}" PARENT_SCOPE)  # informational
 
 if(TRUE)
   # these variables are set by 'ocv_append_build_options(HIGHGUI ...)'
diff --git a/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_gtk.cmake b/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_gtk.cmake
index cdc054fad0..c58246ac54 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_gtk.cmake
+++ b/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_gtk.cmake
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ if(WITH_GTK)
     if(HAVE_GTK3)
       ocv_add_external_target(gtk3 "${GTK3_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GTK3_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GTK3;HAVE_GTK")
       set(HAVE_GTK TRUE)
-      set(HAVE_GTK3 ${HAVE_GTK3} PARENT_SCOPE)
-      set(GTK3_VERSION "${GTK3_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
     endif()
   endif()
   if((PROJECT_NAME STREQUAL "OpenCV" AND HIGHGUI_ENABLE_PLUGINS) OR NOT HAVE_GTK3)
@@ -19,8 +17,6 @@ if(WITH_GTK)
       else()
         ocv_add_external_target(gtk2 "${GTK2_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GTK2_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GTK2;HAVE_GTK")
         set(HAVE_GTK TRUE)
-        set(HAVE_GTK2 ${HAVE_GTK2} PARENT_SCOPE)
-        set(GTK2_VERSION "${GTK2_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
       endif()
     endif()
   endif()
@@ -29,15 +25,11 @@ if(WITH_GTK)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "gthread not found. This library is required when building with GTK support")
   else()
     ocv_add_external_target(gthread "${GTHREAD_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GTHREAD_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GTHREAD")
-    set(HAVE_GTHREAD "${HAVE_GTHREAD}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
-    set(GTHREAD_VERSION "${GTHREAD_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
   endif()
   if((WITH_OPENGL OR HAVE_OPENGL) AND HAVE_GTK2)
     ocv_check_modules(GTKGLEXT gtkglext-1.0)
     if(HAVE_GTKGLEXT)
       ocv_add_external_target(gtkglext "${GTKGLEXT_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GTKGLEXT_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GTKGLEXT")
-      set(HAVE_GTKGLEXT "${HAVE_GTKGLEXT}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
-      set(GTKGLEXT_VERSION "${GTKGLEXT_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
     endif()
   endif()
 elseif(HAVE_GTK)
@@ -48,9 +40,6 @@ if(WITH_OPENGL AND HAVE_GTKGLEXT)
   find_package(OpenGL QUIET)
   if(OPENGL_FOUND)
     set(HAVE_OPENGL TRUE)
-    #set(HAVE_OPENGL ${HAVE_OPENGL} PARENT_SCOPE)
     ocv_add_external_target(gtk_opengl "${OPENGL_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${OPENGL_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_OPENGL")
   endif()
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_GTK ${HAVE_GTK} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_win32ui.cmake b/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_win32ui.cmake
index 1d2fdc5d46..c5e358ffa7 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_win32ui.cmake
+++ b/modules/highgui/cmake/detect_win32ui.cmake
@@ -13,5 +13,3 @@ if(WITH_WIN32UI)
     ocv_add_external_target(win32ui "" "${__libs}" "HAVE_WIN32UI")
   endif()
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_WIN32UI "${HAVE_WIN32UI}" PARENT_SCOPE)  # informational
diff --git a/modules/highgui/cmake/init.cmake b/modules/highgui/cmake/init.cmake
index 1626d254da..a302c4d534 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/cmake/init.cmake
+++ b/modules/highgui/cmake/init.cmake
@@ -27,20 +27,11 @@ endif()
 
 include(FindPkgConfig)
 
-# FIXIT: stop using PARENT_SCOPE in dependencies
-if(PROJECT_NAME STREQUAL "OpenCV")
-  macro(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
-    if(${cond_var})
-      include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
-    endif()
-  endmacro()
-else()
-  function(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
-    if(${cond_var})
-      include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
-    endif()
-  endfunction()
-endif()
+macro(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
+  if(${cond_var})
+    include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
+  endif()
+endmacro()
 
 add_backend("gtk" WITH_GTK)
 add_backend("win32ui" WITH_WIN32UI)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_camera.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_camera.cmake
index ded4c91ccf..a465751334 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_camera.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_camera.cmake
@@ -4,5 +4,3 @@ if(ANDROID AND ANDROID_NATIVE_API_LEVEL GREATER 23)
   set(libs "-landroid -llog -lcamera2ndk")
   ocv_add_external_target(android_native_camera "" "${libs}" "HAVE_ANDROID_NATIVE_CAMERA")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_ANDROID_NATIVE_CAMERA ${HAVE_ANDROID_NATIVE_CAMERA} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_mediandk.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_mediandk.cmake
index edfb4bbbc5..cee64ab549 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_mediandk.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_android_mediandk.cmake
@@ -4,5 +4,3 @@ if(ANDROID AND ANDROID_NATIVE_API_LEVEL GREATER 20)
   set(libs "-landroid -llog -lmediandk")
   ocv_add_external_target(android_mediandk "" "${libs}" "HAVE_ANDROID_MEDIANDK")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_ANDROID_MEDIANDK ${HAVE_ANDROID_MEDIANDK} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_aravis.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_aravis.cmake
index 79d6a217db..e7b3828993 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_aravis.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_aravis.cmake
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ if(NOT HAVE_ARAVIS_API)
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ARAVIS_MAJOR_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_major "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ARAVIS_MINOR_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_minor "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ARAVIS_MICRO_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_micro "${ver_strings}")
-    set(ARAVIS_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_micro}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(ARAVIS_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_micro}")  # informational
     set(ARAVIS_INCLUDE_DIRS "${ARAVIS_INCLUDE}")
     set(ARAVIS_LIBRARIES "${ARAVIS_LIBRARY}")
   endif()
@@ -30,5 +30,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_ARAVIS_API)
   ocv_add_external_target(aravis "${ARAVIS_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${ARAVIS_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_ARAVIS_API")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_ARAVIS_API ${HAVE_ARAVIS_API} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_avfoundation.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_avfoundation.cmake
index a341f587a1..2da4fabfab 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_avfoundation.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_avfoundation.cmake
@@ -14,5 +14,3 @@ if(APPLE)
   endif()
   ocv_add_external_target(avfoundation "" "${libs}" "HAVE_AVFOUNDATION")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_AVFOUNDATION ${HAVE_AVFOUNDATION} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dc1394.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dc1394.cmake
index 51ab2dd80e..8bcee4bf70 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dc1394.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dc1394.cmake
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 if(NOT HAVE_DC1394_2 AND PKG_CONFIG_FOUND)
   ocv_check_modules(DC1394_2 libdc1394-2)
   if(DC1394_2_FOUND)
-    set(DC1394_2_VERSION "${DC1394_2_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
     set(HAVE_DC1394_2 TRUE)
   endif()
 endif()
@@ -20,12 +19,10 @@ if(NOT HAVE_DC1394_2)
     set(HAVE_DC1394_2 TRUE)
     set(DC1394_2_INCLUDE_DIRS "${DC1394_INCLUDE}")
     set(DC1394_2_LIBRARIES "${DC1394_LIBRARY}")
-    set(DC1394_2_VERSION "unknown" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(DC1394_2_VERSION "unknown") # informational
   endif()
 endif()
 
 if(HAVE_DC1394_2)
   ocv_add_external_target(dc1394_2 "${DC1394_2_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${DC1394_2_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_DC1394_2")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_DC1394_2 ${HAVE_DC1394_2} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dshow.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dshow.cmake
index 3f41b3fd34..928134c08c 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dshow.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_dshow.cmake
@@ -10,5 +10,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_DSHOW)
   ocv_add_external_target(dshow "" "" "HAVE_DSHOW")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_DSHOW ${HAVE_DSHOW} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
index 58de4b9515..c33eaf221b 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
@@ -14,11 +14,6 @@ if(NOT HAVE_FFMPEG AND WIN32 AND NOT ARM AND NOT OPENCV_FFMPEG_SKIP_DOWNLOAD)
   download_win_ffmpeg(FFMPEG_CMAKE_SCRIPT)
   if(FFMPEG_CMAKE_SCRIPT)
     include("${FFMPEG_CMAKE_SCRIPT}")
-    set(FFMPEG_libavcodec_VERSION ${FFMPEG_libavcodec_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # info
-    set(FFMPEG_libavformat_VERSION ${FFMPEG_libavformat_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # info
-    set(FFMPEG_libavutil_VERSION ${FFMPEG_libavutil_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # info
-    set(FFMPEG_libswscale_VERSION ${FFMPEG_libswscale_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # info
-    set(FFMPEG_libavresample_VERSION ${FFMPEG_libavresample_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # info
     set(HAVE_FFMPEG TRUE)
     set(HAVE_FFMPEG_WRAPPER TRUE)
   endif()
@@ -132,5 +127,3 @@ elseif(HAVE_FFMPEG)
     ocv_add_external_target(ffmpeg.plugin_deps "${__plugin_include_dirs}" "${__plugin_include_libs}" "${__plugin_defines}")
   endif()
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_FFMPEG ${HAVE_FFMPEG} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gphoto.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gphoto.cmake
index 0d6f1212eb..2cb23c0033 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gphoto.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gphoto.cmake
@@ -9,5 +9,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_GPHOTO2)
   ocv_add_external_target(gphoto2 "${GPHOTO2_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GPHOTO2_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GPHOTO2")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_GPHOTO2 ${HAVE_GPHOTO2} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gstreamer.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gstreamer.cmake
index 2198786161..47ea7a0b30 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gstreamer.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_gstreamer.cmake
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ if(NOT HAVE_GSTREAMER AND WIN32)
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*GST_VERSION_MAJOR[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_major "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*GST_VERSION_MINOR[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_minor "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*GST_VERSION_MICRO[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_micro "${ver_strings}")
-    set(GSTREAMER_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_micro}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(GSTREAMER_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_micro}")  # informational
     set(HAVE_GSTREAMER TRUE)
     set(GSTREAMER_LIBRARIES
       ${GSTREAMER_gstreamer_LIBRARY}
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ if(NOT HAVE_GSTREAMER AND PKG_CONFIG_FOUND)
   ocv_check_modules(GSTREAMER_video gstreamer-video-1.0)
   if(GSTREAMER_base_FOUND AND GSTREAMER_app_FOUND AND GSTREAMER_riff_FOUND AND GSTREAMER_pbutils_FOUND AND GSTREAMER_video_FOUND)
     set(HAVE_GSTREAMER TRUE)
-    set(GSTREAMER_VERSION ${GSTREAMER_base_VERSION} PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(GSTREAMER_VERSION ${GSTREAMER_base_VERSION})  # informational
     set(GSTREAMER_LIBRARIES ${GSTREAMER_base_LIBRARIES} ${GSTREAMER_app_LIBRARIES} ${GSTREAMER_riff_LIBRARIES} ${GSTREAMER_pbutils_LIBRARIES} ${GSTREAMER_video_LIBRARIES})
     set(GSTREAMER_INCLUDE_DIRS ${GSTREAMER_base_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GSTREAMER_app_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GSTREAMER_riff_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GSTREAMER_pbutils_INCLUDE_DIRS} ${GSTREAMER_video_INCLUDE_DIRS})
   endif()
@@ -104,5 +104,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_GSTREAMER)
   ocv_add_external_target(gstreamer "${GSTREAMER_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${GSTREAMER_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_GSTREAMER")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_GSTREAMER ${HAVE_GSTREAMER} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ios.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ios.cmake
index c75426060b..8d48dd6f3b 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ios.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ios.cmake
@@ -11,5 +11,3 @@ if(APPLE AND IOS)
     "-framework UIKit")
   ocv_add_external_target(cap_ios "" "${libs}" "HAVE_CAP_IOS")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_CAP_IOS ${HAVE_CAP_IOS} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msdk.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msdk.cmake
index d035c3f5cc..83701425e1 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msdk.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msdk.cmake
@@ -70,5 +70,3 @@ if(HAVE_MFX)
   list(APPEND MFX_DEFS "HAVE_MFX")
   ocv_add_external_target(mediasdk "${MFX_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${MFX_LIBRARIES}" "${MFX_DEFS}")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_MFX ${HAVE_MFX} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msmf.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msmf.cmake
index a1c91dab67..aebc226bcf 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msmf.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_msmf.cmake
@@ -20,6 +20,3 @@ if(HAVE_MSMF)
   endif()
   ocv_add_external_target(msmf "" "" "${defs}")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_MSMF ${HAVE_MSMF} PARENT_SCOPE)
-set(HAVE_MSMF_DXVA ${HAVE_MSMF_DXVA} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_openni2.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_openni2.cmake
index 76c31454da..54a5c62bed 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_openni2.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_openni2.cmake
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ if(HAVE_OPENNI2)
   string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ONI_VERSION_MAJOR[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_major "${ver_strings}")
   string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ONI_VERSION_MINOR[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_minor "${ver_strings}")
   string(REGEX REPLACE ".*ONI_VERSION_MAINTENANCE[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_maint "${ver_strings}")
-  set(OPENNI2_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_maint}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+  set(OPENNI2_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_maint}")  # informational
   ocv_add_external_target(openni2 "${OPENNI2_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${OPENNI2_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_OPENNI2")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_OPENNI2 ${HAVE_OPENNI2} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_pvapi.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_pvapi.cmake
index a0f4673fdc..f2c6d4bcea 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_pvapi.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_pvapi.cmake
@@ -19,5 +19,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_PVAPI)
   ocv_add_external_target(pvapi "${PVAPI_INCLUDE}" "${PVAPI_LIBRARY}" "HAVE_PVAPI")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_PVAPI ${HAVE_PVAPI} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_realsense.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_realsense.cmake
index 32e5e02c9e..065f548830 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_realsense.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_realsense.cmake
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ if(NOT HAVE_LIBREALSENSE)
   find_package(realsense2 QUIET)
   if(realsense2_FOUND)
     set(HAVE_LIBREALSENSE TRUE)
-    set(LIBREALSENSE_VERSION "${realsense2_VERSION}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(LIBREALSENSE_VERSION "${realsense2_VERSION}")  # informational
     ocv_add_external_target(librealsense "" "${realsense2_LIBRARY}" "HAVE_LIBREALSENSE")
   endif()
 endif()
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ if(NOT HAVE_LIBREALSENSE)
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*RS2_API_MAJOR_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_major "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*RS2_API_MINOR_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_minor "${ver_strings}")
     string(REGEX REPLACE ".*RS2_API_PATCH_VERSION[^0-9]+([0-9]+).*" "\\1" ver_patch "${ver_strings}")
-    set(LIBREALSENSE_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_patch}" PARENT_SCOPE) # informational
+    set(LIBREALSENSE_VERSION "${ver_major}.${ver_minor}.${ver_patch}")  # informational
     ocv_add_external_target(librealsense "${LIBREALSENSE_INCLUDE_DIR}" "${LIBREALSENSE_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_LIBREALSENSE")
   endif()
 endif()
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ueye.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ueye.cmake
index 495e9c2450..9428f9e596 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ueye.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ueye.cmake
@@ -21,5 +21,3 @@ unset(_WIN_LIB_SUFFIX)
 if(HAVE_UEYE)
   ocv_add_external_target(ueye "${UEYE_INCLUDE}" "${UEYE_LIBRARY}" "HAVE_UEYE")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_UEYE ${HAVE_UEYE} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_v4l.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_v4l.cmake
index 05b73b003c..e413dae9ca 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_v4l.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_v4l.cmake
@@ -15,5 +15,3 @@ if(NOT HAVE_V4L)
     ocv_add_external_target(v4l "" "" "${defs}")
   endif()
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_V4L ${HAVE_V4L} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ximea.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ximea.cmake
index 9cf295e352..7521e619b0 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ximea.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ximea.cmake
@@ -28,5 +28,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_XIMEA)
   ocv_add_external_target(ximea "${XIMEA_INCLUDE}" "${XIMEA_LIBRARY}" "HAVE_XIMEA")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_XIMEA ${HAVE_XIMEA} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_xine.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_xine.cmake
index 3e1f3010a4..0a6f642353 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_xine.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_xine.cmake
@@ -5,5 +5,3 @@ endif()
 if(HAVE_XINE)
   ocv_add_external_target(xine "${XINE_INCLUDE_DIRS}" "${XINE_LIBRARIES}" "HAVE_XINE")
 endif()
-
-set(HAVE_XINE ${HAVE_XINE} PARENT_SCOPE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/init.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/init.cmake
index 310df2d249..68838790b8 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/init.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/init.cmake
@@ -1,19 +1,10 @@
 include(FindPkgConfig)
 
-# FIXIT: stop using PARENT_SCOPE in dependencies
-if(PROJECT_NAME STREQUAL "OpenCV")
-  macro(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
-    if(${cond_var})
-      include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
-    endif()
-  endmacro()
-else()
-  function(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
-    if(${cond_var})
-      include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
-    endif()
-  endfunction()
-endif()
+macro(add_backend backend_id cond_var)
+  if(${cond_var})
+    include("${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/detect_${backend_id}.cmake")
+  endif()
+endmacro()
 
 add_backend("ffmpeg" WITH_FFMPEG)
 add_backend("gstreamer" WITH_GSTREAMER)