Middlesbrough man to be first to be prosecuted for selling Android Boxes

JasonWatkins · 20-09-2016, 15:28

Thought this was quite interesting. It kind of shows how Kodi has become the de-facto name for piracy for, I suppose, the less technically knowledgable, even though Kodi itself isn't illegal and certainly doesn't condone piracy.

Quote:

Following an 18-month investigation, Brian Thompson has been told Middlesbrough Council is taking him to court in what could prove a landmark case.

The council claims the boxes are illegal, but Brian said: “I am pleading not guilty and I’m going to fight this.”

The kit - also known as a ‘Kodi box’ - allows viewers to watch copyright material like Premier League football and Hollywood movies for free

As such there are major question marks over both their legality, and exactly just what people can safely watch.

Brian admits that, win or lose, either result could prove catastrophic to his Parliament Road business ‘Cut Price Tomo’s TV’ - but is determined to fight it.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/te...first-11908556

eggchen · 20-09-2016, 15:36

So these streaming boxes, which appear to be widely available just about everywhere are illegal, and to prove it Middlesborough Counciil are going to lay the boot into some poor backstreet TV shop owner?

I hope this backfires on them spectacularly.

JasonWatkins · 20-09-2016, 15:38

I think that's the luck of the draw with test cases though, if you're the individual who ends up being selected for one then you could well be screwed.

muggins14 · 20-09-2016, 15:47

It's weird because, just the other day my friend was telling me about the Kodi, a box they bought from Amazon, that they watch on their TV. I was talking to her, googled it, it says it's now a free app.

JasonWatkins · 20-09-2016, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by muggins14

It's weird because, just the other day my friend was telling me about the Kodi, a box they bought from Amazon, that they watch on their TV. I was talking to her, googled it, it says it's now a free app.

Kodi is a free media centre that has the ability to run addons and it's the addons that are the issue as people create ones that allow you to stream sky channels, films and sports for "free".

Kodi themselves are now actively pursuing sellers who sell the boxes "fully loaded" (meaning all the illegal addons installed) through the courts as well and I can't blame them really.

muggins14 · 20-09-2016, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWatkins

Kodi is a free media centre that has the ability to run addons and it's the addons that are the issue as people create ones that allow you to stream sky channels, films and sports for "free".

Kodi themselves are now actively pursuing sellers who sell the boxes "fully loaded" (meaning all the illegal addons installed) through the courts as well and I can't blame them really.

Aah right, OK I'll tell her as she's panicking now - I sent the link to her

Mind you, she's not a seller just an innocent user.

I'll just continue doing it online for free through my VPN

chrisjr · 20-09-2016, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggchen

So these streaming boxes, which appear to be widely available just about everywhere are illegal, and to prove it Middlesborough Counciil are going to lay the boot into some poor backstreet TV shop owner?

I hope this backfires on them spectacularly.

The boxes themselves and the Kodi software loaded on them are not illegal. it is the variety of apps available that can be loaded onto them that are potentially illegal.

If you have an app that can stream something like all the Sky Sports channels without anyone paying a single penny to Sky then that is liable to be illegal.

The implication in the article linked to is that this guy has not just been selling the basic boxes, (which probably wouldn't have attracted anyone's attention), but been loading on all sorts of apps to access content that may be being obtained without the rights holders permission.

muggins14 · 20-09-2016, 16:09

So what does the free App do - as it says on their site they are free now - is that all legal?

Arcana · 20-09-2016, 16:12

I recall reading a few months back a post on the official Kodi blog about how piracy box sellers were 'killing' Kodi...so presumably this is welcome news to them.

MeanMint · 20-09-2016, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by muggins14

Aah right, OK I'll tell her as she's panicking now - I sent the link to her

Mind you, she's not a seller just an innocent user.

I'll just continue doing it online for free through my VPN

BIB, no such thing. Person buys said box thinking they can watch the latest blockbuster with peoples heads in the cinema and crap sound and think, "eh up this is perfectly legal and innocent your Honour."

An Thropologist · 20-09-2016, 16:14

Sounds like something used in the burial service for dead androids.

Tassium · 20-09-2016, 16:16

The guy will lose if he pre-loaded the box for sale with apps to facilitate streaming/downloads of copyrighted material.

It's not illegal for a person to do it for themselves, it's a civil matter.

He should see a solicitor.

Sport1 · 20-09-2016, 16:17

Kodi boxes are not remotely illegal. Hacking them to gain free TV and profiting from that is illegal.

chrisjr · 20-09-2016, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by muggins14

So what does the free App do - as it says on their site they are free now - is that all legal?

Kodi itself is just a framework for playing video and audio. By itself it has no content you have to go off and find your own. Which is what a lot of apps written to run under Kodi do for you.

Kodi itself is perfectly legal. As are any apps that access content that is either free to use or has the rights holders permission. It's when apps access content that is being used without the rights holders permission, especially content that would otherwise need paying for, that things start to get messy.

D_Mcd4 · 20-09-2016, 16:25

He needs to sell them without SALTS pre-installed. Kodi is just a media player. Might as well prosecute MS for Windows Media PCs!

Evo102 · 20-09-2016, 16:45

Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there.

muggins14 · 20-09-2016, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeanMint

BIB, no such thing. Person buys said box thinking they can watch the latest blockbuster with peoples heads in the cinema and crap sound and think, "eh up this is perfectly legal and innocent your Honour."

Well the product is a legal, legitimate product - hers doesn't have the pre-loaded anything

Her husband installed a few of the third-party plugins available on their website, all legit. She just went mad panicking when I told her

She can just get the approved add-ons as listed on the Kodi website http://addons.kodi.tv/category/video/?page=7 , she's just checked!

muggins14 · 20-09-2016, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

Kodi itself is just a framework for playing video and audio. By itself it has no content you have to go off and find your own. Which is what a lot of apps written to run under Kodi do for you.

Kodi itself is perfectly legal. As are any apps that access content that is either free to use or has the rights holders permission. It's when apps access content that is being used without the rights holders permission, especially content that would otherwise need paying for, that things start to get messy.

Thanks Chris

I just read some more about it on their website too.

seanf · 20-09-2016, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evo102

Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there.

Yep loads of easy guides on you tube, but why use kodi when the boxes come with showbox installed, well so I've been told.

Evo102 · 20-09-2016, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanf

Yep loads of easy guides on you tube, but why use kodi when the boxes come with showbox installed, well so I've been told.

Show Box isn't much good for live TV, well so I've been told.

netcurtains · 20-09-2016, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evo102

Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there.

I just got my teenager to set mine up.

Fried Kickin · 20-09-2016, 22:45

It is cheeky to sell the boxes with kodi "fully loaded"

A better option would be to sell a basic android box without kodi installed and tell the end user to google.

chrisjr · 20-09-2016, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Kickin

It is cheeky to sell the boxes with kodi "fully loaded"

A better option would be to sell a basic android box without kodi installed and tell the end user to google.

There is no problem selling a box with a plain vanilla install of Kodi on it. Nothing remotely dodgy about that at all.

Fried Kickin · 20-09-2016, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjr

There is no problem selling a box with a plain vanilla install of Kodi on it. Nothing remotely dodgy about that at all.

I agree Kodi is just another media player but if Kodi isn't even installed (and after all it is available on google play anyway) then there is absolutely no way anyone can suggest or misconstrue that you're selling a "pirate box"

dont_be_hasty · 26-09-2016, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Kickin

I agree Kodi is just another media player but if Kodi isn't even installed (and after all it is available on google play anyway) then there is absolutely no way anyone can suggest or misconstrue that you're selling a "pirate box"

Of course there is nothing wrong with selling an android box with a clean blank install Kodi on it. That's not that issue.

But the majority of people are selling these boxes where Kodi is loaded with add-ons which allow the user to access illegal content, that is were the issue is.

They are buying cheap android boxes, installing the free kodi app and free add-ons for it and selling the box on at probably a good profit. Its the add-ons that are accessing illegal content, so it the person in question has advertised the boxes they are selling as 'fully loaded' or having access to all the latest films and tv shows then it could be said that they are selling a pirated box.

20-09-2016, 15:28	#1
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	Middlesbrough man to be first to be prosecuted for selling Android Boxes Thought this was quite interesting. It kind of shows how Kodi has become the de-facto name for piracy for, I suppose, the less technically knowledgable, even though Kodi itself isn't illegal and certainly doesn't condone piracy. Quote: Following an 18-month investigation, Brian Thompson has been told Middlesbrough Council is taking him to court in what could prove a landmark case. The council claims the boxes are illegal, but Brian said: “I am pleading not guilty and I’m going to fight this.” The kit - also known as a ‘Kodi box’ - allows viewers to watch copyright material like Premier League football and Hollywood movies for free As such there are major question marks over both their legality, and exactly just what people can safely watch. Brian admits that, win or lose, either result could prove catastrophic to his Parliament Road business ‘Cut Price Tomo’s TV’ - but is determined to fight it. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/te...first-11908556

20-09-2016, 15:36	#2
eggchen Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 2,577	So these streaming boxes, which appear to be widely available just about everywhere are illegal, and to prove it Middlesborough Counciil are going to lay the boot into some poor backstreet TV shop owner? I hope this backfires on them spectacularly.

20-09-2016, 15:38	#3
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	I think that's the luck of the draw with test cases though, if you're the individual who ends up being selected for one then you could well be screwed.

20-09-2016, 15:47	#4
muggins14 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Pit of Despair Posts: 50,260	It's weird because, just the other day my friend was telling me about the Kodi, a box they bought from Amazon, that they watch on their TV. I was talking to her, googled it, it says it's now a free app.

20-09-2016, 15:54	#5
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	Quote: Originally Posted by muggins14 It's weird because, just the other day my friend was telling me about the Kodi, a box they bought from Amazon, that they watch on their TV. I was talking to her, googled it, it says it's now a free app. Kodi is a free media centre that has the ability to run addons and it's the addons that are the issue as people create ones that allow you to stream sky channels, films and sports for "free". Kodi themselves are now actively pursuing sellers who sell the boxes "fully loaded" (meaning all the illegal addons installed) through the courts as well and I can't blame them really.

20-09-2016, 15:56	#6
muggins14 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Pit of Despair Posts: 50,260	Quote: Originally Posted by JasonWatkins Kodi is a free media centre that has the ability to run addons and it's the addons that are the issue as people create ones that allow you to stream sky channels, films and sports for "free". Kodi themselves are now actively pursuing sellers who sell the boxes "fully loaded" (meaning all the illegal addons installed) through the courts as well and I can't blame them really. Aah right, OK I'll tell her as she's panicking now - I sent the link to her Mind you, she's not a seller just an innocent user. I'll just continue doing it online for free through my VPN

20-09-2016, 15:58	#7
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by eggchen So these streaming boxes, which appear to be widely available just about everywhere are illegal, and to prove it Middlesborough Counciil are going to lay the boot into some poor backstreet TV shop owner? I hope this backfires on them spectacularly. The boxes themselves and the Kodi software loaded on them are not illegal. it is the variety of apps available that can be loaded onto them that are potentially illegal. If you have an app that can stream something like all the Sky Sports channels without anyone paying a single penny to Sky then that is liable to be illegal. The implication in the article linked to is that this guy has not just been selling the basic boxes, (which probably wouldn't have attracted anyone's attention), but been loading on all sorts of apps to access content that may be being obtained without the rights holders permission.

20-09-2016, 16:09	#8
muggins14 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Pit of Despair Posts: 50,260	So what does the free App do - as it says on their site they are free now - is that all legal?

20-09-2016, 16:12	#9
Arcana Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: 🖥⌨🖱 Posts: 29,252	I recall reading a few months back a post on the official Kodi blog about how piracy box sellers were 'killing' Kodi...so presumably this is welcome news to them.

20-09-2016, 16:13	#10
MeanMint Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 420	Quote: Originally Posted by muggins14 Aah right, OK I'll tell her as she's panicking now - I sent the link to her Mind you, she's not a seller just *an innocent user.* I'll just continue doing it online for free through my VPN BIB, no such thing. Person buys said box thinking they can watch the latest blockbuster with peoples heads in the cinema and crap sound and think, "eh up this is perfectly legal and innocent your Honour."

20-09-2016, 16:14	#11
An Thropologist Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 16,156	Sounds like something used in the burial service for dead androids.

20-09-2016, 16:16	#12
Tassium Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: It's Grim Posts: 24,412	The guy will lose if he pre-loaded the box for sale with apps to facilitate streaming/downloads of copyrighted material. It's not illegal for a person to do it for themselves, it's a civil matter. He should see a solicitor.

20-09-2016, 16:17	#13
Sport1 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,067	Kodi boxes are not remotely illegal. Hacking them to gain free TV and profiting from that is illegal.

20-09-2016, 16:20	#14
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by muggins14 So what does the free App do - as it says on their site they are free now - is that all legal? Kodi itself is just a framework for playing video and audio. By itself it has no content you have to go off and find your own. Which is what a lot of apps written to run under Kodi do for you. Kodi itself is perfectly legal. As are any apps that access content that is either free to use or has the rights holders permission. It's when apps access content that is being used without the rights holders permission, especially content that would otherwise need paying for, that things start to get messy.

20-09-2016, 16:25	#15
D_Mcd4 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 4,486	He needs to sell them without SALTS pre-installed. Kodi is just a media player. Might as well prosecute MS for Windows Media PCs!

20-09-2016, 16:45	#16
Evo102 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 5,906	Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there.

20-09-2016, 17:04	#17
muggins14 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Pit of Despair Posts: 50,260	Quote: Originally Posted by MeanMint BIB, no such thing. Person buys said box thinking they can watch the latest blockbuster with peoples heads in the cinema and crap sound and think, "eh up this is perfectly legal and innocent your Honour." Well the product is a legal, legitimate product - hers doesn't have the pre-loaded anything Her husband installed a few of the third-party plugins available on their website, all legit. She just went mad panicking when I told her She can just get the approved add-ons as listed on the Kodi website http://addons.kodi.tv/category/video/?page=7 , she's just checked!

20-09-2016, 17:04	#18
muggins14 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: The Pit of Despair Posts: 50,260	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr Kodi itself is just a framework for playing video and audio. By itself it has no content you have to go off and find your own. Which is what a lot of apps written to run under Kodi do for you. Kodi itself is perfectly legal. As are any apps that access content that is either free to use or has the rights holders permission. It's when apps access content that is being used without the rights holders permission, especially content that would otherwise need paying for, that things start to get messy. Thanks Chris I just read some more about it on their website too.

20-09-2016, 20:49	#19
seanf Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sheffield, Posts: 2,060	Quote: Originally Posted by Evo102 Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there. Yep loads of easy guides on you tube, but why use kodi when the boxes come with showbox installed, well so I've been told.

20-09-2016, 21:27	#20
Evo102 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 5,906	Quote: Originally Posted by seanf Yep loads of easy guides on you tube, but why use kodi when the boxes come with showbox installed, well so I've been told. Show Box isn't much good for live TV, well so I've been told.

20-09-2016, 22:42	#21
netcurtains Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hull Posts: 15,887	Quote: Originally Posted by Evo102 Easy enough to load up your own addons, plenty of idiot proof guides out there. I just got my teenager to set mine up.

DS Forums

Middlesbrough man to be first to be prosecuted for selling Android Boxes

20-09-2016, 22:45	#22
Fried Kickin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 54,252	It is cheeky to sell the boxes with kodi "fully loaded" A better option would be to sell a basic android box without kodi installed and tell the end user to google.

20-09-2016, 22:51	#23
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by Fried Kickin It is cheeky to sell the boxes with kodi "fully loaded" A better option would be to sell a basic android box without kodi installed and tell the end user to google. There is no problem selling a box with a plain vanilla install of Kodi on it. Nothing remotely dodgy about that at all.

20-09-2016, 23:45	#24
Fried Kickin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 🇬🇧 Posts: 54,252	Quote: Originally Posted by chrisjr There is no problem selling a box with a plain vanilla install of Kodi on it. Nothing remotely dodgy about that at all. I agree Kodi is just another media player but if Kodi isn't even installed (and after all it is available on google play anyway) then there is absolutely no way anyone can suggest or misconstrue that you're selling a "pirate box"

26-09-2016, 10:21	#25
dont_be_hasty Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 155	Quote: Originally Posted by Fried Kickin I agree Kodi is just another media player but if Kodi isn't even installed (and after all it is available on google play anyway) then there is absolutely no way anyone can suggest or misconstrue that you're selling a "pirate box" Of course there is nothing wrong with selling an android box with a clean blank install Kodi on it. That's not that issue. But the majority of people are selling these boxes where Kodi is loaded with add-ons which allow the user to access illegal content, that is were the issue is. They are buying cheap android boxes, installing the free kodi app and free add-ons for it and selling the box on at probably a good profit. Its the add-ons that are accessing illegal content, so it the person in question has advertised the boxes they are selling as 'fully loaded' or having access to all the latest films and tv shows then it could be said that they are selling a pirated box.