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Are you breaking the law? Government publishes guidelines on how to use Kodi boxes legally

Kodi: How to use the software safely on your TV without buying an illegal box
Kodi: How to use the software safely on your TV without buying an illegal box

Up to a million households in the UK are thought to have purchased illicit streaming devices known widely as ‘Kodi boxes’.

The devices have previously been sold via Amazon and eBay – and it’s also possible to ‘build your own’ using commercially available products such as Amazon Firesticks.

But are they legal or illegal? The government has published guidelines for what is – and isn’t – legal to do with ‘illicit streaming devices’.

Watching pirated content such as live streams of Premier League matches, or series such as Game of Thrones is definitely illegal, according to the Intellectual Property Office.

Yahoo News UK

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But merely owning a streaming device isn’t illegal, and it’s fine to watch free to air content – they become illegal when they’re adapted to stream illicit content (ie with add-ons).

While streaming services like Netflix and Spotify have provided easy (and affordable) ways for Britons to enjoy legal content in their homes, the UK government is still waging war against what it calls “illicit streaming devices.”
While streaming services like Netflix and Spotify have provided easy (and affordable) ways for Britons to enjoy legal content in their homes, the UK government is still waging war against what it calls “illicit streaming devices.”

The Government says, ‘These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free to air, content. They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.

‘Adapting a streaming device to view illicit content usually requires loading of software add-ons or extensions. Illicit streaming can also be facilitated by using certain apps on smartphones and tablets.’

The full guidelines are below – although it’s worth noting that (so far) prosecutions have targeted people dealing in the devices, not using them.

The full guidelines are here.