Do you use a Kodi box? Five people just got arrested for selling them

The government has launched a major crackdown on the sale of ‘fully loaded’ Kodi boxes – with five people arrested in raids this morning.

Five suspects have been bailed after the arrests – with set-top boxes loaded with Kodi seized from their homes in Bolton, Bootle, Cheadle, Manchester and Rhyl.

The raids were instigated by the Federation Against Copyright Theft – and targeted sellers of ‘fully loaded’ boxes, with software which allows users to pirate shows such as football matches, straight out of the box.

Using Kodi software (which can be installed on smartphones or PCs) remains legal – it’s just installing add-ons to allow piracy which is the problem.

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So far, copyright holders have tended to ignore users, and instead target people who sell ‘fully loaded’ boxes with piracy add-ons pre-installed.

‘Today’s day of action should send out a clear warning to anyone involved in the sale and distribution of illegal set-top boxes that law enforcement and industry take this matter very seriously,’ said Kieron Sharp, Director General of FACT.

‘Set-top boxes loaded with apps and add-ons allowing access to copyright infringing material are very much illegal and anyone involved in selling these boxes should not be surprised to receive a knock on the door.’

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