The controversial Kodi software should not be targeted for copyright infringement offenses, according to an industry body representing the likes of Netflix, Amazon and BT.
The Computer and Communications Industry Association says Kodi is a general purpose software used for lawful purposes.
It says law enforcement agencies should target the infringers, such as those selling loaded Kodi boxes and those creating third-party add-ons to facilitate access to copyrighted material.
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“Unscrupulous vendors selling general-purpose devices preloaded with software whose function is to infringe content or circumvent technological protection measures (TPMs) are an appropriate target for enforcement activities,” the CCIA, which also represents Facebook, Google, Intel and Samsung wrote (via Independent).
“These enforcement activities should focus on the infringers themselves, however, not a general-purpose technology, such as an operating system for set-top boxes, which may be used in both lawful and unlawful ways.”
A global threat?
The CCIA comments came in response to the Motion Picture Association of America, which recently described Kodi as a “global threat”.
“An emerging global threat is streaming piracy which is enabled by piracy devices preloaded with software to illicitly stream movies and television programming and a burgeoning ecosystem of infringing add-ons,” the MPAA said in October.
“The most popular software is an open source media player software, Kodi. Although Kodi is not itself unlawful, and does not host or link to unlicensed content, it can be easily configured to direct consumers toward unlicensed films and television shows.”
Recent criminal cases have seen Kodi box purveyors punished, while a number of the most popular third-party add-ons have been shut down amid increasing pressure from the authorities.
Are the copyright cops right to target the infringers? Or does Kodi have more to answer for as a facilitator? Share your thoughts with us @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
