By Linda Howard
The news that Kodi users have been anxiously waiting for has finally been announced and it's not looking good for some.
A landmark verdict has ruled that using a streaming service to access copyright protected and subscription content for free is the same as downloading pirated material.
In other words, using Kodi to watch this type of content is illegal.
The Kodi media player is free and legal to use, but the software can be customised with add-ons that allow it to receive and play copyright infringing content - without paying for it.
Streaming content was previously a grey area compared to the black and white world of piracy downloading, but the new ruling should settle the debate once and for all.
The Kodi media player software allows users to stream content to Smart Tvs, PCs, iDevices, Smartphones and Tablets.
Temporary files, like those created when media content is streamed, are technically exempt under copyright law.
People selling 'fully loaded' so-called Kodi boxes - essentially a media playing device with Kodi illegal add-ons installed - exploited the temporary files legal loophole to provide illegal content.
But the new ruling, issued on Wednesday by the EU's highest court, puts pirated streams on the same legal footing as illegal downloads.
The European Court of Justice ruled against a Dutch vendor who sold fully loaded boxes over the internet. Although the court recognised the equipment itself was not illegal, the way he had customised them was and was likely to be used to access copyrighted material.
Earlier this month Amazon banned sales of 'fully-loaded' Kodi TV boxes and other pirate devices from its online store and this week eBay also announced that listings promoting these devices will be removed and sellers reported.
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