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| Sale of Kodi 'fully-loaded' streaming boxes faces legal test | Sale of Kodi 'fully-loaded' streaming boxes faces legal test |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A legal case concerning the sale of video-streaming set-top boxes that can access subscription content for free began on Tuesday. | |
| So-called "fully-loaded Kodi boxes" have gained popularity, but the legality of their sale is in question. | So-called "fully-loaded Kodi boxes" have gained popularity, but the legality of their sale is in question. |
| Middlesbrough trader Brian Thompson appeared in court, accused of selling equipment that "facilitated the circumvention" of copyright protection measures. | Middlesbrough trader Brian Thompson appeared in court, accused of selling equipment that "facilitated the circumvention" of copyright protection measures. |
| He pleaded not guilty to three charges. | |
| The trial has been described as a landmark case by industry watchers. | The trial has been described as a landmark case by industry watchers. |
| Mr Thompson will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on 27 October. | Mr Thompson will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on 27 October. |
| What is Kodi? | What is Kodi? |
| Kodi is free software designed to bring videos, music, games and photographs together in one easy-to-use application. | Kodi is free software designed to bring videos, music, games and photographs together in one easy-to-use application. |
| It began life as a program called Xbox Media Centre (XBMC) that added a feature-rich media player to the original Xbox games console. | It began life as a program called Xbox Media Centre (XBMC) that added a feature-rich media player to the original Xbox games console. |
| The open-source project was developed by volunteers and can now be installed on a variety of devices including smartphones and computers. | The open-source project was developed by volunteers and can now be installed on a variety of devices including smartphones and computers. |
| It can also be loaded on to television-connected devices such as the Amazon Fire stick or Apple TV box, although it is not supported by those manufacturers. | It can also be loaded on to television-connected devices such as the Amazon Fire stick or Apple TV box, although it is not supported by those manufacturers. |
| What are Kodi boxes? | What are Kodi boxes? |
| Some shops sell ready-to-use set-top boxes or television sticks preloaded with the Kodi software. | Some shops sell ready-to-use set-top boxes or television sticks preloaded with the Kodi software. |
| They are also known as Android boxes, because many of the devices run Android as their primary operating system. | They are also known as Android boxes, because many of the devices run Android as their primary operating system. |
| The developers behind Kodi say their software does not contain any content of its own and is designed to play legally owned media or content "freely available" on the internet. | The developers behind Kodi say their software does not contain any content of its own and is designed to play legally owned media or content "freely available" on the internet. |
| However, the software can be modified with third-party add-ons that provide access to pirated copies of films and TV series, or provide free access to subscription television channels. | However, the software can be modified with third-party add-ons that provide access to pirated copies of films and TV series, or provide free access to subscription television channels. |
| Some traders sell Kodi boxes preloaded with such third-party add-ons that can access pirated content. It is the sale of these "fully-loaded" boxes that is the subject of a legal case. | Some traders sell Kodi boxes preloaded with such third-party add-ons that can access pirated content. It is the sale of these "fully-loaded" boxes that is the subject of a legal case. |
| What do the makers of Kodi say? | What do the makers of Kodi say? |
| The developers behind Kodi have said they do not support "piracy add-ons" and have criticised those who advertise "fully-loaded" set-top boxes for sale. | The developers behind Kodi have said they do not support "piracy add-ons" and have criticised those who advertise "fully-loaded" set-top boxes for sale. |
| The group said it would maintain a "neutral stance on what users do with their own software", but would battle those using the Kodi trademark to sell a "fully-loaded Kodi box". | The group said it would maintain a "neutral stance on what users do with their own software", but would battle those using the Kodi trademark to sell a "fully-loaded Kodi box". |
| Discussions about "pirated content" and add-ons that provide access are removed from its message board. | Discussions about "pirated content" and add-ons that provide access are removed from its message board. |