Hmmm …
You know I try and keep my eyes on the technology news, don’t you?
And I’m someone with an Apple TV, and no DVD player. So I follow the news about streaming boxes with interest.
Especially about Kodi boxes.
Just so you know, a Kodi* box is a media streaming box: one that usually runs a version of Android: and usually runs Kodi as the default media player/manager software.
Kodi, like a lot os open source software? Can be modified: with add-ons. Mostly ones that let you play some of the odder file types, or play games: what have you.
SOME of which can let you access paid for contact — Netflix or Amazon Prime, say, or subscriber sports channels — for free.
Most of us could add these to a Kodi box: but would probably find it just a little too fiddley.
However, someone sellers? Sell what are known as fully-loaded Kodi boxes: ones with the dodgier add ons already installed.
Some of those sellers? Were
raided by various northern police forces, yesterday: working with the trade-body the tries to prevent copy-right violations.
Personally? I’m a little concerned.
Not so much by the raid: nor by the fact people are buying stuff that let’s them break the law.
I think copyright piracy is going to happen in many different ways. And where we were talking about peer to peer sharing, a few months ago, and Kodi boxes, now, we’re going to be talking about something else, in a year or so’s time.
What worries me, between the raid, and the
court case?
Is how this affects add-ons.
Frankly? I know many bits of software — open or closed source, free or otherwise — relies on add-ons. You’re probably using an ad-blocker and a Flash player in your web-browser, am very aware some media players use add-ons to play some of the odder file types, and know there’s a lot of add-ons for Microsoft Office.
My concern is this.
I’m not worried about copy-right theft: the raids and court case won’t stop that, nor stop companies working to prevent it.
I’m concerned how this will after the legal use and development of add-ons.
I like Ad-block Plus. I’d rather not lose it and others, in a botched attempt to ban the ones that let you watch football for free.
