Kodi crackdown: Online piracy could be changed this week

[Len]

KODI add-on fans are being warned the face of illegal streaming could be changed forever this week.

Kodi add-on users need to be aware of a crunch piracy vote taking place this week that could have huge ramifications for illegal streaming.

Kodi continues to surge in popularity, with research suggesting the software is being used in more than five million UK homes.

Kodi software is perfectly legal, but unaffiliated developers can produce third-party add-ons that provide free access to pirated and illegal content.

These apps allow users to stream premium content, like paid-for live sports, the latest Hollywood movies and must-see TV shows for free.

The illegal Kodi add-ons are being targeted by ISPs, government agencies, broadcasters and rights holders.

And as the crackdown continues proposed copyright laws that will be voted on in Brussels this week could change how illegal streaming works forever.

Last month Express.co.uk reported the mooted Copyright Directive that the European Commission (EC) were looking at.

The EC is the legislative arm of the European Union and back in September 2016 published proposals on how to modernise copyright law.

And if the Copyright Directive is enforced, then one specific measure will have a big impact on illegal streaming.

Article 13 of the suggested law puts the onus on online services to ensure content their users upload does not breach copyright.

Online services will be liable for content that breaches copyright unless “effective and proportionate” measures are enforced

In a document online the European Parliament said these measures include the use of “effective content recognition technologies”.

So, in essence - video sharing platforms need to ensure what gets uploaded to their sites is not in breach of copyright.

And if it does, it opens the door for rights holders to demand compensation.

One measure companies could enforce to protect themselves is installing filters to detect infringing content at the point of users uploading it.

Illegal Kodi add-ons made by third party developers find and pull together pirated streams of movies and TV shows posted on the internet.

These pirated films that are ready for streaming would have been uploaded to some form of file or video sharing website.

The proposed European copyright law would hugely impact such sites, forcing them to check for any content that is pirated.

And with penalties for hosting pirated movies and TV shows so high, it may force sites that currently are home to such content to crack down on it.

If that’s the case, it would have a big impact on the availability of illegal streams third-party Kodi add-ons can access.

Two weeks ago Brussels’s Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament (JURI) voted in favour of Article 13, TorrentFreak reported.

It will now on Thursday be the subject of a plenary ballot where MEPs will vote on the proposed copyright reforms.

The result of the vote could have a huge impact on illegal streaming, and ahead of it both sides of the debate have been calling on MEPs for support.

In an open letter more than 80 creative sector groups and companies called on MEPs to support their position.

The letter said: “We represent 4.5 per cent of EU GDP and 12 million European jobs. We are the heart and soul of Europe’s plurality and rich identities.

“On July 5 we ask for you to back the mandate adopted by JURI on 20 June which is the result of long and intense negotiations.

“There is a cynical campaign from tech companies flooding the inboxes of MEPs with scaremongering that the copyright directive would be the end of the internet.”

They added: “We need an Internet that is fair and sustainable for all.”

While after last month’s JURI vote in favour of the copyright reforms, Pirate Party MEP Julia Reda said: “These measures will break the internet.

“People will run into trouble doing everyday things like discussing the news and expressing themselves online.

“Locking down our freedom to participate to serve the special interests of large media companies is unacceptable.

“I will challenge this outcome and request a vote in the European Parliament next month.

“We can still overturn this result and preserve the free internet.”