Obviously, that’s something you shouldn’t do. The problem arises when the Kodi app is used to illegally stream subscription content. Put simply: Kodi, and boxes with Kodi installed, are perfectly legal. The reason that arrests have been made is not simply because people have been selling Kodi boxes, but because they have been selling them pre-loaded with these illegal apps and services. Subscription sports and movie packages, for example, are only a few clicks and a quick download away – and all without paying. The problem with Kodi is that, while it uses some wonderfully versatile and easy-to-use software, it can also be easily used for illegal streaming. Technically, any TV streamer capable of installing the app could be a Kodi box, but when the term is used in the press and media it is most commonly in reference to the legally dubious first kind.īrowse the best devices on the market with our guide to buying the best streamer. Most of the time they’re sold with the app pre-installed - commonly known as 'fully loaded'. The fact that you can simply stream whatever you want to watch, rather than spend time and bandwidth downloading large files, is also a huge draw.Ī ‘Kodi box’ is a loose term for any internet TV box designed primarily for using with the Kodi app. Unlike, say, the Windows Media Player you'll find on your PC, it has a very user-friendly, intuitive interface and is highly customisable - this is what really sets it apart from its competition.

It's essentially a versatile media player that's available across multiple platforms, allowing users to play files stored locally, such as videos and music, and stream live internet broadcasts and podcasts. In fact, it first began life as XBMC, or Xbox Media Centre. Kodi is probably best described as a 'media centre'.

Unfortunately for consumers, it's a complex issue that surrounds what is at heart a very useful and intuitive way to enjoy digital media and on-demand content.

This kicked off a Europe-wide debate as to the legality of the boxes. In the Autumn of 2016, a Teesside man was arrested for selling 'fully loaded' Kodi boxes - an internet TV streamer that allows you to choose from swathes of content, from blockbuster movies to live Premier League football.

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