Amazon Bans Sales of “Pirate” Media Players, Will Destroy Them

Megalith

Megalith

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Amazon is cracking down on media players that are being sold with pre-installed software that allows their users to quickly and easily acquire pirated material. Many of these devices feature the popular Kodi media center software, which supports third-party add-ons that allow for free streaming of content. I have a hunch that sellers will simply be more clever with their product descriptions going forward.

Streaming piracy is on the rise with popular media player Kodi at the center of attention. While Kodi itself is a neutral platform, millions of people use third-party add-ons to turn it into the ultimate pirate machine. In some cases, the pirate add-ons are put onto the devices by vendors, who sell these “fully-loaded” boxes through their own stores or marketplaces such as Amazon. While Amazon has never explicitly allowed the sale of copyright-infringing devices, they are not hard to find in its store. This is a thorn in the side of major copyright holders, who have repeatedly complained about fully-loaded boxes.
 
Plex, Kodi, VLC - these should all be banned since you can watch pirated content on them. If they are not illegal, then we should have to pay royalties to the MPAA and the like since we might use them to watch content on them that is not authorized. (Sadly, I think both of these have been pursued in the past).
 
KarsusTG said:
If the bar they are using to be banned is it can have software loaded on it that allows for the easy pirating of media then they are going to have to ban every PC sale in their store.
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You might be joking, but with all the shit going down, we might end up that they will require you to have a license to have a PC, and renew it every year. And only get a license if you can prove you need it for your work, and you need to pre-approve every application on it trough the windows store! And you must sign an EULA stating that they can have an agent present in your living room monitoring all your activities while you're using the PC (not your PC, you won't be allowed to own it, just use it!)
 
M76 said:
You might be joking, but with all the shit going down, we might end up that they will require you to have a license to have a PC, and renew it every year. And only get a license if you can prove you need it for your work, and you need to pre-approve every application on it trough the windows store! And you must sign an EULA stating that they can have an agent present in your living room monitoring all your activities while you're using the PC (not your PC, you won't be allowed to own it, just use it!)
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It would not surprise me if they made it to where you had to submit to a background check and wait 5-10 days after purchase before you can pick up your computer.
 
Crosshairs said:
I dont think they should be intervening at all unless the device itself is illegal. Just because something can be used for illegal activities is no reason to stop its sale.
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Let's send everyone who sells crowbars to jail! They are clearly used for breaking and entering!

Oh, and I remember reading about that guy who killed his wife with a hammer.

Clearly hardware stores need to be banned in their entirety!
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
Let's send everyone who sells crowbars to jail! They are clearly used for breaking and entering!

Oh, and I remember reading about that guy who killed his wife with a hammer.

Clearly hardware stores need to be banned in their entirety!
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Exactly..... banning something based on what the end user MIGHT do is not the correct action ...we could ban almost everything based on that criteria
 
Ok kids, let's remember how to read. As long as you don't actively promote pirating, you can sell it with whatever you want. If you say shit like "download all the things for free!" you'll have problems, but if you just have Kodi or w/e installed it's fine.
 
Seems to me this just exposes the overreach the film industry has and also shows their true ignorance of the subject since including TCP/IP does in fact enable the user to download pirated material.
 
Next they'll be banning the sales of hard drives and SSDs and optical media and tape backups 'cause, you know, you can use those for storing pirated media, then networking hardware because that's obviously the biggest contributor to pirated software and content distribution itself - if you have no network access hardware then you of course can't pirate shit online, right? Right?
 
Crosshairs said:
Exactly..... banning something based on what the end user MIGHT do is not the correct action ...we could ban almost everything based on that criteria
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Go sell a hammer that says "Great for bashing in heads" and let me know how it goes. Sometimes I wonder if you guys are just looking for reasons to bring out the pitchforks.
 
You are all talking about the government who banned fingernail clippers from airplanes... Did you really think that REASONING is something they consider? Let me know when I can take a tube of toothpaste with me on my next flight...
 
I'm a bit concerned that this may end up as a shotgun approach that hurts beneficial streaming boxes and whatnot. Now, I am not going to defend those who sell devices that say "WITH 10000 MOVIES INCLUDED ALL OF NEW HBO GAME OF THRONES ON HDD" or whatnot; clearly, that's another whole different level from simply downloading a show for free (ie "piracy" ) but is a real profit made on IP the seller isn't license. Clearly those kinds of sales should be shut down. Likewise, I'd like to see more of the low quality, barely working, ancient-version-of-Android, no-support, tons-of-clones-under-different-names, Chinese streaming boxes (usually based on underpowered Rockchip SOCs) just removed from Amazon because what they advertise is far from what they provide, even if it has nothing to do with including material along with the box.

However, there are a few companies out there making higher quality streaming boxes. For instance, WeTek (www.wetek.com) (www.wetekforums.com) , which is a Kodi official partner includes valid Wildvine DRM licenses (along with Google Play Store and Aptoide ) on its streaming boxes powered by newer AmLogic chipsets and its forums cater to the hacker types who want to update, configure and generally optimize their hardware. These guys offer a customized fork of Kodi they call WePlayer(mainly pre-fixed for 24fps content, HDMI audio and other home theater stuff that wasn't added until later versions of Kodi), but doesn't include any addons or repos with pirated streaming content However, it is noteworthy that depending on where you live even baseline Kodi's default AddOn repository has addons that some people might not like, but if you want to install "pirate channels" that it up to the user.

I don't think that including Kodi should be disqualifying, as it is fantastic software. Kodi themselves has a "banned addon list/repository" which are not supposed to be bundled with/talked about/officially included, so they do their due dilligence in not officially including this kind of stuff; they don't want to have their name dragged through the mud as if they officially offer crappy quality pirate stream addons. However I am more than supportive that they don't put any technical limitations in place to prevent users from doing what they want, valuing the user's right to use open source software as they wish. The open source nature of the project is, along with its high quality, is a major reason I use Kodi and related projects (like OpenELEC, which also runs on WeTek boxes) - I wouldn't want Kodi to be expected to shut down functionality or police the possibility that nation or corporation might not like X feature or Y addon.

Amazon should focus on the companies and sellers that push out these low quality media players, piracy or not, but be careful not to use a shotgun approach that prohibits valid content. Especially as Amazon now has their own video ecosystem, it becomes very suspicious when they start "getting tough on piracy" especially if they apply their policies in an uneven fashion. We'll have to see how things develop.
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
Let's send everyone who sells crowbars to jail! They are clearly used for breaking and entering!

Oh, and I remember reading about that guy who killed his wife with a hammer.

Clearly hardware stores need to be banned in their entirety!
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Don't forget the stores that sell butter knifes you can stab someone with those ban them all!

Save the children!
 
-Strelok- said:
Go sell a hammer that says "Great for bashing in heads" and let me know how it goes. Sometimes I wonder if you guys are just looking for reasons to bring out the pitchforks.
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seriously? that's your rebuttal....please link me to a sale on Amazon that states "this device is great for pirating " ... until then, your argument is a fucking joke.
 
Crosshairs said:
seriously? that's your rebuttal....please link me to a sale on Amazon that states "this device is great for pirating " ... until then, your argument is a fucking joke.
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Did you even read anything?

If you don't include bullshit like "All apps for free" you are fine.

amazonstreaming.png


amazonkodilisting-1.png
 
-Strelok- said:
Did you even read anything?

If you don't include bullshit like "All apps for free" you are fine.

amazonstreaming.png


amazonkodilisting-1.png
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yes,I read it..so Ill ask again.. show me where is says that you can download pirated content.
 
Crosshairs said:
yes,I read it..so Ill ask again.. show me where is says that you can download pirated content.
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Just look at the picture, and read "jailbroken". Then read the description, specifically "...and many android market which are more convenient for you to download all the APP Free". Look if you want to pretend they are promoting legally buying everything then go right ahead. If you think Amazon will destroy a box because it has Kodi loaded on it and mentions nothing of free apps or jailbroken, then that's OK too even if it's false.

Now it is up to YOU to show me evidence of products being destroyed that have nothing even resembling pirating in the description (aka just loaded Kodi on it).
 
-Strelok- said:
Just look at the picture, and read "jailbroken". Then read the description, specifically "...and many android market which are more convenient for you to download all the APP Free". Look if you want to pretend they are promoting legally buying everything then go right ahead. If you think Amazon will destroy a box because it has Kodi loaded on it and mentions nothing of free apps or jailbroken, then that's OK too even if it's false.

Now it is up to YOU to show me evidence of products being destroyed that have nothing even resembling pirating in the description (aka just loaded Kodi on it).
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you really got yourself all twisted up in a ball here didn't you. lets look at my statement that you took exception to

Exactly..... banning something based on what the end user MIGHT do is not the correct action ...we could ban almost everything based on that criteria
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and now,tell me where I'm wrong.
 
Crosshairs said:
you really got yourself all twisted up in a ball here didn't you. lets look at my statement that you took exception to



and now,tell me where I'm wrong.
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Well, I'll quote myself again.

Go sell a hammer that says "Great for bashing in heads" and let me know how it goes.

Sure it doesn't tell you to go bash in some heads, but I'm not sure how long that would be on store shelves. These boxes are promoting you pirate, if they just said "Fully loaded" and nothing else, there is NOTHING anyone could do about it. There's a slight distinction, and in this case you can take your pitchforks and put them back in the shed. Get them out when they start destroying anything loaded with Kodi or similar programs.
 
-Strelok- said:
Well, I'll quote myself again.

Go sell a hammer that says "Great for bashing in heads" and let me know how it goes.

Sure it doesn't tell you to go bash in some heads, but I'm not sure how long that would be on store shelves. These boxes are promoting you pirate, if they just said "Fully loaded" and nothing else, there is NOTHING anyone could do about it. There's a slight distinction, and in this case you can take your pitchforks and put them back in the shed. Get them out when they start destroying anything loaded with Kodi or similar programs.
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So then you agree with me...they are banning it based on what someone MIGHT do with it ...just as I stated .
 
Crosshairs said:
So then you agree with me...they are banning it based on what someone MIGHT do with it ...just as I stated .
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The issue is with the seller promoting it, not what the user might do. If what you are saying is true, then you couldn't sell hammers, guns, knives, etc.
 
Crosshairs said:
So then you agree with me...they are banning it based on what someone MIGHT do with it ...just as I stated .
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They're banning it because it's explicitly preconfigured to do it. If they were banning it based on what they "might do", they'd be going after the entire market, which as previously pointed out, would be completely stupid.
 
Extra-Titanian said:
They're banning it because it's explicitly preconfigured to do it. If they were banning it based on what they "might do", they'd be going after the entire market, which as previously pointed out, would be completely stupid.
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and a gun is explicitly pre configured to shoot someone, and a knife is explicitly pre configured to stab someone and a car is explicitly pre configured to run someone over. ...yet none of them will do any of that unless the user makes it do it.... you get my point?
 
Crosshairs said:
and a gun is explicitly pre configured to shoot someone, and a knife is explicitly pre configured to stab someone and a car is explicitly pre configured to run someone over. ...yet none of them will do any of that unless the user makes it do it.... you get my point?
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You are still missing the point. A car isn't marketed to kill people, neither is a knife and neither is a gun (in most cases). It is how it's marketed, not whether the end user can or can't do something.
 
Crosshairs said:
and a gun is explicitly pre configured to shoot someone, and a knife is explicitly pre configured to stab someone and a car is explicitly pre configured to run someone over. ...yet none of them will do any of that unless the user makes it do it.... you get my point?
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Implicitly configured. When you buy a gun, they don't hand you the plans to rob a bank. Or give you a victim tied to a chair.

The problem here is copywrite infringement is illegal, and these are preconfigured for copywrite infringement. If it wasn't preconfigured for copywrite infringement, which is illegal, it wouldn't be a problem.
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
Let's send everyone who sells crowbars to jail! They are clearly used for breaking and entering!

Oh, and I remember reading about that guy who killed his wife with a hammer.

Clearly hardware stores need to be banned in their entirety!
Click to expand...

Yet you have issues with people owning firearms.
 
Extra-Titanian said:
Implicitly configured. When you buy a gun, they don't hand you the plans to rob a bank. Or give you a victim tied to a chair.

The problem here is copywrite infringement is illegal, and these are preconfigured for copywrite infringement. If it wasn't preconfigured for copywrite infringement, which is illegal, it wouldn't be a problem.
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we will have to agree to disagree..I think its bullshit and I think its wrong. They can be used for purposes other than copywrite infringement as configured .
 
http://kodimediacenter.org/

This domain name has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a United States District Court under the authority of 18 U.S.C 981 and 2323.

Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine forfeiture and restitution (17 U.S.C 506, 18 U.S.C 2319). Intentionally and knowingly trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to ten years in federal prison, a $2,000,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution (18 U.S.C 2320)

Not sure if April Fool's joke or not.
 
wizzi01 said:
Yet you have issues with people owning firearms.
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I don't want to turn this into a debate on the merit of firearms, but I do have a reason for why I feel differently about firearms, and would happily discuss over PM if you'd like.

Ever since actually working for the site I am more cognizant about not derailing forum threads :p (or at least trying not to)
 
Crosshairs said:
we will have to agree to disagree..I think its bullshit and I think its wrong. They can be used for purposes other than copywrite infringement as configured .
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There's a portion of the argument here that you seem to be missing. This isn't the government banning anything, this is amazon banning it from their store.

If you run the Crosshairs online shopping mall, and decide to ban the sale of... flathead screwdrivers, guess what? It's YOUR online shopping mall and YOU get to dictate what you allow for sale there. Amazon is well within their rights to determine that they do not want products sold through their site, and it should be painfully obvious that the reasoning is they don't want something competing with their own streaming services, which they have every right to make a decision on.
 
rezerekted said:
http://kodimediacenter.org/

This domain name has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a United States District Court under the authority of 18 U.S.C 981 and 2323.

Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine forfeiture and restitution (17 U.S.C 506, 18 U.S.C 2319). Intentionally and knowingly trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to ten years in federal prison, a $2,000,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution (18 U.S.C 2320)

Not sure if April Fool's joke or not.
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Wow. kodimediacenter.org isnt even loading for me, but kodi.tv is displaying the domain seizure message.

This is either the best April fools prank ever, or some serious abusive shit by copyright trolls just went down.
 
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