[VoiletDragon]

Hi. So I've got a few questions to ask because I'm not quite sure on this topic. Ive heard on the news recently that Kodi is being abused and used to stream illegal content which i don't believe in or condone in (piracy). But heres my question.

Is it classed illegal for me to do so,

Use Enigma2 Client to stream Free to Air i.e Freest/ OTA TV from my Zgemma H2s Linux box to another room or a Raspberry Pi that is running Kodi or a computer that is running Mac & Linux?

Using Kodi as a UpNp Server to stream paid for music and films to a Raspberry Pi or a Computer that is running Mac or Linux, Tablet i.e iPad? In another room.

The reason why i ask a few years ago here in the UK that apparently having a ripped CD in your iTunes library is apparently illegal but how can it be if you bought that CD don't you own that copy? isn't it the same with DVDs/Blu-rays?

I know this topic is a grey area but i just want to know and see what people think.

Thanks.

Jack.

[Dangelus]

It is a very grey area. As a general rule if you are ripping and / or streaming your own legally owned or paid for content inside your own household (and not to another household such as a friend or relatives) then you are generally OK. It might not be technically allowed but nobody is going to prosecute you for it.

I believe in the UK technically you are prohibited from ripping media if you have to break DRM to do so although it does go back and forth from time to time.


The cases you have read about concern 3rd party piracy add-ons that are available for Kodi that provide access to pirated content from various online content "locker" services which are of course not legal.

[Prof Yaffle]

"Think" is the operative word.

You're free to watch OTA broadcasts (and, since late last year, catchup such as iPlayer) on fixed equipment so long as you have a valid licence. If you re-broadcast them to someone else, though, you're on the edge - I recall cases against TVCatchup on precisely this matter, for example.

"Format shifting" is indeed a grey area. It's technically unlawful in the UK, but - and I'm no lawyer - my understanding is that it only becomes criminal if you profit and/or distribute copies. For personal use, you're only breaching copyright, which would be back to the copyright owner to chase. Given that people have been doing precisely that since the advent of cassettes and VCRs, and I'm not aware of any test cases, I suspect that it's something that no-one really cares about - rather like an Englishman needing an escort if crossing Offa's Dyke after dark while wearing trousers below the knee in September, that sort of thing.

In many (perhaps most?) countries, format-shifting is fair use - otherwise, every MP3 player would be immediately suspect.

[VoiletDragon]

It is a very grey area. As a general rule if you are ripping and / or streaming your own legally owned or paid for content inside your own household (and not to another household such as a friend or relatives) then you are generally OK. It might not be technically allowed but nobody is going to prosecute you for it.

I believe in the UK technically you are prohibited from ripping media if you have to break DRM to do so although it does go back and forth from time to time.


The cases you have read about concern 3rd party piracy add-ons that are available for Kodi that provide access to pirated content from various online content "locker" services which are of course not legal.

I don't use 3rd party add-ons which are for piracy. I only use the VU+ Enigma2 Client which is already in Kodi which allows me to watch Free to Air OTA channels which is freesat. The copies of everything i own are on my NAS which is only for my personal use. I don't sell or make profit from them I've only important them to Kodi to watch on my Raspberry Pi.

[VoiletDragon]

"Think" is the operative word.

You're free to watch OTA broadcasts (and, since late last year, catchup such as iPlayer) on fixed equipment so long as you have a valid licence. If you re-broadcast them to someone else, though, you're on the edge - I recall cases against TVCatchup on precisely this matter, for example.

"Format shifting" is indeed a grey area. It's technically unlawful in the UK, but - and I'm no lawyer - my understanding is that it only becomes criminal if you profit and/or distribute copies. For personal use, you're only breaching copyright, which would be back to the copyright owner to chase. Given that people have been doing precisely that since the advent of cassettes and VCRs, and I'm not aware of any test cases, I suspect that it's something that no-one really cares about - rather like an Englishman needing an escort if crossing Offa's Dyke after dark while wearing trousers below the knee in September, that sort of thing.

In many (perhaps most?) countries, format-shifting is fair use - otherwise, every MP3 player would be immediately suspect.

I pay for a TV Licence if i didn't then i wouldn't watch TV at all. Everything i own is for my personal use anyway.

[nickr]

You will be fine then.

[VoiletDragon]

You will be fine then.

I hope so. I don't want to break the breech of Kodi or get you and myself into trouble.

[nickr]

The rules are around streaming over the Internet from the people who have no right to do so. What you do within your own home is generally regarded as fair use.

[shteve]

The UK government actually tried to make format shifting legal a year or so ago, but they got stomped on:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015...-musicians