SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Premier League bosses are targeting illegal streaming of syndicated football matches, with a view of further protecting the sport’s multi-million broadcast rights and media partners content.
The Premier League is working with the UK Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), focusing on crackdowns to illegal sports stream enablers.
UK news sources report that Premier League officials and FACT have pinpointed at ‘modified’ Kodi set top boxes as a notable concern for illegal sports streams. Installing add-on software to the Kodi devices, viewers have been able to bypass subscription services for live sports breaking UK copyright laws.
This week UK police arrested five men in the North West of England in connection with selling ‘modified’ Kodi boxes which had pre-installed sports streaming bypass software.
The sale of Kodi boxes in the UK is legal with the box manufacturer warning all viewers that any streamed content should be legal. However, FACT officials want the sale of Kodi boxes to be outlawed.
Kieron Sharp, Director General of Fact, said: “These arrests should send out a clear warning to anyone involved in the sale and distribution of illegal set-top boxes”.
“Set-top boxes loaded with apps and add-ons allowing access to copyright infringing material are very much illegal and anyone involved in selling these boxes should not be surprised to receive a knock on the door.”
