Kodi says ‘trademark trolls’ want to stop it being free

It’s not just illegal add-ons that Kodi needs to worry about.

The service is also battling ‘trademark trolls’ who want to stop its software from being free.

The software – which enables users to streams apps and on-demand services onto their TV – is legal, free and can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick.

But trolls have registered the Kodi name as their own and are using it to profit from software, Kodi says. 

The software – which enables users to streams apps and on-demand services onto their TV – is legal. free and can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick 

IS KODI ILLEGAL? 

The European Court of Justice has ruled that ‘fully loaded’ Kodi boxes, which include plugins that can access pirated material, are illegal to sell and own.

Temporary files, like those created when media content is streamed, are technically exempt under copyright law.

People selling ‘fully loaded’ Kodi boxes exploited this legal loophole to provide illegal content.

But the court, which is the highest in the EU, found against a Dutch vendor, identified in court papers as Mr Willums, who sold fully loaded boxes over the internet.

And although the court recognised the equipment itself was not illegal, the way he had customised them was. 

The new ruling puts pirated streams on the same legal footing as illegal downloads.

Kodi says ‘trolls’ are using ‘threatening letters’ ask for money from sellers of the devices and get them removed from sites.

The company says the users need to be ‘prepared for the future, as we move forward in defending the freedom of this software that we all take for granted.’

The issue first emerged when ‘Kodi’ replaced the old name ‘XBMC’ in 2014. 

Kodi community and project manager Nathan Betzen said: ‘A number of individuals with what appear to be less than altruistic motives,,, they ‘attempted to register the Kodi name in various countries outside the United States with the goal of earning money off the Kodi name without doing any work beyond sending threatening letters.

‘We are not entirely sure why the name change prompted this behaviour. 

‘When we went by XBMC, nobody ever did the trademark squatting thing. 

‘So when it started happening with the Kodi name, we were caught flatfooted without any real plan for dealing with these trolls or even tracking their actions.’

The Kodi blog names one ‘trademark troll’ that has so far not agreed to voluntarily release their grasp on their registration of the Kodi name.

It says a man named Geoff Gavora is actively blackmailing hardware vendors in Canada.

He has registered the Kodi trademark in Canada and used that to get rid of other devices off of the country’s local Amazon store.

‘Now, if you do a search for Kodi on Amazon.ca, there’s a very real chance that every box you see is giving Gavora money to advertise that they can run what should be the entirely free and open Kodi. Gavora and his company are behaving in true trademark troll fashion,’ the site said. 

The trademark battle is yet another blow to Kodi, which has faced widespread criticism for enabling add-ons that stream illegal content. 

In June, TVAddons, one of the most popular libraries for add-ons on Kodi mysteriously shut down without warning.

The library has been involved in a legal battle with a US broadcast provider, with threats of fines of up to £116,000 ($150,000).

Kodi has also lost several of its most popular add-ons, including Phoenix. 

TVAddons, one of the most popular libraries for add-ons on Kodi has mysteriously shut down without warning

TVAddons, one of the most popular libraries for add-ons on Kodi has mysteriously shut down without warning

WHAT IS KODI TV?

Kodi is software that enables you to streams apps and on-demand services onto your TV. 

The software, which is legal, can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick.

Blank boxes can be bought from most major retailers for as little as £20 ($24), with the software uploaded afterwards.

Users can play BBC iPlayer, Youtube, Soundcloud and other free catch-up apps on the device.  

But many of the plug-ins the box offers are illegal.

Be wary if the box is pre-loaded to include subscription sport, TV and movies for free.

Commonly the ‘fully loaded’ boxes let users watch Premier League games or Sky Movies without paying a subscription fee.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk