Amazon has removed the popular media center Kodi from the app store claiming it facilitates piracy. The software, formerly known as XBMC, doesn’t link to or host any infringing content, but third-party add-ons are giving the software a bad reputation.

Taking “infringing” apps out of popular app stores is one of Hollywood’s key anti-piracy priorities for the years to come.

Various entertainment industry groups frequently report “piracy-enabling” apps to Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, alongside requests for the stores to take them offline.

The stores themselves also screen for potentially problematic software. Apple, for example, has notoriously banned all BitTorrent related apps.

Increasingly, Amazon is also policing its app marketplace for possibly infringing content. A few days ago, this led to the removal of the popular media center Kodi, previously known as XBMC.

“In reviewing your app, we determined that it can be used to facilitate the piracy or illegal download of content. Any facilitation of piracy or illegal downloads is not allowed in our program,” Amazon wrote to Kodi.

The Kodi software itself is an entirely legal media center that doesn’t come with any infringing features or content. However, there are many third-party addons that allow users to stream pirated movies and TV-shows.

The Kodi team is actively pursuing infringing addons and sellers who abuse the brand, and is also trying to obtain a trademark so they can go after these piracy promoters more effectively.

source: torrentfreak.com

What is Kodi?

Kodi is an open-source media player and entertainment hub that allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the internet. Originally developed in 2002 as Xbox Media Player for the first-generation Xbox gaming console, it was later renamed Xbox Media Center (XBMC) before being rebranded as Kodi in 2014.

Kodi is highly customizable, with a wide range of add-ons, skins, and plugins that enhance its functionality. Users can install add-ons to access streaming services, live TV, and even games. It supports various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it versatile for different devices like computers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.

While Kodi is legal and free to use, it has been associated with piracy due to the availability of third-party add-ons that provide access to copyrighted content without authorization. As a result, the platform has faced scrutiny and legal challenges. However, when used with legitimate add-ons, Kodi remains a powerful tool for organizing and enjoying media content from multiple sources in a centralized interface.