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U.S. Set-Top Box Warning Could Apply to Large Numbers of Streaming Pirates


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The AchieVer

U.S. Set-Top Box Warning Could Apply to Large Numbers of Streaming Pirates

 

The Federal Communications Commission has issued an Enforcement Advisory that has the potential to affect large numbers of pirates in the United States. The FCC reports an increase in the marketing of streaming-capable set-top devices that do not comply with US law. Those who contravene relevant legislation face fines that can exceed $147,000 per violation.

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With streaming now becoming the preferred method of obtaining video content for huge numbers of Internet users, sales of capable hardware are on the rise.

 

Devices like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Google’s Chromecast, Roku’s Streaming Stick, Apple TV, and the Nvidia Shield are now the tools of choice for millions of users. But while the above are completely legal to market and own, that isn’t always the case for alternatives from less well-known suppliers.

 

In most countries, people are able to buy streaming-capable (often Android-based and/or WiFi-enabled) devices over the Internet that don’t comply with local laws, and not just because they’re supplied ready-configured for piracy.

 

In Europe, for example, electronic devices must comply with strict safety, health, and environmental requirements (such as limits on external radio interference), before being able to display the ‘CE’ mark as required by law.

 

For those produced or sold in the United States, electronic devices can obtain certification and show the FCC logo (above right) providing that, among other things, the interference they cause is under the limits approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

According to the FCC, however, many devices being marketed, sold and used in the country do not meet the standards. In an Enforcement Advisory published this week, the FCC states that engaging in any of the above activites in respect of non-compliant devices is illegal and subject to punishment.

 

“The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has observed an increase in the marketing of Video TV Set-Top Boxes, designed to stream Internet-based content, that do not comply with FCC equipment marketing requirements,” the advisory reads.

“Anyone marketing or operating noncompliant devices should stop immediately. Violators may be subject to substantial monetary penalties that could total more than $147,000 per violation.”

In this case, the term ‘marketing’ is rather broad and defined by the FCC as importing, distributing, advertising or offering non-compliant devices for sale or lease. The $147,000 figure certainly looks scary too, but that’s only likely to apply to serious offenders (see: 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(2)(D)47 CFR §§ 1.80(b)(7)47 CFR §§ 1.80(b)(9) )

 

While even non-compliant devices can be used for otherwise legal purposes (streaming Netflix or Amazon Prime, for example), the advisory comes at a time when large numbers of companies are selling devices configured for piracy purposes (or targeted at piracy-focused buyers), which is likely responsible for a decent slice of the observed increase in marketing.

 

So-called “fully loaded boxes” grant access to large volumes of copyrighted content in breach of copyright law and have attracted the negative attention of global anti-piracy coalition the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). 

 

However, simply using non-compliant devices in the United States is also illegal, meaning that many thousands – potentially millions – of people who obtained their streaming devices from non-certified sources in the Far East or even the United States, for example, are breaking the law.

 

While sellers of illegal devices could indeed become targets for the FCC at any time, it seems unlikely that individuals will be affected as resources are limited are there are much bigger fish to fry.

 

According to the FCC, its Enforcement Advisories are “designed to educate businesses about and alert consumers to what’s required by FCC rules, the purpose of those rules and why they’re important to consumers, as well as the consequences of failures to comply.” 

 

 

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There are still quite many devices that have a CE / FCC logo but they don't meet the standards. Usually such devices can do many things without any restrictions applied. Most people can remember some DVD Players (top boxes) that were capable of playing DVD-R backups 'cause they contained a computer DVD-ROM (? with hacked firmware?).

 

 

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Devices like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Google’s Chromecast, Roku’s Streaming Stick, Apple TV, and the Nvidia Shield are now the tools of choice for millions of users.

 

I suppose nsane.forum users ain't using the above devices if they are into some obscure streaming habits ;).

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The AchieVer
44 minutes ago, JimmySvert said:

 

I suppose nsane.forum users ain't using the above devices if they are into some obscure streaming habits ;).

 

Lot of people use it in USA, it’s not about obscure streaming habits, the cost component is the key  factor .

 

Regards

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3 hours ago, JimmySvert said:

I suppose nsane.forum users ain't using the above devices if they are into some obscure streaming habits ;).

I can't speak for other users, i use  a PC with Linux with kodi or i can stream  movies  TV shows in SMplayer without any addons Also i have LeonFilx  .  Really the FCC warning don't mean nothing and never have back before  the WWW  we used  all kinds of  electronics exports and modify our own because the FCC   locked down our stuff  they would even raid our homes for running pirate radio but that never stopped us and after awhile they just gave up on trying to stop us because  the Government stop giving them money to enforce it  .

 

It even says here they want come after you

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While sellers of illegal devices could indeed become targets for the FCC at any time, it seems unlikely that individuals will be affected as resources are limited are there are much bigger fish to fry.

 

According to the FCC, its Enforcement Advisories are “designed to educate businesses about and alert consumers to what’s required by FCC rules, the purpose of those rules and why they’re important to consumers, as well as the consequences of failures to comply

 

The Government stop giving the money they need to do these type raids years  ago  , they use to not be about education  tell the government cut there budget  .They use to be about raids and fines  the FCC AKA Uncle Charlie use to be worse than any anti piracy  outfit they have today.

 

It don't make  a :shit: if you bought it from China already fully  loaded  witch is never a good idea because  Kodi has to be maintained and  pre loaded boxes will stop working in a few months once the addons in them go bad  and the devs stop updateing or change addon  url . Only Noobs that don't know nothing about streaming buy such things. The better option is to buy and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Google’s Chromecast, Roku’s Streaming Stick, Apple TV, a Nvidia Shield, PC, etc that is  legal  put kodi and the apps you want on it and load it with addons  and  maintain it  yourself but once you load a legal box it's it's just as illegal as a export box  .

 

Piracy is not legal no way no matter witch way you do it  and that's why Unofficial Kodi addon  Devs and Box sellers are getting busted left and right they can't seem to grasp the fact of what really is  witch is Piracy or they would not be in the open about it like they are. They very few addons that share anything so it's not really filesharing it's mostly just leeching with the exception of a few addons that  are pure p2p  that most people don't like using because if you share anything  the risk goes way up that  you will be busted one day. 

 

It don't matter if they bust Export box sellers  like it did back in the pirate radio days when stuff was locked down because  they are plenty of legal boxes  you can buy cheap that do the same thing in fact I encourage  them to get that garbage off the streets  because  anyone  can watch a video or read a tut and install anything they like on them for now. If they to stupid to do that  lord help them. :lmao:

 

Torrent  Freak must of ran out of  stuff to post about again, because if  Export box sellers that don't load the boxes full of kodi addons and pirate streaming apps  that is street piracy i it has nothing to do with filesharing , All these legal streaming portals  you have to pay  or borrow  or steal someone login to use them ,

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