Kodi: Fewer people using pirate addons as a result of crackdown is 'a good thing'

'This does not concern us. Our general stance on piracy remains neutral'

(Facebook/Kodi)

Kodi says that fewer people appear to be using its software for piracy, which it describes as “a good thing”.

The foundation says it has seen user churn rise, which is something it believes to be linked to the crackdown on illegal Kodi addons.

Several addons and repositories have disappeared over recent weeks, amid threats of legal action from anti-piracy campaign groups.

“There are a number of legal actions underway, and we regularly read news of large numbers of pirate add-on developers and repo operators fleeing from these legal issues,” a new blog post published on the Kodi website reads.

“We still see strong downloads from kodi.tv: interestingly, there's also an increase in the rate of user churn, which is probably linked to the above and our discontinuation of support for the older versions of Android that many of these devices run.

“This does not concern us. Our general stance on piracy remains neutral, but fewer people damaging the Kodi name is a good thing.”

The foundation has repeatedly stressed that it does not support piracy. However, it doesn’t want to police its own software either.

The blog post also references a recent FACT report, which found that several popular illicit streaming device models suffer from potentially serious flaws.

Experts are urging users to unplug the devices immediately.

“According to recent press, ‘Kodi boxes’ can KILL,” the blog post continues. “Okay, to be specific (and perhaps a touch less alarmist), the power supplies on cheap, untested devices are often a bit on the dreadful side, and that's where a risk of things bursting into flames resides.

“Beyond that, we assure you that the Kodi software remains friendly, docile, free-range, and free of any killer instinct.”

It adds: “Here's the reality: if your mates are spending hundreds on something per year, and you can get it for free – If it looks too good to be true – yeah, it probably is too good to be true. You make your own choices.”