Premier League lands 'game-changing' court order

Rise of illegal Kodi streaming

The Premier League has been handed a boost in its battle against illicit streaming after the High Court issued a blocking order that aims to stop people watching matches illegally.

The blocking order means that UK Internet Service Providers will be required to prevent people from watching illegal streams of Premier League matches.

The league described it as a “game-changer” in its battle against illegal streaming, which undermines official rights holders Sky and BT, who paid more than £5bn for the rights to show live matches across three seasons.

The clampdown comes after a rise in so-called ‘Kodi’ devices that let people watch sport and films for free using a wireless set-top box.

Kodi boxes are not illegal in themselves but they do not restrict which software can be used, so users can download apps in order to watch illegal streams.

 

It obtained a similar blocking order for the final two months of the 2016-2017 season, leading to around 5,000 server IP addresses being blocked.

Before the order was passed, the Premier League could only block individual streams.

“This blocking order is a game-changer in our efforts to tackle the supply and use of illicit streams of our content,” said Kevin Plumb, the Premier League Director of Legal Services.

“It will allow us to quickly and effectively block and disrupt the illegal broadcast of Premier League football via any means, including so called ‘pre-loaded Kodi boxes’.

“The protection of our copyright, and the investment made by our broadcast partners, is hugely important to the Premier League the future health of English football.”