A major add on to the Kodi streaming devices has been taken offline. The website of TVAddons is no longer available and its Facebook and Twitter sites have also been removed.
There had been suggestions that the site, which offers a library of pirated sports, movies and TV shows, had been removed following court action on the United States by DISH Network. However, a report on Kodi Tips pointed out that the site’s repository continued to function.
Meanwhile, a new alliance of some of the largest content providers have formed a joint action against would-be pirates.
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) comprises 30 leading content creators and on-demand entertainment companies including Amazon, BBC Worldwide, Canal+, HBO, NBC, Sky and Walt Disney.
They argue the move to online content poses a continuing threat to creators, consumers, and the economy. There were also an estimated 21.4 billion total visits to streaming piracy sites worldwide across both desktops and mobile devices in 2016.
“Creativity has been part of Canal+ Group’s DNA ever since the beginning. We have always encouraged it, and are proud to support many artists and new talents. Fortunately, we are living at a time when creativity is rich. But, in the meantime, it has never been so threatened by piracy, which is getting more and more organized, complex, and global. To face these new challenges, our industry must adapt its response and find a way to address issues that cannot be effectively handled at the local or regional level. In that respect, Canal+ Group is proud to be part of the ACE launch, an unprecedented worldwide coalition with significant resources. We believe it will be a key asset to strengthen our efforts to protect creativity,” said Jean-Christophe Thiery, CEO, Canal+ Group.
Andrew Griffith, Group COO, Sky, added: “Collaboration, through bodies such as ACE, is critical in tackling this issue because piracy is illegal, unreliable and risky.”
ACE plans to expand “ongoing” cooperative efforts to reduce online piracy and will draw on the antipiracy resources of the Motion Picture Association of America.
ACE says it will conduct its own research and work closely with the authorities to put pressure on the pirates.
