“Products offered for sale on Amazon should not promote, suggest the facilitation of, or actively enable the infringement of or unauthorised access to digital media or other protected content,” Amazon wrote in a seller guidelines page on both its US and UK websites. “Any streaming media player or other device that violates this policy is prohibited from sale on Amazon.”
The recent explosion in popularity of these set-top boxes that flagrantly ignore copyright protection by including piracy 3rd party add-ons to Kodi that can be used to access free streams of paid-for movies and TV channels has led to a black market-like environment both online and via a growing number of independent high street stores selling electrical goods.
Following a wave of legal action against these type of sellers in the UK and Canada, Amazon is also seems to want to try to distance itself from dubious media devices by threatening sellers with severe action. There has even been rumors that a crackdown will soon start in the US.
“If you sell these products, we may immediately suspend or terminate your selling privileges and destroy inventory in our fulfillment centers without reimbursement,” the seller guidelines continue. “In addition, if we determine that your account has been used to engage in fraud or other illegal activity, remittances and payments may be withheld or forfeited.”
A number of retailers have also found themselves on the facing legal actions for selling these boxes. Most recently, a Hartlepool man was found guilty of advertising and selling pre-configured TV boxes to pubs for up to £1,000 per device. He was later fined £250,000 and others have been been threatened with jail time.
Source: Yahoo
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