What is Kodi?

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What is Kodi? Kodi (Formerly known as XBMC) is a free, open-source, software media center. Kodi allows you to play TV, Movies, view pictures, and more on various devices. Normally, users install Kodi on a supported device or computer connected to a television. The user configures Kodi by setting up the location of various video sources. Kodi also accesses content over the internet using various “add-ons” created by the Kodi open-source community members. Therefore, add-ons do not come “out of the box” with any official version of Kodi. Whether it’s your personal video library or other user-created add-ons, Kodi brings all these sources together in one media center for users to enjoy. Furthermore, Kodi reads the meta-data associated with video files to display box covers, descriptions, and other information associated with the video file. In essence, Kodi is a software-based media jukebox that you hook to your television. Is Kodi Legal? Yes. An official install of Kodi is 100% legal. It’s essentially an extremely robust media player. Kodi, by itself, comes with no video content. That is up to the user to supply. That is also where the legal gray area begins. Kodi may give you the means to watch any video source you have access to, but if you are watching licensed content that you didn’t purchase, you could be viewing pirated content. If you view movies ripped from a disk that you purchase, you paid for the content. However, if you installed an add-on that provides access to many movies you didn’t pay for, then someone is breaking the law. I’ve gotten into many a debate with various folks out there. Many think that just because they can download Kodi, install an add-on, and have free access to Netflix content, everything is fine. It’s not. Check here for a list of Kodi-approved add-ons. The issue is compounded when dubious online sellers install Kodi on a device along with a bunch of add-ons that pirate content. They then sell it to unknowing consumers. The purchaser powers on the device and assumes since they paid money to the online vendor, they are not viewing pirated content. Unfortunately, they don’t know they just bought a modified Kodi install and may be watching unlicensed content.