Anyone who has installed an app on their Fire TV device or player that allows illegal access to copyrighted content must expect to no longer be able to use it in the future. Starting today, Amazon will actively take action against such piracy apps.
To achieve this, the manufacturer will compare the applications installed on devices with a blacklist maintained by the anti-piracy coalition ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment). This coalition includes numerous major media and streaming companies such as Apple TV+, BBC Studios, Canal+, Comcast, Fox, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, and Amazon itself.
In response to inquiries, Amazon explained that it has always worked to ban piracy from its app store. As part of an expanded program led by ACE, Amazon is now blocking apps that demonstrably provide access to pirated content, including those downloaded outside the app store. This initiative builds on Amazon’s ongoing efforts to support content creators and protect customers, since piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.
### Two-Stage Process
Amazon does not block the offending apps immediately. Instead, it first notifies the user for a certain period that these applications should not be used. The company has not yet commented on the exact duration users will receive this notification before the application is blocked.
Amazon understands that this is a valuable tool for developers, so the new measures are intended to target only piracy apps, minimizing impact on legitimate developers.
### Sideloading Still Possible
The option to sideload apps will remain available on Fire TV devices running Amazon’s new operating system, Vega OS. However, this feature is generally limited to developers.
In this context, Amazon emphasized that, contrary to rumors, there are no plans to upgrade existing Fire TV devices from Fire OS to Vega OS. Users of current devices can expect the existing operating system to remain in place.
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By enforcing these new policies, Amazon aims to create a safer, more secure viewing environment for Fire TV users while protecting the rights of content creators worldwide.
https://www.heise.de/en/news/Fire-TV-Amazon-to-block-piracy-apps-in-the-future-10964878.html
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