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Roku Gets Tough On Pirate Channels, Warns Users (torrentfreak.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the lay-down-the-law dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TorrentFreak: Earlier this year Roku was harshly confronted with this new piracy crackdown when a Mexican court ordered local retailers to take its media player off the shelves. While this legal battle isn't over yet, it was clear to Roku that misuse of its platform wasn't without consequences. While Roku never permitted any infringing content, it appears that the company has recently made some adjustments to better deal with the problem, or at least clarify its stance. Pirate content generally doesn't show up in the official Roku Channel Store but is directly loaded onto the device through third-party "private" channels. A few weeks ago, Roku renamed these "private" channels to "non-certified" channels, while making it very clear that copyright infringement is not allowed. A "WARNING!" message that pops up during the installation of these third-party channels stresses that Roku has no control over the content. In addition, the company notes that these channels may be removed if it links to copyright infringing content.

"By continuing, you acknowledge you are accessing a non-certified channel that may include content that is offensive or inappropriate for some audiences," Roku's warning reads. "Moreover, if Roku determines that this channel violates copyright, contains illegal content, or otherwise violates Roku's terms and conditions, then ROKU MAY REMOVE THIS CHANNEL WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE."

79 comments

  1. How long does Roku have? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Never buy or use a Roku, lots of better choices that you can actually control and own.

    Fire is just an Android computer, pave it over and it's truly yours.

    Or install your favorite OS on a miniPC.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    1. Re:How long does Roku have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree, I know a few people that work there and they even wonder out loud how long Roku can last and they all are amazed it has lasted this long.

    2. Re:How long does Roku have? by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

      Good for geeks, but not for granny.

    3. Re:How long does Roku have? by Motard · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I don't have a problem with this at all. It's not removing anything I bought my Roku(s) for.

      I can still connect my TV up to any of my computers. I don't need the Roku to do what other devices do. I have a Roku to do what a Roku does,

    4. Re:How long does Roku have? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      The fireTV, paved over, works, more or less, like a Roku. Except it doesn't constantly crash. Help your granny out and pave it over for her, done.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    5. Re:How long does Roku have? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      What a Roku does....an Emby player? That's, no doubt, one of the channels they're talking about.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    6. Re:How long does Roku have? by Motard · · Score: 1

      What a Roku does....an Emby player?.

      No, I didn't buy a Roku to watch 'my' media.

    7. Re:How long does Roku have? by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 0

      Except it doesn't constantly crash.

      LOL

    8. Re:How long does Roku have? by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      Come over to the Raspberry Pi side... We have Pi.

    9. Re:How long does Roku have? by ngc5194 · · Score: 1

      I have both a FireTV stick and a Roku 2. I find the Roku crashes less and generally the same applications seem more stable on the Roku than the FireTV stick. That's only one data point, but there you have it.

    10. Re: How long does Roku have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I bought one and returned it the next day. The free channels are complete shit.
      Better off surfing YouTube.

    11. Re: How long does Roku have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      many years with two rolls, zero crashes.

      am I gonna let them shoot 'up'dates ota to my rokus ? heck no.

    12. Re:How long does Roku have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I also find the Roku stick is more stable than the FireTV stick and responds better to controls. I have lots of little issues with the FTV, like locking up on occasion. I just wish the Roku has a better option to load something like KODI and watch local content. All they really have is PLEX, which is OK but I don't need the fluff it comes with, the DLNA channel sucks royally.

    13. Re:How long does Roku have? by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      I am not sure what the extra fluff that Plex or Emby brings. Once you want to watch your media in more than one place Kodi sucks in my experience.

    14. Re:How long does Roku have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought my Roku for Netflix (chill) and YouTube. The rest is gravy.

      Basically, the Roku makes Netflix on a TV easy, and that is what I wanted, I did actually pay the extra $50 for the headphone jack on the remote as I figured that was just cool.

      I also got the Roku and a few months of Netflix for my sister-in-law, since they had been complaining about cable prices. They dropped cable a few months later.

    15. Re: How long does Roku have? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Never used the Roku YouTube app have you? It's as bad as any software I've ever tried to use. As bad as MacOS 7...basically useless.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    16. Re:How long does Roku have? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Same hardware (exactly), opposite experience...Roku sucks big wet donkey balls.

      Even when Roku doesn't crash, it stutters.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  2. You bought it, but we own it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Another example of why it's a good idea to only buy devices that you can control. Fuck you Roku.

    1. Re:You bought it, but we own it by sexconker · · Score: 3

      Yup. Why do they have any say on what exists on the device? I'm not aware of any subscription service. They barely provide ongoing support.
      Fuck 'em.

    2. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Motard · · Score: 2

      At this point, it's just a fucking warning, Calm down.

      They don't have ongoing support because we're not paying for it. They can, however, be sued for what other people do with it. So get off Roku's back.

      If you want to be outraged, try directing it at Mexico's court system or legislature,

    3. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who gives them the right to warn us?

    4. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Motard · · Score: 1

      Who gives them the right to warn us?

      The guy who invented written language. Whoever that is.

    5. Re:You bought it, but we own it by SuperDre · · Score: 1

      Well, the problem is not really Roku, it's the mexican judge that blocked the selling of their devices due to easily being able to watch illegal content. By doing this, they can sell their device again. In reality, the order of the judge has also implications for any android or whatever OS based mediastreamer which let's you easily be able to watch illegal content..

    6. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At this point, it's just a fucking warning, Calm down.

      They don't have ongoing support because we're not paying for it. They can, however, be sued for what other people do with it. So get off Roku's back.

      If you want to be outraged, try directing it at Mexico's court system or legislature,

      Exactly, its not a crackdown of any kind. Its a simple warning that takes some of the legal responsibility off their backs for enabling piracy. In some ways its an signal that they aren't really going to do much more other than follow up on infringement claims, which they already were doing.

    7. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Greystripe · · Score: 1

      You mean like every smartphone and computer?

    8. Re:You bought it, but we own it by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      As long as you can sideload to the Roku, this is a non-problem. Roku is going to take the apps off the store, and maybe even take store apps off of devices, but if you are competent you can sideload apps.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:You bought it, but we own it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rokus are made for the kind of people who think iPhones don't suck. And regardless of whatever you think of iPhones, you know that there are millions of people with leaky overstuffed wallets and unambitious use cases, who think iPhones don't suck.

      It's ok for those people to not be in control. They want to be told what to do. To them, being in control is confusing, maybe even to the point of being a little bit threatening.

  3. Piracy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Don't you mean copyright infringement?

    Nobody is getting kidnapped, robbed and murdered on the high seas. Using the word "Piracy" just frames the argument to the favor of copyright holders.

    1. Re:Piracy? by Motard · · Score: 1

      Don't you mean copyright infringement?

      Nobody is getting kidnapped, robbed and murdered on the high seas. Using the word "Piracy" just frames the argument to the favor of copyright holders.

      I believe you mean 'freedom infringement', 'property infringement', or 'life infringement'. The words you used frame the arguments to favor freedom holders, property holders, or life holders.

    2. Re:Piracy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IANAL, but copyright infringement is the legal term. See:

      17 U.S. Code 501 - Infringement of copyright

      18 U.S. Code 2319 - Criminal infringement of a copyright

      To use other terms is a debate tactic. When news writers use incorrect terminology it frames public debate to favor one side or the other. Consider the terms:

      pro-choice vs. pro-abortion
      pro-life vs. anti-abortion

      The first term in each is an example of framing. Most people that I meet are alive, and continually making choices - neither of which is a bad thing. Notice that the preference of people using these terms to describe themselves lacks the word abortion.

      Political research firms spend quite a bit of effort creating these compelling terms (flip-flop, Obama-care, etc.), and I prefer not to have such terms foisted upon me by objective news media. BeauHD often uses framing words in his/her summaries, and I would very much like it to stop.

    3. Re:Piracy? by Motard · · Score: 1

      I'll forward your comments on to Control. Thank you for your participation.

    4. Re:Piracy? by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1

      You're a few hundred years too late for discussion about the semantics in use here - go pet a puppy instead, it will be more productive.

    5. Re:Piracy? by orgelspieler · · Score: 1

      We lost that battle years ago. Language has moved on. There are a great number of words that don't mean what they used to. Peruse, literally, retard, cool, egregious, let, etc.

  4. That's exactly why... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most people go the Kodi way.

    Raspberry Pi + OpenElec.

    No subscription, no trouble. Cheap !

    What's is the advantage of a Roku box compared to a pi with Openelec ?

    1. Re:That's exactly why... by Motard · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Cheaper, smaller, and easier. Available at Walmart and Target. Comes with everything you need to connect,

    2. Re:That's exactly why... by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      I would add that if you live in the UK, a full range of catchup apps for all the major broadcast channels. Unlike some countries with shit for broadcast TV, this is a major plus point.

      Along with any combination of Netfix, Amazon Prime and NowTV (last one is UK only but a big deal for on demand in the UK) all in a single box, with the option for Plex/Emby too if that takes your fancy and you have a winner.

      The only service missing is the UKTV Play which is a trio of lesser watched channels.

    3. Re:That's exactly why... by Geeky · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that's why I got one. One device that can do Now TV, Google Play and Amazon - since Amazon doesn't play nice with Chromecast and the other two don't play nice with Fire TV

      It does have a problem where it outputs in 60Hz rather than the UK's 50, which can lead to juddering. Chromecast lets you change the output to 50.

      My TV mitigates it to some extent, but I can still see it on - for example - the panning opening credits of Game of Thrones.

      --
      Sigs are so 1990s. No way would I be seen dead with one.
  5. in other words.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    WE OWN the device that YOU BOUGHT. fuck you for wanting to use it to play content from sources we cannot profit from.

    1. Re:in other words.. by Motard · · Score: 1

      You don't really understand this Roku thing, do you?

  6. I paid for it, it is mine, shut the F up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How does Roku get to tell me whatI can use or not use. If they take away "third" party or "private" channels, they are invading my privacy.

    1. Re:I paid for it, it is mine, shut the F up. by Motard · · Score: 2

      How does Roku get to tell me whatI can use or not use. If they take away "third" party or "private" channels, they are invading my privacy.

      They're not taking away anything. Go scream at your sink for a while.

  7. Is Roku still a thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I haven't used one in years. Better options available.

    1. Re:Is Roku still a thing? by jabuzz · · Score: 1

      Depends where you live. In the UK there is no better option that a Roku for streaming TV period. It is the only device that comes close to doing all the catchup and paid for streaming services.

      Well actually there is, an LG SmartTV has everything built into the TV (well apart from STV but that only effects those living in Scotland), but most people are not going to buy a new TV just for that so in the meantime Roku it is.

    2. Re:Is Roku still a thing? by Some_Llama · · Score: 1

      yah no way they've improved upon their single focus in years.

    3. Re:Is Roku still a thing? by Some_Llama · · Score: 1

      Roku is in smart TVs now as well

  8. Is Roku finally growing up? by Ichijo · · Score: 4, Informative

    I love my Rokus. I have two of them, a first generation model and a new Premiere+. The Premiere+ is pretty nice. Most video files I throw at it play natively without transcoding, unlike my iPad and Android phone (Nexus 6P).

    But Roku the company has always been confused about their role in the channel space. They want to be your cable company but they don't want any part in making sure their channels are high quality (similar to Google's historical role in the Android apps space) or even if they work properly, preferring to shift the blame onto the channel's authors. In fact, I once suggested in their online forum that they could automate the checking of each channel's videostreams as a way to determine which channels should be removed from the channel store, but they temporarily banned me and then locked the thread because my suggestion was "not welcomed."

    So it's nice to hear that they're taking a more active approach to ensuring customer satisfaction, but it would be nice if they had been doing it all along without government intervention.

    --
    Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    1. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Motard · · Score: 1

      They want to be your cable company but they don't want any part in making sure their channels are high quality

      No, I think you're confused about what Roku wants to be, Roku does not charge monthly fees like a cable company. It's not at all like a cable company,

    2. Re: Is Roku finally growing up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ^ Works at Roku

    3. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by MerlTurkin · · Score: 1

      I love my Roku as well. Screw the haters.

    4. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Ichijo · · Score: 1

      Roku does not charge monthly fees like a cable company.

      Actually, they do:

      7. When creating a new Roku account, you will be required to provide a payment method. The payment method allows you to purchase subscriptions to popular channels, rent or buy movies and TV shows, or make other purchases from the Roku Channel Store.

      The real difference between Roku and a cable company is that Roku doesn't own the cable or fiber line to your home.

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    5. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have never paid Roku a cent outside of when I bought it years ago. I DO pay Netflix a subscription fee. People are getting their nose out of joint for nothing.

    6. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Motard · · Score: 1

      Roku does not charge monthly fees like a cable company.

      Actually, they do:

      7. When creating a new Roku account, you will be required to provide a payment method. The payment method allows you to purchase subscriptions to popular channels, rent or buy movies and TV shows, or make other purchases from the Roku Channel Store.

      The real difference between Roku and a cable company is that Roku doesn't own the cable or fiber line to your home.

      You should learn to read your own quotes. Your payment method allows you to purchase extra stuff. Or not.

      And the fact that it doesn't own the line to your house is just another reason why Roku is nothing like a cable company.

    7. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Ichijo · · Score: 1

      Your payment method allows you to purchase extra stuff. Or not.

      Yes, please continue.

      And the fact that it doesn't own the line to your house is just another reason why Roku is nothing like a cable company.

      Both have channels which you pay to the company (Roku or the cable company) who then pays the content provider. So there are some similarities.

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    8. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Most video files I throw at it play natively without transcoding, unlike my iPad and Android phone (Nexus 6P).

      If you're having to transcode files to play them on a cell phone, it sounds like you're using the wrong apps. You are aware there is version of mpv for Android, right?

    9. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you can bypass adding a credit card. at least you could not sure if you still can. when i bough my roku it asked for a credit card and i almost returned it, but i found instructions online for bypassing that requirement.

    10. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Your payment method allows you to purchase extra stuff. Or not.

      Yes, please continue.

      You said they charge monthly fees, you were wrong. Move on.

    11. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not if you don't want to you.

      My family uses two Rokus, one for my bedroom and one for the living room. We watch HBO, Netflix, Hulu, PBS, Amazon Prime, and Curiosity stream. I pay Roku $0 and pay those content providers directly. In fact besides buying the two devices I have never paid them a single red cent.

      You are wrong slugger, admit it, deal with it, and move on.

    12. Re:Is Roku finally growing up? by Ichijo · · Score: 1

      You are wrong slugger, admit it, deal with it, and move on.

      It's interesting how you claim I'm wrong and yet you're the one trying to shift the audience's attention elsewhere. To be honest, that's actually a pretty good strategy.

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
  9. Re:POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Long live the NEW Democracy that removes office holders without the inconvenience of an election.

  10. Re:POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    thems civil fighting wars... i mean civil war... I mean the death of the left... ooops, i meant civil war... oh no I meant the literal death of the left with civil war. There we go! *Phew.

  11. stupid devices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    another stupid device to avoid because I pay my cable provider for what I want. fuck piratez/torrentz/bitcoinz.

    1. Re:stupid devices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I want what my cable provider refuses to provide. hurrah for piratez/torrentz/bitcoinz.

    2. Re:stupid devices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like watching what I want, when I want and not pay cable's exorbitant fees. F cable.

  12. The Pirate-Ninja-Zombie Party by hackwrench · · Score: 2

    I believe in committing piracy and anyone with me is invited to join The Pirate-Ninja-Zombie Party on Facebook and Steam.

  13. "Channels" by Wootery · · Score: 1

    "Channel" means application, right? The same way Amazon Echo uses the word "skill" rather than "application".

    "App" seems fine to me. A reasonable abbreviation of a technical term, and used roughly correctly. Do we have to entertain each and every company's push to invent a new word to pretend that they're doing something new?

    1. Re:"Channels" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think this one's such a stretch - I guess they're thinking of it like a TV and there's the Youtube channel, the Amazon Video channel etc... it might be a terminology that makes more sense to Roku's core market of non-technical people.

    2. Re:"Channels" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Channel" means application, right?

      Yes. When I first got a Roku I was puzzled by use of the term also. To me "channel" implies a particular feed that you tune to. When you access the Netflix "channel" it is the common Netflix UI, whereas accessing YouTube has a look & feel that you'd expect for Youtube.

    3. Re:"Channels" by Some_Llama · · Score: 1

      no channel means channel, like on a cable box. there are a few "channels" that do app like things (which are done by geeks for geeks) but the mainstay is exactly what the name describes, a channel to watch content.

  14. Re: POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lol- this is a representative democracy not a democracy. Or to put in computer terms, is a feature not a bug

  15. Re:POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

    We are going to be waiting an awfully long time then.

    --
    Time to offend someone
  16. not your device any more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > "Moreover, if Roku determines that this channel violates copyright, contains illegal content, or otherwise violates Roku's terms and conditions, then ROKU MAY REMOVE THIS CHANNEL WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

    Translation: even after you buy your device, it's not really yours. We will remove channels that you installed without letting you know. We also will add channels without letting you know. Sounds a lot like the "Amazon Kindles removing the book 1984 without notice" situation from 2009.

    Will anyone be surprised if they are next asked to put something like Wireshark running on the Roku, having it look for network traffic going to "unapproved IP addresses"? After all, this thing lives inside your network, where it's nice and squishy, not hard on the outside like firewalls. Your home network likely looks like this to attackers: http://www.prepperforums.net/forum/attachments/urban-rural-survival/2514d1378004800-polar-bear-hunting-polar-bears.jpg.

  17. Re:POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't think you know how the electoral college works. Time for you to go back to the first grade and start your education from scratch.

  18. Roku for DRM, Kodi for local and everything else. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Roku for DRM content, Kodi for local and everything else.
    Simple.

    I don't think Roku knows how to invade my privacy as much as google, facebook, amazon or apple. They certainly ARE invading our privacy, that is certain, so we only use the roku for DRM'd content from the major providers.

    Amazon is creepy about their monitoring. Get get a $50 Amazon Fire tablet if you don't believe me. They track EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING - it is creepy when something to looked at on the roku shows up on your tablet 6 months later or on an amazon webpage. I know I can turn off the viewing of those things, but there is no way to stop amazon from still capturing the data.
    Same for Google. They are creepy.

  19. Re:POTUS MAY BE REMOVED WITHOUT NOTICE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You realize this could be construed as a threat against the POTUS by the secret service don't you? Hiding behind anon will give you no cover if they decide to look into it.