With a diverse selection of free content created by millions of content creators, big and small, you`ll never run out of things you can see. Instead, you will probably click from one recommended video to another and just like that, 2 hours have passed. And did we mention that it`s free and legal? A landmark anti-piracy trial here involved a man who was fined a total of $36,600 in 2019 and last year, while his company, Synnex Trading, was fined $160,800 in 2019 for illegally selling streaming Android TV boxes. The trial is scheduled for April next year and represents an opportunity for Singapore`s courts to clarify the piracy law, which grants users unrestricted access to copyrighted programs, and their legal position on the use of these boxes. The proposed amendments to the Copyright Act also mean that even if retailers sell a “clean” device without the offending streaming apps, but offer to download it as an additional service, or include instructions on how to modify the device to watch shows illegally online, they are likely to break the law. However, if you are in Singapore, you may have heard that TV boxes are illegal. This is partly true, but not all TV boxes are illegal. Then check out our Can I use Xiaomi TV Box in Singapore guide to learn more. Two other stores in Sim Lim Square have also sold TVs, which they say are not affected by the ban because pre-installed apps are legal. This means that rights holders can take legal action against retailers who offer pirated music, shows or software – or access to that content – not only through set-top boxes or other devices, but also through software applications.
SINGAPORE (AP) — Sales of illegal Android TV boxes have resumed at the popular Sim Lim Square mall after unrest over an unprecedented anti-piracy measure in 2018 that led to legal sanctions. Sim Lim Square is known in Singapore for selling PCs and electronics. In recent years, they have also been one of the hottest places to buy an Android TV box. However, they have also received bad press, as many configuration boxes sold are sold under the premise of illegal access to content. MinLaw noted that the Copyright Act does not take into account recent technological advances. These include set-top boxes or other streaming devices and services that allow people to access content from illegal sources. Alban Kang, a partner in the intellectual property and technology group at law firm Bird & Bird ATMD, said that while public statistics are not readily available, it appears that only one or two lawsuits have been filed against retailers. “The current law doesn`t help content owners because there`s nothing illegal about selling `empty` configuration boxes.” Other Sim Lim Square stores have even declared that the devices they sell are legal. Retailers often tell customers how to download illegal apps to stream unauthorized content to their TVs, such as English Premier League football matches, he added. “It`s legal, it works, and you don`t have to pay a subscription,” said the employee, who asked not to be named.
“We can`t do illegal things.” As of (17.1.2019), ongoing amendments to Singapore`s Copyright Act make it illegal to sell these TV boxes – if the retailer illegally installs or provides a service. This means that retailers can use this ambiguity to sell such devices at a profit. Consumers are often led to believe that the content accessed is legal, the spokesperson said. In the mall near Jalan Besar, stores were seen brazenly displaying these boxes that provide access to pirated online feeds or content, with their retail staff assuring curious customers that the boxes were “perfectly legal.” SINGAPORE – The sale of set-top boxes that provide access to pirated online streams of movies and TV shows will soon be banned, filling loopholes that make it difficult for retailers to circumvent lawsuits. But the other reasons given for the legality of the devices are descriptive and not entirely convincing. Two TV box sellers, An-Nahl and Synnex Trading, were charged in January with “intentional infringement” of the copyrights of four companies, giving the courts an opportunity to clarify their legal position on the use of the boxes. While TV boxes with set-top boxes that allow viewers to stream premium content for free are illegal, the law is not as clear when it comes to other types of TV boxes that use these so-called legal apps. Thence; It is safe and legal to use these devices in Singapore. However, streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc. require a registration fee, so if the user avoids it, it can lead to illegal activities.
Android TV boxes are not illegal. It is what you do with it that could make it illegal. These TV boxes have had a bad reputation in Singapore because many have used them to illegally access content. “UBTV resides on the server in Hong Kong and acts as a decoder. So they have already blocked it,” said the aide, who asked not to be named. “(The ATTV box) is still legal because you pay for the box, and movies or live channels will have advertising. They make money through advertising. Currently, retailers deny the illegality of their products.
