When I commencement bought my Amazon Firestick, several friends insisted that I "jailbreak" information technology so I could gain access to tons of complimentary content. They were all watching movies however in the theaters on their jailbroken Firesticks, and streaming alive Television set, for free!

While it sounded pretty awesome, I was a fleck skeptical. My first thought was, "has anyone gotten in trouble using a jailbroken Firestick?" So I started doing my ain research, and here'south what I establish.

No one has gotten in trouble for using a jailbroken Firestick, simply that doesn't mean it'south condom. While jailbreaking a Firestick is legal, streaming copyright content with information technology is illegal (upwardly to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine). That said, historically constabulary enforcement has gone after distributers, not end-users.

Basically if yous're only streaming content and not hosting it, or making money streaming information technology ("commercial streaming"), y'all're nearly likely safe. For now.

What does information technology mean to jailbreak a Firestick?

The term "jailbreak" sounds mysterious, merely it's a pretty common practice in tech that simply eliminates the software restrictions imposed by a device.

It allows you to install apps, extensions and other software that wouldn't normally be permitted past the mill default version.

In the example of the Amazon Firestick, jailbreaking allows y'all to install apps and extensions that aren't bachelor in the Amazon App Store.

What does it mean to jailbreak a Firestick?

Sounds great, simply is it legal?

Yes, jailbreaking a Firestick is completely legal. Technically it falls under "Off-white Apply", every bit is documented in a 2018 revised version of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA").

dmca

In years by, companies argued that jailbreaking their devices should be illegal considering modifying the operating system "leads to the cosmos of an infringing derivative piece of work that is protected under copyright law."

Basically the argument was, if you allow people mess with our proprietary software, information technology will somewhen result in a competing product.

It makes sense why these companies had this stance, they wanted to proceed their walled-garden in tact.

But unfortunately for them, exemptions to the DMCA are considered every iii years, and in 2010 Congress determined that certain "jailbreaking" practices qualified as exempt under this law. Since and then, additional jailbreaking exemptions take been added to the list, including streaming devices.

Merely just because jailbreaking a device is legal, doesn't hateful it'due south safe.

Is jailbreaking a Firestick safe?

Amazon spends a lot of time and money ensuring that the Firestick is secure, and that their App Store but contains apps that are rubber and secure every bit well.

Equally soon as yous jailbreak your Firestick, the operating system becomes vulnerable.

For example, if y'all kickoff installing apps outside of the Amazon eco-system, those apps could exist carrying malware designed to steal your personal data.

Furthermore, apps outside of Amazon's App Store normally aren't optimized for your device and can lead to your Firestick freezing/crashing, and other major stability issues.

Firestick Frozen

Another risk introduced when yous jailbreak your Firestick is a lack of software updates.

Amazon regularly releases updates to the Firestick software, especially when new security vulnerabilities are discovered/exposed.

When you jailbreak your device, your Firestick stops getting these software updates.

Streaming content simply means watching or listening to content that isn't fully downloaded to a device. When you lot stream, you're using the internet to become the content, just the content itself lives on a separate computer or server.

When yous pay for a streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube Idiot box, of course it's legal to stream.

It'due south when yous start using an internet continued device to stream illegal content where things offset to get an outcome (i.eastward. the possessor of that content that has not given you permission to use it, and the content is covered by copyright police force).

To be clear, using a jailbroken Firestick to stream copyright content is illegal. This is considered criminal copyright infringement and is technically punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison, with a fine of $250,000. This includes infringement without monetary gain!

Only the reality is, if you're at dwelling with your married woman and kids, and you stream a movie illegally, you're extremely unlikely to face up any consequences.

Streaming can too constitute a copyright violation when users create a "public performance" of unauthorized piece of work, or show the streamed content to a large number of people (according to the Copyright Office).

For example, if your local bar uses a jailbroken Firestick to stream a pirated motion picture, and they advertise the moving-picture show nighttime to concenter customers. That is definitely illegal, and more likely to catch the eye of police enforcement.

Just outside of "public performances", streaming videos online, regardless of the website, goes largely unpunished.

It'due south far more probable for government agencies and the media business concern to go after people who download and redistribute content on a large scale, for public consumption and commercial gain.

The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act of 2020

In fact, the US government is so determined to crack down on those trying to profit from illegally streaming content, that they passed a new constabulary in 2020.

This police force significantly increases criminal penalties for those who, "willfully and for commercial reward or private financial gain, illegally stream copyrighted material".

Previously, illegal streaming for turn a profit was treated as a misdemeanor. Under this new law, the DOJ can bring felony charges against providers (every bit opposed to users) of such illegal services.

The message hither is clear, if yous're going to illegally stream content, you better brand sure you lot're non profiting off information technology!

People getting into trouble over jailbroken Firesticks

Afterward hours of enquiry, I couldn't find a single case of an individual U.s. streamer getting in-trouble with the law.

The closest example I could find happened in the United kingdom where around 240 individuals were arrested and fined for subscribing to a service that provided them with a one-stop-shop for several popular streaming services: Netflix, Heaven, Amazon Prime number Video, Mediaset Premium, and Dazn.

But paying for an illegal subscription isn't really the same thing as using a jailbroken Firestick to stream illegal content.

Every US story that comes up in regards to streaming and/or jailbroken Firesticks has to do with folks trying to make money.

  • 2012, a Michigan homo was arrested for criminal copyright infringement related to his operation of websites that illegally streamed live sporting consequence telecasts and pay-per-view events over the Net
  • 2019, eight defendants were charged with running two of the largest illegal TV and movie streaming services in the Us ("Jetflicks" and  "iStreamItAll")
  • 2020, four people were arrested past hole-and-corner detectives for allegedly selling "jailbroken" Amazon Burn down Television Sticks
People getting into trouble over jailbroken Firesticks

What's interesting about that last example is the Sheriff on the instance said publicly that, "any consumer defenseless using i (a jailbroken Firestick) in their domicile would face a misdemeanor".

Just this sounds like more than of a scare tactic than an actual threat to me.

I mean how probable is it that the Sheriff is going to utilise his department's resource to knock on doors and hand out misdemeanors to jailbroken Firestick users? Don't they have more than important work to exercise?

Anyways, the practiced news is that 99.9% of people aren't trying to make any money with their jailbroken Firestick, they merely want to stream content in the privacy of their homes.

And by-in-large, those people won't get into any trouble.

Using a VPN with a jailbroken Firestick

Near people who jailbreak their Firestick, fix information technology upwardly with a VPN. VPN stands for Virtual Individual Network.

When you use a VPN, your IP address becomes hidden from websites and other search engines that are trying to collect your information. With your IP address hidden, you lot can't exist identified or tracked like you could if yous merely used the net without a VPN.

The piracy watchdog groups that sit down around watching pirated data leave a server, travel the internet and land on your IP accost, volition have a much harder time tracing the location of your IP address when you're using a VPN.

So using a VPN with your jailbroken Firestick is strongly advised, especially if yous're because using it to stream illegal content!

Determination

Jailbreaking a Firestick is 100% legal.

Things speedily become illegal when yous use that jailbroken Firestick to stream stolen content. Violators tin can technically face up up to five years of prison house, with fines up to $250,000.

The good news is that, every bit far equally I tin tell, no one has gotten in trouble for using a jailbroken Firestick.

The just time people seem to make it trouble is when they use jailbroken Firesticks, or streamed content, to make money.

If you lot're just looking to stream content with your jailbroken Firestick in the privacy of your own home, you're about probable safe to do so.

All things considered, I personally don't recommend jailbreaking your Firestick. It'southward just not worth the risk.

Merely if yous however desire to, I would highly recommend that you utilize a VPN whenever you stream content to hibernate your IP accost from prying eyes.