Monday, 27 March 2017

Kodi Is Legal, Buying And Selling It, Isn't



The legality of using Kodi, as an end user, will always be legal despite purchasing a tampered device -- devices stocked with plug-ins for illegal streaming services. A new legal challenge from Middlesbrough indicates that only individuals selling "stocked" devices to the public only have the devices, and those looking for them, could be imprisoned.



According to the Birmingham Mail, the curious case of Brian Thompson from Middlesbrough would help clear up the case. Pleading not guilty to his charges in Teesside Magistrates' Court, Thompson's case ruling would define the entire industry of Kodi boxes, specifically the retail aspect. It would also decide whether consumers may also be filed for their ownership of tampered Kodi boxes.

According to Birmingham Mail, the Kodi boxes are still up for sale but most products sold through Tesco, Amazon and other similar high-street retailers do not come pre-loaded with illegal software for streaming. 

Additional cases regarding illegal streaming with Kodi boxes include a streaming of a pay-per-view match in Boro, which had a pub in Teesside pay more than £8000 for public broadcast without proper royalties and due to violation of copyrights on part of the Boro organisers.

Kodi in its unaltered form is legal. But using plug-ins for illegal streaming can get one a violation order, especially if streamed publicly for many to watch.

Sunday, 26 February 2017

Court Rules Deportation of Singaporean Woman Despite Decades Of Marriage In Britain



County Durham native and married in 1990, Irene Clennell lived in London two years before after her marriage to John Clennell. Irene Clennell, originally a Singaporean, was "forcibly removed" from the country according to The Guardian. According to Clennell's sister-in law, she is confirmed deported due to "insensitive and unfair government rules." The sister-in-law said that John Clennell was ill and the government had her deported still.


Angela Clennell said the government was unfair because the decision was made on a Sunday so "you cannot contact anyone to try and stop it from happening. She "felt sick" with the situation and contacted immigration solicitors -- whoever were open during the time.

Clennell's record was not as clean as an immigrant living in the United Kingdom is despite her twenty years in the country. Often, she left to Singapore caring for her parents before they died. This would often last for years.

The Guardian believes the government found reason to deport Clennell on the grounds of no evidence showing "long stretches of uninterrupted time living in the United Kingdom," a main tenet of the UK's spousal Visa system. The rules allow the government to conclude that those who prove to do otherwise could be affiliated with criminal syndicates -- or some criminals bypassing the law to their advantage.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Drones Are Becoming a Huge Legal Headache In The United Kingdom



Drones were once just product gimmicks; toys for children that are a bit dangerous with all those rotating chopper blades. After a few years, drones have turned into professional flying machines used from warfare to collect intelligence or unmanned assaults to commercial use, such as Amazon's latest experiment to send a package immediately to a consumer via drone.



But the UK's Civil Aviation Authority will not permit all types of drones to fly. As they are still considered aircraft flying inside UK territory, the CAA is currently discussing the technical complexities of the drone given its radio frequency interference as most drones are remote-controlled. 

Amazon has filed for a patent to create a "flying warehouse;" a possible classification for their delivery drones that in the near future could adopt a "pelican" system of storing more items for consecutive deliveries in one flight.

Drone law is not only limited to UK's troubles but for the rest of the world. As online stores begin 
their trek towards physical manifestation of deliveries without third parties through drones, international laws regarding drone usage -- once the technology for overseas flight-capable drones materialises -- will change. Commerce rules may also change in the near future, including taxes and dues included with most international deliveries.

Tuesday, 27 December 2016

K Club Expansion Legally Challenged By Locals

In the Caribbean, the iconic "K Club" favoured by the late Princess Diana is the centre of a legal battle against Hollywood Actor and lease owner Robert De Niro and the island's locals. The Caribbean island of Barbuda disagrees only with the expansion of the K-Club and not it's re-opening.



The Princess' declaration that "K Club" is her favorite resort had sent many to enjoy the holiday destination during winter. The resort had closed down 12 years ago after being bankrupt. Eager to preserve its legacy and history, actor Robert De Niro and business partner James Packer bought the lease of the land's remainder to re-develop the club and extend it.

The legal challenge is being heard in the Privy Council in London, the Barbuda island's court of appeal. De Niro and Packer want to own at least 300 extra acres around the area. De Niro has been named a "special economic envoy" of the island and was hailed as a "visionary" for his hotel development work.


Barbuda local Mackenzie Frank stresses that charging De Niro for only $6.2 million of the land is only a cent per square foot annually. He said it was one of the biggest giveaways for land ever. Given that Barbudan law states that its people own all 62 square miles of the island in common, the majority's decision faces a challenge from Frank and others.

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Turkey Stops Unfair Law That Would Have Forgiven Rapists Marrying Underage Victims

Turkey had put down a controversial law that would pardon rapists if they married their victim even if they are underage women. The law outraged Turks during the time it was approved for an initial hearing. According to Prime Minister Binali Yildrim, the bill does not belong yet on the parliament floor. He would have the Parliament forward it to an all-party committee.



Opposition groups against the bill had protested along with other enraged citizens. UNICEF had voiced out that the proposal "can weaken the country's ability to combat sexual abuse and child marriages."

Turkey has the highest number of child marriages in Europe. Estimates show that 15 per cent of Girls below 18 years old are already married. The Prime Minister said the problem could not be ignored because there are 3,800 cases and thousands of children "paying the price of their parents' mistakes."


The ruling Justice and Development Party had proposed the bill after the Turkish Constitutional Court had amended part of the criminal code in July declassifying all sexual acts with children under 15 years old as sexual abuse. The approval of the bill would mean all cases of forced sexual encounters on female children from 2005 and November 16, 2016 would have been forgiven.

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Legal Challenge Attempt To Stop The Triggering of Article 50

Government lawyers will defend Prime Minister Theresa May of her right to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty.

Opponents are trying to stop the UK government from going ahead of the Brexit without authorisation by the Parliament.

According to Mrs May she is to invoke the article by the end of March 2017. However, campaigners against Brexit said that Parliament is the only one that can authorise the service of the Article 50 notice.

According to Investment Fund Manager and Philanthropist Gina Miller, her lead case is "all about the sovereignty of parliament and dealing with the Article 50 issues in a serious and 'grown-up way'"

London Hairdresser Deir Dos Santos and a wide group of concerned citizens are also supporting his and her Brexit legal challenge.

The lawyers of the opposition said that it is a fundamental constitutional requirement that there is full scrutiny by both Parliament houses before new legislation.

The case would be heard by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas along with Master of the Rolls Sir 
Terence Etherton and Lord Justice Sales.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright along with other government lawyers will argue before the three judges that the challenge lacks merit and the vote to leave the EU is a referendum approved by an Act of Parliament.

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

Legal Highs Ban Would Push it Into 'Dark Web'

According to the National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime report of the National Crime Agency, the trade of legal highs would further push into the dark web once legislation had successfully banned all legal highs.



An alteration in the law from banning just new legal highs from entering the market into a ban towards all legal highs would prove its moving into uncharted territory.

“Change in legislation around NPS in May 2016 effectively banning so-called 'legal highs’ is likely to see a large increase in these drugs being offered through the dark web instead,” the report, published late last week, reads. According to the report’s methodology, “likely” refers to an “associated probability range” of 75-85 percent.

A UK-based seller named SaintSymbiosis is selling 7 grams of Spice for 0.1094 bitcoins or £50.

Other formerly legal drugs including Benzo Fury are available in the dark web.

Before the ban, people had sourced their legal highs from digital shops on the mainstream web. 

Because of the bans, the sale of the products may move in both the dark web and the black market.

A Home Office spokesperson said, “These dangerous drugs have already cost far too many lives. The Psychoactive Substances Act is sending out a clear message - this government will take whatever action is necessary to keep our families and communities safe. These drugs are not legal, they are not safe and we will not allow them to be sold in this country.


“Legislation is part of our approach to drugs which involves preventing drug use in our communities and helping dependent individuals to recover,” the spokesperson said, “while ensuring our drugs laws are enforced.”