It looks like Roku has had enough of non-certified Roku Channels allowing piracy on its devices.
Non-certified Roku Channels enable developers to publicly test Roku Channels before they submit them to the Roku Channel Store. Anyone can create a Roku Channel, and if you know the code you can add it to your Roku bypassing the Roku vetting process.
These codes are popular with Adult Channels such as PornHub because Roku does not allow adult content in the Roku Channel Store but does allow them as a private channel. It also seems to be popular with piracy channels.
Now Roku is making moves to block piracy even in non-certified Roku Channels. Recently Roku added the following warning, which anyone who tries to add a non-certified Roku Channel sees:
THIS IS A NON-CERTIFIED CHANNEL. Roku requires all channels to abide by Roku’s terms and conditions, and to distribute only legal content. Roku does not test or review non-certified channels. By continuing, you acknowledge you are accessing a non-certified channel that may include content that is offensive or inappropriate for some audiences. 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.
Already several Roku piracy channels have shut down and others have announced plans to pull support; however, still others seem to be waiting it out hoping to go unnoticed.
This all comes after Roku got caught up in a lawsuit in Mexico about non-certified Roku Channels that allow piracy. Because of the lawsuit that targeted the creators of the Roku Channels, a Mexican court banned all sales in Mexico. Roku is still fighting the ban of Roku sales in Mexico, but at this time the ban is still in place.
If you are just adding Roku Channels from the Roku Channel Store you have nothing to worry about. This change only effects Roku Channels you do not find inside the Roku Channel store and have to add with a code.
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