EBAY has banned TV boxes that allow Brits to stream sports and films for free, the Sun Online can reveal.

Millions have been buying "Kodi boxes" which allow them to watch sports like the Premier League and blockbuster films that are still showing in cinemas.

3 Millions have snapped up Kodi boxes to watch sports and films for free

It's illegal to download this copyright material, but Kodi software lets you stream using a box which can be connected to your TV or laptop.

They can be purchased online, but it emerged that Amazon had decided to wipe any Kodi boxes claiming to be "fully loaded" (with access to illegal streams) from its site.

Fully loaded boxes were still available to buy on eBay, but when quizzed by the Sun Online on whether people were safe to purchase them, the e-marketplace said it would remove the listings.

A spokesman said: "We run several initiatives designed to combat the infringement of intellectual property rights, including the Verified Rights Owner Program (VeRO).

"We work with the police and regulators to ensure that all listings on eBay comply with the law. There are blocks in place to prevent the listing of illegal items, but we also constantly monitor our marketplace. Anyone found to be knowingly selling items that don’t comply with the law will be investigated and could face account restrictions or suspension."

3 Kodi box sellers are accused of infringing copyright and several have been arrested

3 Families across the nation use special boxes or USBs which use Kodi software to stream pay-per-view films and sports for free

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Production companies and the sports industry have been trying to crack down on these sorts of devices.

But they have been widely available to buy online for around £60.

There are several tutorials online which reveal how to jailbreak lots of legal devices (like the Amazon Fire Stick) to stream using Kodi.

Kodi boxes: Legal or not? The police are unlikely to burst through your front door while you stream football matches for free. But if you're selling Kodi Boxes with add-on that allow people to stream copyrighted material, you're likely to face a judge. The situation is a legal grey area at the moment as technically you're not illegally downloading material. Whether the UK will draft new legislation to fine people whose information has been handed over by their internet service provider (i.e if Virgin has noticed you using these streams) is up in the air.

Amazon have cracked down on sellers, warning them that if they figure out they have been selling "fully loaded" options, they will freeze their accounts.

It wrote: "Products offered for sale on Amazon should not promote, suggest the facilitation of, or actively enable the infringement of or unauthorised access to digital media or other protected content.

"Any streaming media player or other device that violates this policy is prohibited from sale on Amazon."

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