Amazon has banned 'fully-loaded' Kodi TV boxes and other pirate devices from its global online store.

A policy update from the company states that anyone selling products that 'promote, facilitate or enable' illegal access to copyrighted TV will now have their accounts suspended.

The online retailer announced it was joining the fight to crack down on illegal streaming just weeks after the Premier League was granted a court order to blanket block illicit internet browsers.

Amazon has banned Kodi TV boxes (pictured) and other pirate devices from its online store. Kodi is a free service that streams apps and on-demand services onto your TV

WHAT IS KODI TV? Kodi is software that enables you to streams apps and on-demand services onto your TV. The software, which is legal, can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick. Blank boxes can be bought from most major retailers for as little as £20 ($24), with the software uploaded afterwards. Users can play BBC iPlayer, Youtube, Soundcloud and other free catch-up apps on the device. But many of the plug-ins the box offers are illegal. Be wary if the box is pre-loaded to include subscription sport, TV and movies for free. Commonly the 'fully loaded' boxes let users watch Premier League games or Sky Movies without paying a subscription fee. Advertisement

Kodi is software that enables you to streams apps and on-demand services onto your TV.

The software, which is legal, can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick.

But many of the plug-ins the box offers are illegal.

Amazon has never permitted the sale of pirate TV players, but had previously done little to stop the sale of the devices on its site.

But the retailer will now take 'immediate' action to stop the selling of Kodi boxes and similar devices.

'It is your responsibility to source and sell products that do not promote, promise the facilitation of, or actively enable the infringement of or unauthorised access to digital media or other protected content,' Amazon's policy reads.

'If you sell these products, we may immediately suspend or terminate your selling privileges and destroy inventory in our fulfilment centres without reimbursement.

'In addition, if we determine that your account has been used to engage in fraud or other illegal activity, remittances and payments may be withheld or forfeited.'

Amazon has never permitted the sale of pirate TV players, but had previously done little to stop the sale of the devices on its site (stock image)

WHO IS USING KODI BOXES? Over 55s are six times more likely to watch pirated video using Kodi boxes than young adults, a recent survey found. More than 25,000 adults in 30 countries were surveyed by digital security firm Irdeto. The highest percentage of Kodi users in the UK were in the 35-44 and 55+ age groups, at 18 per cent each. This is in stark contrast to the 3 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds using a Kodi box to stream pirated content. 18-24 year olds are more likely to use smartphones, tablets or laptops to access illegal content. Advertisement

The new stance comes just weeks after the Premier League were granted a court order to crack down on web browsers that facilitate illegal football streaming.

The court order allows Premier League bosses to blanket block internet servers that are powering the illegal streams.

The league previously only had the power to block individual streams, which were easy for hosts to re-establish using a different link.

A spokesman said it could now target pirates in a 'precise manner'.

'For the first time this will enable the Premier League to disrupt and prevent the illegal streaming of our matches via IPTV, so-called Kodi, boxes,' he added.

Football fans are being urged to buy a subscription to Sky Sports or BT, or watch matches at a venue that pays for access.