Adam Lackman, who operated the TVAddons Kodi repository, has consented to a substantial payment. He will be paying $19.5 million to settle damages in a copyright infringement case.
For quite a few years, TVAddons was arguably the leading Kodi repository. It was home to a vast collection of Kodi addons, numbering in the hundreds.
We are eager to hear your opinions on this situation. What are your thoughts on TVAddons and Adam Lackman’s decision to pay such a hefty sum in damages? Feel free to share your perspective in the comments section below.
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TorrentFreak was the first to break this news. Back in June of 2017, prominent Canadian telecom companies like TVA, Rogers Communications, and Bell Canada joined forces. They filed a formal complaint against Adam Lackman, seeking compensation for damages related to copyright infringement.
DISH Network, a major US television provider, also didn’t stay on the sidelines. They pursued their own legal action against Lackman and TVAddons in the United States, alleging copyright violations.
Lackman was the driving force behind the TVAddons Kodi repository. The plaintiffs’ central argument against Lackman was that he played a key role in the illegal distribution of television shows and other copyrighted material. They alleged that he facilitated unauthorized access to their content.
The lawsuit against Lackman sparked a lot of debate. This controversy arose because Lackman was unable to secure legal representation to defend himself adequately, leaving him in a difficult position. The Federal Court also imposed restrictions on him, barring him from engaging in various activities connected to TVAddons. This further fueled the controversy surrounding the case.
Adding to the complexity, the plaintiffs were granted an “Anton Piller order.” This is essentially a civil search warrant that allowed them to enter Lackman’s residence without giving him advance notice. Such orders are often controversial due to their potential to infringe on privacy rights.
Following these legal battles with both Canadian telecom giants and DISH Network, it seemed like the end of the road for TVAddons. The Kodi repository appeared to be permanently shut down.
However, in a surprising turn of events, TVAddons resurfaced in 2019. It popped up under a different domain name, giving a glimmer of hope to its users. But this comeback proved to be short-lived. The repository, along with its associated Github page and social media accounts, vanished once again not long after its reappearance.
Now, fast forward to February 2022, TVAddons is making headlines again. This time, it’s because Adam Lackman has publicly acknowledged that he was involved in the unlawful distribution of television programs owned by the plaintiffs, bringing the long-running saga back into the spotlight.
To be more precise, Lackman confessed to his involvement. He admitted to participating in the “development, hosting, distribution or promotion of Kodi add-ons.” These add-ons were designed to provide users with unauthorized access to copyrighted works.
Lackman didn’t stop there with his admissions. He also acknowledged that he had granted users of these infringing add-ons the ability to “initiate acts of infringement.” This essentially means he allowed them to share the plaintiffs’ programs with the public illegally through telecommunications.
In simpler language, Lackman confessed to unlawfully developing, hosting, distributing, or promoting Kodi add-ons. These add-ons enabled the illegal broadcasting of copyrighted material.
The Federal Court of Canada responded decisively to Lackman’s admissions. They issued an order requiring Adam Lackman to pay a substantial sum to the plaintiffs. The amount totaled $19.5 million USD, which is equivalent to $25 million in Canadian dollars, as compensation for copyright damages.
Justice Rochester, who presided over the case, made the following statement:
“THIS COURT ORDERS the Defendant Mr. Lackman to pay the Plaintiffs the amount of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000). This payment will be in the form of a lump sum and covers damages, profits, punitive and exemplary damages, and costs.”
As part of the resolution, the plaintiffs are also obtaining control over various assets. These include “login credentials, accounts, domains, and servers.” This is intended to bring a definitive end to the prolonged legal battle with TVAddons, ensuring they can no longer operate in the same way.
Adam Lackman himself addressed the situation He shared his thoughts through a post on social media, offering some insight into his perspective. You can find his statement at the following link:
https://twitter.com/adam_lackman/status/1496561255628345348
It’s undeniable that TVAddons has reached its final chapter. With Lackman legally barred from engaging in similar activities in the future and significant financial penalties imposed, the repository’s operations have effectively ceased.
The TVAddons repository has been taken offline, rendering it inaccessible. Their main website, tvaddons.co, is also no longer functional. This marks the end of an era for the once-popular platform.
If you’re interested in delving deeper into the legal details, you can access the official court judgment documentation through the link provided below.
TVAddons & Adam Lackman Court Judgment (PDF)
We’d love to hear your take on the entire TVAddons saga. What are your thoughts on the outcome of this case? Share your opinions and insights by leaving a comment below!
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