Is Illegal Streaming Really Illegal? (And Why Even Celebrities Seem to Do It)

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Hello everyone and welcome to our blog, Is Illegal Streaming Really Illegal? (And Why Even Celebrities Seem to Do It).

We are D3vicx (devices) and we specialize in customizing and sideloading premium streaming devices so you can watch paid TV entertainment for free worldwide. Why a premium streaming device, this device is without all the headaches of buffering and lagging.

So, this is a hot topic among everyone in the world. Is illegal streaming really illegal in 2024 and can you even call it illegal anymore now that celebrities are seen doing it and caught on camera?

Yes, you are reading that right, a billionaire celebrity believes in saving your money and not paying monthly to these greedy companies too.

Now, I know this celebrity uses free Pandora, he doesn’t care about the ads, he said so himself. But a fan recorded him on the sidelines of a game watching other NBA games on an illegal streaming site.

Did he care? Why would he, being a billionaire you can do what it is that you want in this world and that includes watching an NBA game on a popular illegal streaming site.

My question is, doesn't this billionaire do this all the time?

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What is Illegal Streaming?

What is illegal streaming?

The definition of Illegal streaming also known as piracy, refers to the unauthorized distribution and consumption of copyrighted content, typically movies, TV shows, sports events, or music, without the permission of the copyright holder.

In other words, you didn’t pay a ton of money to watch it, you instead, streamed it for free from someone who has access to the content.

Now, I’m not sure how people get access to other’s content like this, so please don’t ask us here. This could be done in probably a thousand ways with today’s technology and growing numbers of company data breaches by hackers.

Understanding Copyright and Streaming Laws

Copyright and what it protects. Copyright law gives creators control over their original works. This means when someone makes something unique, like a book, song, or movie, copyright laws say that no one else can copy, share, perform, or show that work without permission. This helps creators make money and ensures they’re credited for their work.

For example, if a musician writes a song, only they or someone they allow can sell or share it. If others want to use it, they need to ask for permission, and sometimes they have to pay for it.

How does this work with streaming? Streaming adds another layer of complexity to copyright law because it involves broadcasting a copy of the content over the internet. Copyright laws say you can’t stream (or show) someone else’s work without permission, which is why services like Netflix or Spotify have licenses to stream music, movies, and TV shows legally.

The internet, however, is like the “Wild Wild West.” Once the content is online, it’s almost impossible to fully control or contain it. You’ve probably heard, “Once it’s on the internet, it’s up there forever.” This makes enforcing copyright laws challenging, as illegal copies can be spread or reshared globally.

How is Illegal Streaming Different from Legal Options?

Illegal streaming apk has all paid subscription apps for free

Illegal streaming happens when content is shared without permission, which makes it unauthorized. Legal streaming, on the other hand, is when a service or individual has the proper license to stream or share the content.

Sites like Netflix, Hulu, and MAX have licenses and, in some cases, even own the content on their platforms. For example, Spotify holds streaming rights for its music but doesn’t own most of it.

Illegal streaming is often found on unfamiliar websites or through APKs (Android Package Kits). These apps aren’t on the Google Play Store because they likely don’t have the proper licenses for the content they stream.

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Why People Choose Illegal Streams

Coined by Cory Doctorow

Many people turn to illegal streaming because of a concept known as “Enshittification,” coined by Cory Doctorow.

This theory explains how once-great platforms often decline over time for everyday users. It happens in three phases, with companies like Uber exemplifying this cycle.

Phase One: The platform prioritizes users, creating an amazing experience. You love it so much that it becomes part of your daily life.

Phase Two: The platform starts to prioritize business customers over regular users. Confident that users are “locked in” due to habit, the platform downgrades user experience in favor of deals that benefit business customers.

Phase Three: Finally, once business customers are also reliant on the platform, it directs profits back to itself by increasing prices, limiting features, and maximizing profit.

This cycle is why subscription services keep raising prices without adding new benefits for users. Sometimes, popular features are removed and placed behind new, higher-priced tiers without notice—Amazon Prime is a notorious example of this.

Cost Factors and Convenience

Dolby Vision & Atmos will not work on the Onn Pro

When it comes to cost and ease of use, illegal streaming has become popular largely due to accessible devices and APKs. For many, streaming on a device that can handle high-quality content is the top choice.

Unfortunately, some consumers rush into buying cheap streaming devices, thinking they’re saving money. However, these budget devices often struggle to deliver top-quality features, like 4K streaming or Dolby Vision, without buffering issues. The reason is a 32-bit operating system on a cheap streaming device, whereas a 64-bit operating system is on a premium streaming device.

For those who’ve done their research, premium streaming devices are the smart choice. They’re a one-time investment designed to support smooth playback in Dolby Vision, HDR, and 4K. These devices also handle APKs more efficiently, making them ideal for users who want reliable, high-quality streaming without the frustration of lagging or crashing.

Convenience-wise, using an APK gives you access to a world of content usually restricted to a special subscription application—all without requiring any individual accounts. With APKs, multiple premium apps are available in one place, set up for “click-and-play” ease, just like apps from the Google Play Store.

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Celebrity Influence on Streaming Norms: The LeBron James Example

Did you know LeBron James, one of the NBA’s biggest stars, is also known among his peers as one of the cheapest person of all.

His careful spending habits date back to his upbringing, where his uncle once gave him a dollar and taught him to spend only 65 cents, saving the remaining 35 cents. LeBron took these lessons to heart and is famously frugal—he even uses the free version of Pandora with ads, viewing all subscription services as unnecessary expenses.

Therefore he never pays for them. Instead, companies give them to him for free, like Pandora Premium and his blue check market in X (formally Twitter.)

What Happened During the Game?

Yes, this is LeBron using a popular illegal streaming site

Funny, during a basketball game, LeBron was spotted watching another game on what appeared to be a popular illegal streaming website.

While we don’t know if he does this regularly, in this instance, it seemed he wanted to keep an eye on a competing team playing that night.

Does Celebrity Use Make Streaming More Acceptable?

A fan recorded this moment and posted it on social media, sparking conversation. For some fans, it raised the question: if a billionaire like LeBron chooses to save his money using illegal streams, does that make it more acceptable?

Some may feel this sets a “why not me?” example, but it's also a reminder that everyone faces different consequences. For now, it doesn’t look like anyone is coming after LeBron for this.

And besides, who’s to say the computer he was using even belonged to him?

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Is Watching an Illegal Stream Really Breaking the Law?

Some might say it’s only against the law if your internet provider warns you to stop, and you keep streaming anyway. Many internet providers can tell when you are using a streaming device vs. your computer and what you are streaming on the device. All though this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re monitoring or reporting what you do.

People who stream APKs on a Firestick are more likely to get a warning from their internet provider. Rather then someone who streams an APK on a Nvidia Shield Pro.

Legal Gray Areas and Loopholes

IPTV Services need servers to host channels on 

There’s a difference between watching a stream and hosting it. Watching illegal streams is typically safer than hosting them, but it depends on how and where you’re streaming. If you’re using apps like Kodi, APKs (Android Package Kits), or IPAs (Apple apps), you’re probably in safer territory.

Many IPAs (apps for Apple TV) use AdGuard to change the DNS on your device, giving some added privacy. For devices like Nvidia Shield, there are DNS APKs available that come with built-in VPNs. These options provide small loopholes for privacy while streaming on premium devices.

Hosting, on the other hand, is where things get risky. When you host streams, especially with IPTV Services (Internet Protocol Television), the streams are often run from a server with its own IP address, which can be tracked back to you. While some people use high-end cybersecurity or remote servers to protect their IP addresses, most are not that secure, and this could lead to tracking or even arrest.

As long as you’re not saving (storing) or redistributing copyrighted content, simply streaming it without permission isn’t generally considered a copyright violation. Copyright law usually targets the actions of hosting or distributing content, particularly when it’s resold or shared on a large scale without permission.

Risks of Illegal Streaming for the Average User

For most users, the biggest risk from streaming illegally on devices or computers is that their internet provider might slow down (throttle) their connection.

However, using a VPN or changing the DNS on your device to a private DNS like Cloudflare can give you a high level of privacy and help avoid throttling. Given how easy these privacy tools are to use, illegal streaming might not feel as risky for some users.

Using premium streaming devices, like the Nvidia Shield Pro or Apple TV, also opens up more flexibility. Premium Android devices, in particular, allow more customization options for sideloading and privacy, while Apple TV requires a little more tech know-how when it comes to sideloading the IPAs. However, both devices give you more control over how you set up and use apps, unlike simpler devices that have more restrictions like the Firestick.

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Legal Alternatives to Avoid Trouble

A great free streaming alternatives

For some people, the risk of illegal streaming isn’t worth it, or they may not realize how low the risk can be. And that’s completely okay! Not everyone is comfortable with free streaming options, and luckily, there are ways to enjoy free content legally, though you’ll often pay by watching ads.

If you’re fine with ads, you’re in luck! Many apps offer free content with minimal interruptions. Some even have modified versions that reduce or block ads while still allowing you to use the original platform. These don’t qualify as illegal streaming, but they do fall into a gray area worth noting if you're new to these options.

Free Streaming Services

Here are some of the best free streaming services out there. My personal favorite is Tubi TV, which offers a great selection of movies, TV series, anime, and even live TV.

Some other fantastic options are YouTube, Plex, Pluto, Crackle, Peacock, PBS, Freevee, Roku Channel, Sling Freestream, VUDU, Xumo, IMDb TV, Kanopy, Hoopla, The CW, STIRR, Samsung TV Plus (for Samsung devices), Revry, RetroCrush, Redbox, NewsON, NASA+, Midnight Pulp, Toon Goggles, Local NOW, Korea On Demand, KlowdTV, iQiyi, Glewed TV, Haystack News, Filmzie, and FilmRise.

For free music streaming, you can try Pandora, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Spotify, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Bandcamp, BBC Radio, and TuneIn Radio.

Each of these options is 100% free to use, though they come with ads and limited libraries. And if you’re streaming Taylor Swift’s music, I recommend her “Taylor’s Version” albums—better quality and artist-supported. (No, I’m not a Swiftie, but I appreciate good music!)

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In Conclusion

Jailbroken Nvidia Shield Pro offering free streaming

At D3vicx, we’ve worked to keep our premium streaming devices as user-friendly as possible, with DNS and VPN tools to enhance your privacy when streaming. These open-source devices allow us to customize them to fit various needs.

A premium streaming device not only provides the power for high-quality streaming, but it also gives you peace of mind when doing so.

Ultimately, whether to use legal or illegal streaming options is up to you. Personally, I use both: I watch YouTube with ads to support creators and stream live sports and PPVs on my Jailbroken Nvidia Shield Pro. Then on my phone, I use a modified version of Spotify to block ads.

If you're in the market for a jailbroken device, save yourself the headache and choose a premium jailbroken device. Buying the cheap ones usually costs you more in the long run. Have you ever heard the saying, “When you buy cheap you buy twice?” For more on why you need to stay clear of cheap jailbroken devices, check out our blog, “Why cheap streaming devices aren’t worth it in 2024-2025.

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