Users of the hugely popular media player Kodi went in to meltdown on Saturday.
The free, open-source piece of software can be found in most homes across the UK these days on Android-enabled devices, PCs, Smartphones, Tablets, iOS devices and Mac operating systems.
But visitors to the official kodi.tv website were presented with what appeared to be a message from the US Department of Justice warning that the site had been seized by the authorities.
Kodi posted a tweet in respone insisting they were "looking into it".
We are looking into it. Nobody panic
— Kodi (@KodiTV) March 31, 2017
Anyone visiting the Kodi TV website is met with the message: "This domain name has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrant by a United States District Court under the authority of 18 U.S.C 981 and 2323."
It continued: "Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders f up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine forfeiture and restitution (17 U.S.C 506, 18 U. S. C 2319). Intentionally and knowingly trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up t ten years in federal prison, a $2,000,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution (18 U. S. C 2323)."
Kodi has featured heavily in the news lately with the current crackdown on access to proteccted copyright content and arrests over the sales of pre-loaded set-top boxes.
However, a lot of users on social media reckon it's just a stunt for April Fools' Day.
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