These days, most people are cutting the cord and embracing online content, as streaming services have made things even easier. Premium services like Netflix and Hulu offer quality services at a small fee. However, if you are on a budget, you can opt for the free alternatives.
Unfortunately, these free streaming services are banned in most countries because they are deemed to broadcast illegal content. OneBox HD is a good example that has amassed many followers recently.
This article will look into OneBox HD, how to stream safely, the legality of using OneBox HD, and much more.
Disclaimer: This article provides information about OneBox HD based on our security tests and research; you shouldn’t take it as legal counsel. Also, each country has its copyright laws that may change constantly. You can consult an expert if you don’t understand your local laws.
What is OneBox HD?
OneBox HD is a free streaming app for the Android platform. It has an extensive library of content in various categories to keep you entertained. The movies and TV shows on the app are available in SD and HD quality. Also, the app is lightweight and will not take up much space on your device.
Is it illegal to use OneBox HD?
OneBox HD does not host any content but will connect you to video repositories elsewhere on the internet where the content is stored. However, the app cannot guarantee that the entire content is legal. The only way to watch legal content is through network television like Fox or an official online streaming service like Netflix.
Countries have different copyright infringement laws. For example, most countries have banned downloading copyrighted content to protect intellectual property. However, other countries allow it altogether or for personal use.
We encourage you to confirm your country’s laws before using OneBox HD or other similar sites. The table below shows different countries’ general stand on piracy.
| Countries | View on piracy |
|---|---|
| Spain, Poland, Switzerland | Piracy is allowed and legal but for personal use. |
| Finland, Australia, China, Germany, Britain, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Japan, the US, South Africa | Piracy is illegal, and there are strict copyright laws. |
| Colombia, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Denmark, Czech Republic, India, Greece, Iran, Egypt, Netherlands, Singapore, Slovakia, Uruguay, Israel, Slovenia | Piracy is illegal, but there hasn’t been any active prosecution. |
Please understand that streaming content online is also deemed as downloading it. This is because your device will first download the video for you to watch in real-time, then deletes it afterward when you close the stream. Hence, you possess illegal copyrighted material, at least temporarily.
Legal consequences of using OneBox
Besides having different copyright rules, countries also differ regarding the consequences of breaking these laws. For example, you can be fined severely or imprisoned for downloading copyrighted content in countries like Japan and Germany. However, this might not be an issue, or you may get a warning in other countries.
Getting prosecuted for streaming content on free streaming services like OneBox HD is difficult because no file remains on your device after closing a stream. However, this does not mean you are off the hook, as you can be tracked through your IP address.
Moreover, most countries don’t enforce copyright laws by going after people using free streaming services like OneBox HD. Instead, they put their effort on distributors of the copyrighted content.
How to use OneBox HD securely
Using free streaming services like OneBox HD is not allowed in some countries, so we don’t encourage you to do it. However, many countries allow such streaming services altogether or for personal use.
Regardless, you need antivirus software to protect your device from malware. Also, you can use a virtual private network (VPN) to prevent ISPs, hackers, and other third parties from accessing your data.