VPNs and Streaming Content

GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
Netflix Can Now Ban Customers Who Use VPNs




Netflix has updated its terms and conditions to so that it can now terminate your contract if you’re found to be circumventing its geo-restrictions to watch content from a region other than your own.

I reported on the pressure Netflix was under to do this last year, but at that point it was merely conjecture, now it has been officially included in the conditions of service which was pointed out by Reddit user CrypticCraig.

So what exactly is the problem here? Well, I don’t really think Netflix cares if once in a while a US Netflix user connects to a UK-based VPN to watch an episode of Doctor Who, or a movie that happens to be available in Britain, but not America. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that UK users watching Friends on US Netflix isn’t a major concern for anyone either. But users jumping on VPNs is hardly an epidemic anyway, it’s a minority pursuit.
 
Radiant1

Radiant1

Soul Probe
Interesting. Some Samsung smart TV owners have to jump VPNs in order to stream Netflix due to previous server upgrades and subsequent conflicts in the US with Mexico being the alternative country of choice. Netflix and Samsung both are going to have a good many irate customers if they lose their Netflix contract.
 
merc669

merc669

New Member
Main reason I use VPN for any entertainment is to catch the BBC. BBC carries Dr Who and some sports I am into, so no need to bother with Netflix for the most part. But its not a constant habit to do it daily either.
 
H

Hodr

Guest
Like the article mentioned, this is not really Netflix's choice, it's something the content owners are forcing. They individually sell the rights to view their products in each zone, so if people can hop around with a VPN the value of those areas are diminished.

This isn't that big an issue in the US, where we are used to always having access to the content. But for many small countries they regularly make use of VPNs to get around the "Sorry, your location is not authorized to view this stream" issue. And if everyone in that country is already doing this for YouTube and Vimeo and all the rest, then suddenly Netflix never has to pay to license anything for that country because *wink*wink*nudge*nudge* everyone in that small country is really in the US/Euro Zone/Canada/Etc.
 
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