4 ms·

Why doesn't Netflix make their own original content available globally (to subscribers)? I had assumed that terms of licensing agreements were what prevented gl

Why doesn't Netflix make their own original content available globally (to subscribers)? I had assumed that terms of licensing agreements were what prevented global access to most content.

lgbr 11y ago
Because that content was also licensed by Netflix to other companies. House of Cards, for example, was licensed to companies in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, India, and others before Netflix's arrival there, and when Netflix did arrive in those places, those licensing agreements were still in place, meaning Netflix couldn't make its own content available in those countries.
- theseatoms 11y ago
  Oh ok. So they're more interested in fulfilling the terms of those agreements than in actually preventing people from watching their shows.
  - publicfig 11y ago
    Well, licensing is a legal agreement so there's really no way around that.
  - JoblessWonder 11y ago
    This is basically the only reason they are cracking down at all. I'm sure Netflix doesn't care, but if the rights holders see them as being "soft" on proxy use then they might charge more or sue. They will block what is easy to block so they can point and say "hey look, we tried!"
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
seanp2k2 11y ago
Some of it is licensed: http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/netflix-to-own-original-series/ http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/netflix-to-own-original-...
drzaiusapelord 11y ago
Because nation states have various censorship requirements for these services to continue to exist in their jurisdiction. "watch content not available in their home country" is the key phrase here. If you want to watch something that has been deemed 'unfit' for the masses by the local law, Netflix has to follow those laws. Licensing agreements are another problem, but this one looks to be specifically about catering to local law. There are probably also issues with production company contracts, entertainment union contracts, etc even if Netflix "owns" the show. Wikipedia lists four different production companies alone for "House of Cards." Then there are probably issues with at least SAG-AFTRA, WGAW, DGA, ASCAP for music/score licensing, etc. These are all stakeholders with, usually, strong contractual rights to the IP.

Why doesn't Netflix make their own original content available globally (to subscribers)? I had assumed that terms of licensing agreements were what prevented global access to most content.

lgbr 11y ago

Because that content was also licensed by Netflix to other companies. House of Cards, for example, was licensed to companies in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, India, and others before Netflix's arrival there, and when Netflix did arrive in those places, those licensing agreements were still in place, meaning Netflix couldn't make its own content available in those countries.

theseatoms 11y ago
Oh ok. So they're more interested in fulfilling the terms of those agreements than in actually preventing people from watching their shows.
- publicfig 11y ago
  Well, licensing is a legal agreement so there's really no way around that.
- JoblessWonder 11y ago
  This is basically the only reason they are cracking down at all. I'm sure Netflix doesn't care, but if the rights holders see them as being "soft" on proxy use then they might charge more or sue. They will block what is easy to block so they can point and say "hey look, we tried!"

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

seanp2k2 11y ago

Some of it is licensed: http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/netflix-to-own-original-series/ http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/netflix-to-own-original-...

drzaiusapelord 11y ago

Because nation states have various censorship requirements for these services to continue to exist in their jurisdiction. "watch content not available in their home country" is the key phrase here. If you want to watch something that has been deemed 'unfit' for the masses by the local law, Netflix has to follow those laws. Licensing agreements are another problem, but this one looks to be specifically about catering to local law. There are probably also issues with production company contracts, entertainment union contracts, etc even if Netflix "owns" the show. Wikipedia lists four different production companies alone for "House of Cards." Then there are probably issues with at least SAG-AFTRA, WGAW, DGA, ASCAP for music/score licensing, etc. These are all stakeholders with, usually, strong contractual rights to the IP.