3 ms·

A big “Fuck Off” by the content industry and Netflix to users worldwide

14 points by vrypan 11y ago

mccoolman 11y ago
When has it ever not been like this? They aren't going to change for a while longer.
flashm 11y ago
I don't think the author has thought this through. If they don't have the licence to show something in a particular place, then they must at least show that they're actively trying to stop people in that region accessing the content. Which is what they're doing. No point in throwing toys from the pram.
- mschuster91 11y ago
  > If they don't have the licence to show something in a particular place There's no licensing problems for self produced shows, except maybe the soundtrack - but then again, Netflix isn't stupid and has negotiated for worldwide licensing. At least I hope so, because failing to secure these rights would be... epic failure.
  - flashm 11y ago
    I don't think they have enough self produced shows to make it worthwhile pumping just that content all over the world. People pay because they want the whole lot. Probably easier for Netflix to cut them off, rather than try and sell them a lesser product. As an aside, I think 'Netflix Original' is a bit of a misleading title. Most of the Netflix Original shows (at least on the UK version) weren't actually Netflix 'originals'.
  - niij 11y ago
    House of cards exclusive rights are not owned by Netflix in many regions. Look it up. "Netflix Original" is a misnomer.
grillvogel 11y ago
this is a bit of an oversimplification
13thLetter 11y ago
This is Netflix more aggressively enforcing its contractual content restrictions. Not particularly shocking, and calling it a "bug" is clearly out of anger. But that being said... the bit about how this will simply encourage piracy is spot on. Perhaps Netflix themselves have no choice but to do this if they want to keep their contracts, but as usual content industries are shooting themselves in the foot by thinking that people on the wrong side of a national border will just politely give up rather than find another way to get the thing they want.
J_Darnley 11y ago
It might not be Netflix's fault because they've got thumbscrews applied but the content producers are definitely saying "fuck off".
smokeMeAKipper 11y ago
If I couldn't use NetFlix and VPN I'd cancel my subscription. The choice here in the UK is abysmal.

14 points by vrypan 11y ago

When has it ever not been like this? They aren't going to change for a while longer.

I don't think the author has thought this through. If they don't have the licence to show something in a particular place, then they must at least show that they're actively trying to stop people in that region accessing the content. Which is what they're doing. No point in throwing toys from the pram.

mschuster91 11y ago
> If they don't have the licence to show something in a particular place There's no licensing problems for self produced shows, except maybe the soundtrack - but then again, Netflix isn't stupid and has negotiated for worldwide licensing. At least I hope so, because failing to secure these rights would be... epic failure.
- flashm 11y ago
  I don't think they have enough self produced shows to make it worthwhile pumping just that content all over the world. People pay because they want the whole lot. Probably easier for Netflix to cut them off, rather than try and sell them a lesser product. As an aside, I think 'Netflix Original' is a bit of a misleading title. Most of the Netflix Original shows (at least on the UK version) weren't actually Netflix 'originals'.
- niij 11y ago
  House of cards exclusive rights are not owned by Netflix in many regions. Look it up. "Netflix Original" is a misnomer.

grillvogel 11y ago

this is a bit of an oversimplification

13thLetter 11y ago

This is Netflix more aggressively enforcing its contractual content restrictions. Not particularly shocking, and calling it a "bug" is clearly out of anger. But that being said... the bit about how this will simply encourage piracy is spot on. Perhaps Netflix themselves have no choice but to do this if they want to keep their contracts, but as usual content industries are shooting themselves in the foot by thinking that people on the wrong side of a national border will just politely give up rather than find another way to get the thing they want.

J_Darnley 11y ago

It might not be Netflix's fault because they've got thumbscrews applied but the content producers are definitely saying "fuck off".

smokeMeAKipper 11y ago

If I couldn't use NetFlix and VPN I'd cancel my subscription. The choice here in the UK is abysmal.