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> People want to watch what they want to watch. You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that

> People want to watch what they want to watch. You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that content instead? DRM has shown to do very little to stop that, so why continue pretending that it does.

Karlozkiller 10y ago
> > People want to watch what they want to watch. > You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that content instead? Not to point any fingers, but I can confirm that this happens, a lot. But regardless of my personal views of DRM and its efficiency, kudos to Netflix for targeting Linux as a platform, even if they do it for their own pockets' sake.
kelnos 10y ago
> You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that content instead? DRM has shown to do very little to stop that, so why continue pretending that it does. Yes, but, in general, trouble has been decreasing, and so has the need to pirate. I would argue that there are only three kinds of people who pirate anymore: 1. People who want a local copy of the content that can't be taken away (e.g. Netflix pulling a title, or just canceling one's Netflix account). 2. Content that is so long-tail that it's not available for streaming from one of the major players that have decent device/playback support. 3. People who are so far in the "openness"/ownership camp that they would refuse to buy into a service like Netflix unless they provided #1 (DRM-free, of course). The fourth kind of person is mostly gone: the person who doesn't need 1-3, but finds the options for playing content legally to be too cumbersome, or who can't find a legal player for their chosen viewing device. (Essentially, they've been "given enough trouble".) If Netflix were to drop all browser support, and release native apps for Windows and macOS, there would be an increase of that fourth kind of person (Linux users, mainly, though I wouldn't put it past Netflix to release a Linux client too), but that wouldn't change the situation for the 1-3 type people, who are the bulk of pirating community. I really think, for the vast majority of viewers, having a native Windows/MacOS app, plus native apps for Android/iOS, is plenty. Taking away browser support isn't going to increase piracy by any measurable amount.
- cstejerean 10y ago
  You missed be largest category for pirating: people who want to watch new releases before they are available on Netflix, but cannot afford $20 to see it in theaters, or $15-20 to buy it digitally before it becomes available on Netflix. The window before a movie is in theaters until it becomes available on Netflix can be huge, and many people don't want to wait that long. I usually prefer watching movies in theaters (I like the experience) and if I miss it in theaters I will gladly buy it through iTunes, and even then I usually have to wait 3+ months before a movie I missed in theaters is available for purchase. I don't pirate because I wouldn't even know where to start but I can say I've been tempted to look into it just so I can watch a movie today rather than 3 months from now (and I would gladly buy it even after pirating it).
- Kliment 10y ago
  4 is still a thing because of exclusives and regional restrictions meaning that you need a growing number of subscriptions to access a chosen subset of content, and it might not be available at all in your region

Karlozkiller 10y ago

> > People want to watch what they want to watch. > You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that content instead? Not to point any fingers, but I can confirm that this happens, a lot. But regardless of my personal views of DRM and its efficiency, kudos to Netflix for targeting Linux as a platform, even if they do it for their own pockets' sake.

kelnos 10y ago

> You keep using this phrase. Doesn't that also suggest that, if given enough trouble, they will just pirate that content instead? DRM has shown to do very little to stop that, so why continue pretending that it does. Yes, but, in general, trouble has been decreasing, and so has the need to pirate. I would argue that there are only three kinds of people who pirate anymore: 1. People who want a local copy of the content that can't be taken away (e.g. Netflix pulling a title, or just canceling one's Netflix account). 2. Content that is so long-tail that it's not available for streaming from one of the major players that have decent device/playback support. 3. People who are so far in the "openness"/ownership camp that they would refuse to buy into a service like Netflix unless they provided #1 (DRM-free, of course). The fourth kind of person is mostly gone: the person who doesn't need 1-3, but finds the options for playing content legally to be too cumbersome, or who can't find a legal player for their chosen viewing device. (Essentially, they've been "given enough trouble".) If Netflix were to drop all browser support, and release native apps for Windows and macOS, there would be an increase of that fourth kind of person (Linux users, mainly, though I wouldn't put it past Netflix to release a Linux client too), but that wouldn't change the situation for the 1-3 type people, who are the bulk of pirating community. I really think, for the vast majority of viewers, having a native Windows/MacOS app, plus native apps for Android/iOS, is plenty. Taking away browser support isn't going to increase piracy by any measurable amount.

cstejerean 10y ago
You missed be largest category for pirating: people who want to watch new releases before they are available on Netflix, but cannot afford $20 to see it in theaters, or $15-20 to buy it digitally before it becomes available on Netflix. The window before a movie is in theaters until it becomes available on Netflix can be huge, and many people don't want to wait that long. I usually prefer watching movies in theaters (I like the experience) and if I miss it in theaters I will gladly buy it through iTunes, and even then I usually have to wait 3+ months before a movie I missed in theaters is available for purchase. I don't pirate because I wouldn't even know where to start but I can say I've been tempted to look into it just so I can watch a movie today rather than 3 months from now (and I would gladly buy it even after pirating it).
Kliment 10y ago
4 is still a thing because of exclusives and regional restrictions meaning that you need a growing number of subscriptions to access a chosen subset of content, and it might not be available at all in your region