Netflix Is Cracking Down On VPN 'Pirating'

[oldguyzer]

It's one of the internet's open secrets that if you don't live in the US, but wish you did because of the better Netflix offerings, you can use any number of Chrome extensions or VPNs to get around the geo-blocker. However, it looks like the free ride might be coming to an end, as Netflix is starting to crack down on the practice.


As TorrentFreak has noted, Netflix has recently taken up blocking some services that get around geo-blockers. They're targeting VPNs, which tunnel traffic through a particular service, and DNS-spoofing websites, which simply serve to change your virtual location. Blocking isn't widespread for now — Hola Better Internet, a hugely popular Chrome extension, is still functioning — but as TorrentFreak points out, this could easily be a test of a more blanket block that is yet to be introduced.


Blocking geo-pirates is a logical step for the content providers, who have thus far concentrated more on streaming and torrenting websites in their crusade against the internet. But since geo-piracy is easy to detect, and legally and technically relatively simple to take measures against, it was really only a matter of time. [TorrentFreak]

 

[Guido]

I'm sure somebody will come up with a better way to defeat the mouse trap.

 

[Guido]

Why not just offer the same content regardless of location? I have never felt that using a VPN to appear in another location to watch content unavailable to you, was pirating. Especially if you are paying for the service. I have used a VPN to watch the BBC's Sherlock episodes streaming on their website, I truly don't consider that the same as pirating.

Is streaming pirating?? Downloading is considered pirating but I don't believe streaming is or am I wrong?

 

[papasmerf]

Is streaming pirating?? Downloading is considered pirating but I don't believe streaming is or am I wrong?

With NetFlix and Hulu you pay a fee for the right.

 

[papasmerf]

But are paying subscribers from Canada and the US offered different content?

I believe there is a difference and that may have something to do with copyright and rebroadcast laws in Canada as well as agreements with the copyright holders.

 

[Boing]

I don't believe watching any stream in Canada is illegal, it's only the downloading.

 

[oldguyzer]

Why not just offer the same content regardless of location? I have never felt that using a VPN to appear in another location to watch content unavailable to you, was pirating. Especially if you are paying for the service. I have used a VPN to watch the BBC's Sherlock episodes streaming on their website, I truly don't consider that the same as pirating.

Licensing is the issue. Netflix can cut deals for some shows to be shown only in the US. Canadian broadcast rights are negotiated differently, depending on the copyright owner, and may not be available.

 

[oldguyzer]

Is streaming pirating?? Downloading is considered pirating but I don't believe streaming is or am I wrong?

Streaming from a subscription site is not pirating, no. You are paying a fee to be able to stream the content. Bitorrent and similar is pirating because you are obtaining copyright material without paying for it.

It is illegal to stream something and charge others to watch it, or to download the stream and give it away.

 

[papasmerf]

I don't believe watching any stream in Canada is illegal, it's only the downloading.

The question then becomes is the content released for streaming in Canada or a limited release.

I know some Youtube is regional streaming

 

[Chunky]

OG is correct, streaming is only illegal if being used commercially but if you're watching any stream for personal use and not downloading it, there is no Canadian law against this.

 

[unretired]

They can try, but as I type this, I have a stand comedy special on US netflix running....heh heh:biggrin2:

 

[Cardinal Fang]

OH FOR FARK'S SAKE!

Just give me the farking programing I want I will gladly pay for it. The fact that I have to use a VPN is an indictment of the stupid Canadian system and CANCON.

 

[Madman]

If they make it illegal to stream porn I'm leaving.

 

[peace]

If they make it illegal to stream porn I'm leaving.

 

[Madman]

Come by for some apple pie and coffee and we can talk there.

 

[peace]

Magic word?

 

[lovelatinas]

Shomi is better than Canadian Netflix. But US netflix is still highly desirable than Shomi when it comes latest movie releases.

 

[bobistheowl]

In the UK, they cracked down on torrenting sites the past few years, all because of Rupert Murdoch, who is the majority owner of Sky Broadcasting

Sky has exclusive broadcasting right to all Cricket and most Formula One, and is a subscriber channel; I don't know the cost. Formerly, F1 was on the public BBC network.

In the UK, people have to buy a license to watch broadcast TV. Most of that money goes to funding the BBC programs. A lot of people can afford Internet or a TV license, but not both. A long running private site called thebox.bz folded in 2013, because of pressure from the police, at the behest of Sky. The site name was changed to Zxcv.fm, and some former members of thebox were invited to Zxcv, but others were not. Zxcv went tits up on August 1, 2014, with running torrents still active for about a week, (someone had to start the download by about August 3, or they had to have downloaded the file, by that date.

I got tons of great UK video on that site. My favorites were the Formula One races from the 'red button' channel, that had no commentary, and were entirely from onboard cameras. The viewer could produce his own broadcast, following whatever driver he wanted, at any time. It was like live video games.

They had a group of people who handled the video captures. They migrated to an obscure blog site in Sweden, that was also shut down quickly, before I had a chance to pick up anything.

I don't expect there to be much activity against the sites that have US network shows available, usually in .mp4 video now, but some still in Xvid. Most shows are available for download about half an hour after the broadcast ends. Personally, I'd rather have the hard copy on disk, than subscribe to Netflix. The cost of buying an external drive and filling it is probably less than the Netflix subscription, for the same duration. The older shows aired on Netflix can be had on private torrent sites, often captured from Netflix with a TIVO plugged into the capper's hard drive. The only editing time involved is removing the commercial blocks.

For US shows, they're mainly concerned with DVD or Blue Ray compressions from DVD releases, not 'over air' broadcasts, with a station logo. It's business as usual, for the TV torrent sites. If they get shut down, they just move to a domain from a country that doesn't care about International copyright law, like Turkey, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, or Vanuatu.

I collect certain shows, and frequently binge watch them on my computer, with VLC Media player. It has all audio and video codecs installed, and even plays .flac and .shn uncompressed audio, from CD.

 

[oldguyzer]

So, Bobby, you have no issue stealing content? You keep talking about how many torrent sites you use to download. You do know that's illegal, right?

 

[papasmerf]

So, Bobby, you have no issue stealing content? You keep talking about how many torrent sites you use to download. You do know that's illegal, right?

what do a sick eagle have to do with anything?