Even with Netflix opening its service to 190 countries as of last week, it appears that the company must still take steps to protect the content it distributes from those who do not live in a supported region. For those who do not live in a territory where Netflix is offered, which used to be a very long list, some would use proxies and “unblockers” to trick Netflix’s servers into thinking the user was based somewhere else in the world, preferably one that allows for Netflix streaming.
In the coming weeks, Netflix states that it is cracking down on these users, and will evolve its proxy detection to make sure those users are unable to watch content.
While Netflix users who utilize the service through regular means should not notice any change in streaming, those who attempt to use proxies and unblockers will find that they cannot access the Netflix service. At this time, Netflix has not dove into complete technical specifics for what is changing to catch the proxy users, but rest assured, Netflix will, “continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location.”
Proxy users, you best watch out.
Comments
38 responses to “Netflix to Crack Down on Proxy and “Unblocker” Users in Non-Supported Regions”
This article takes a funny tone, as though proxy users are doing something wrong. People have very right to use a proxy. These content licenses Netflix is “enforcing” are not between content providers and users, they’re between content providers and Netflix. Netflix is enforcing them against people who are not parties to the agreements.
If Netflx wants to make attacking its own user base part of its business model, it has every right. But drop the pretense that proxy servers are some sort of moral issue. They aren’t.
MPAA/RIAA be like: Let’s refuse paid access to our content with one hand and attack freeloaders with the other.
Trying to crack down on this seems like a waste of time and money. There will almost always be an update or patch that will fix the problem as quickly as Netflix can plug a hole. Maybe they’re putting up some token resistance to pacify their partners.
I believe your last sentence hits the nails on the head.
Be better off offering a more pricier version that unlocks all regions, give people what they want and make money from it, is a better solution.
I’m sure it’s all about how much licensing cost per regions, so would have to charge more to cover the fees associated.
I assume that licensing cost alot! On top of that remember that in some countries the content will be exclusively licensed to other services (which sucks) and that studios and publishers will want to be paid for each country individually so they get more cash (im guessing). Geo-Restrictions suck… no doubt but unfortunately that’s kinda how the business is designed. More money for producers, less content for the people.
Gettting rid of geo-restrictions would attract a ton of costumers but i don’t see Netflix doing it
Plus the fact that they will be blocking users who HAVE subscriptions.
and all the proxy users will now switch to VPN services.
bout time anyway ;p
Why does netflix has those restrictions at the first place?
Because of distribution agreements with the studios that own the rights to the movies and TV shows.
I do this with my vpn to check out movies in canada… (they seem to have big name titles longer)
I’m in Canada and Netflix really sucks here.
man this really sucks. I have to use a latinamerican version to access spanish dub for my mom 🙁
I watched the last season of the show depicted by your avatar when my laptop traveled overseas each night. Ah, the memories.
Why is it so? I don’t understand the benefit to Netflix here. Isn’t it supposed to be beneficial to them? Because otherwise, would those people be able to subscribe? Sorry since I am clearly a noob in this case.
The benefit to Netflix is that they don’t get slammed with fees from the media distribution firms.
For a hypothetical: Netflix has an agreement with Sony to show movies A, B, and C in countries X, Y, and Z. If Sony catches wind of people outside those countries watching those movies, there would probably be, at best, an angry phone call to Netflix and, at worst, refusal to do business in the future.
Oh I see now… Thanks for explaining.
Sony has a 3rd option which is, you know, allowing global access but we all know that’s not gonna happen.
And I’d like a piece of that powerball jackpot but it ain’t gonna happen.
So, I can imagine all the backlash that Netflix will get for this. However, that frustration and backlash needs to be directed at the media distribution companies all over the world (MPAA, RIAA, etc). They are the reason media can’t be shared worldwide. Companies like Google, Netflix, Apple, etc all have to pay enormous fees to be able to share media.
For the people in those regions that Netflix cracks down on, let the torrenting begin…
Agreed. Distributors hate piracy but block access in many areas.
exactly
Makes sense for them to do it. If they want to keep making deals with studios then it means that they do this.
Agreed.. Direct anger at MPAA and RIAA
They are using the term VPN “Pirating” now, great, here comes lawsuits and bans
If this will help Netflix offer better content, other than the horrible selection they have now, I’m all for it.
Maybe Netflix should offer a streaming subscription at $18, doubling the monthly fee, that opens up all regional access
Would be cool but would piss all the studios there making regional deals with off, which is kinda why im assuming they are stopping the unlocked people. Unless they plan on improving content in all countries I can only see this pissing users off tho. In some places you can watch anything that really intrests you on the service in less then ur free month 🙁
Amen
Haven’t had any issues so far with switching my Netflix region using this guide https://goo.gl/9iQwbn
Time to cancel my VPN subscription.
Torrents. Keep it.
Not with those atrocious speeds, man!