VPN

Thursday February 11, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Thursday February 11, 2016 Netflix border crackdown cuts off some customers, but unblocking services fight back Yes, the Netflix crackdown on cross-border watching is real. Customers worldwide have grown accustomed to sneaking over virtual walls to stream shows and movies restricted to other countries. Now, Netflix is stopping some virtual travellers at the border, finally enforcing its age-old policy that says viewers aren't allowed to access Netflix in other regions. Meanwhile, unblocking companies that help virtual travellers defy the rules are fighting back. And some are already declaring victory in the battle to keep Netflix's borders wide open. Numerous customers with the unblocking company Unblock-Us started reporting technical problems soon after Netflix announced its crackdown on Jan. 14. For a fee, unblocking services do the technical legwork to help customers hide their location so they can hop borders. For example, the service would help a Netflix Canada customer watch Sons of Anarchy on Netflix U.S. The Canadian version doesn't carry the show. "Help," wrote one border hopping customer on the Unblock-Us tech support site on Jan. 27, explaining that he lives in Toronto and can no longer stream content on Netflix UK. Another customer posted, "I live in Norway and am currently using your service to watch American Netflix, but now it doesn't work anymore." "Netflix blocked in Australia," reported someone else. Barbados-based Unblock-Us did not respond to CBC News's request for comment. But a post on its site updated on Feb. 3 declared, "We have a solution." It said blocked customers need to contact the support team, which would "have some simple steps for you to follow" to resume service. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/netflix-crackdown-1.3440348 Netflix, cable, television, entertainment, CRTC, consumers, fish, VPN, Internet

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 11, 2016

Netflix border crackdown cuts off some customers, but unblocking services fight back

Yes, the Netflix crackdown on cross-border watching is real.

Customers worldwide have grown accustomed to sneaking over virtual walls to stream shows and movies restricted to other countries.

Friday March 20, 2015Now, Netflix is stopping some virtual travellers at the border, finally enforcing its age-old policy that says viewers aren’t allowed to access Netflix in other regions.

Meanwhile, unblocking companies that help virtual travellers defy the rules are fighting back. And some are already declaring victory in the battle to keep Netflix’s borders wide open.

Numerous customers with the unblocking company Unblock-Us started reporting technical problems soon after Netflix announced its crackdown on Jan. 14.

For a fee, unblocking services do the technical legwork to help customers hide their location so they can hop borders.

Wednesday September 24, 2014For example, the service would help a Netflix Canada customer watch Sons of Anarchy on Netflix U.S. The Canadian version doesn’t carry the show.

“Help,” wrote one border hopping customer on the Unblock-Us tech support site on Jan. 27, explaining that he lives in Toronto and can no longer stream content on Netflix UK.

Another customer posted, “I live in Norway and am currently using your service to watch American Netflix, but now it doesn’t work anymore.”

“Netflix blocked in Australia,” reported someone else.

Barbados-based Unblock-Us did not respond to CBC News’s request for comment. But a post on its site updated on Feb. 3 declared, “We have a solution.”

It said blocked customers need to contact the support team, which would “have some simple steps for you to follow” to resume service. (Source: CBC News)

 

Friday June 5, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday June 5, 2015 Canadians are ÔstealingÕ U.S. Netflix content: Bell Bell Media's new president has a message for Canadians who hide behind virtual private networks to access video streaming services intended for U.S. subscribers, calling the practice "stealing just like stealing anything else." "It takes behavioral change and it is the people Ñ friend to friend, parent to child, coworker to coworker Ñ that set the cultural framework for acceptable and unacceptable behaviour," Mary Ann Turcke said Wednesday in her first major speech since assuming the post in April. "It has to become socially unacceptable to admit that you are VPNing into U.S. Netflix Ñ like throwing garbage out your car window Ð you just don't do it." Turcke, formerly Bell's group president of media sales for local TV and radio, cited her 15-year-old daughter's discovery of the additional movie and TV content of U.S. Netflix versus the Canadian version while on a ski vacation stateside. The teenager was able to log onto the U.S. Web streaming service when back home using a U.S.-based VPN to mask her address. While residing in something of a legal grey zone according to experts, VPNing runs contrary to the California-based giant's terms of use and Netflix has threatened a crackdown. "She was told she was stealing." Turcke said. "Suffice to say there is no more VPNing." With an estimated one third of Netflix Canada customers accessing content meant for U.S. subscribers, she said "we need to personalize the fact that content is produced by real people, and that stealing it affects their livelihoods." Broadcasters including Bell Media's CTV English-language network need the support of government and the federal regulator, she said, noting that the latter plans a summit in the fall to contemplate "illegal discoverability." In the end, she said, "I believe it is on us." Not only does society not scold anyone for stealing content,

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 5, 2015

Canadians are ‘stealing’ U.S. Netflix content: Bell

Bell Media’s new president has a message for Canadians who hide behind virtual private networks to access video streaming services intended for U.S. subscribers, calling the practice “stealing just like stealing anything else.”

Wednesday September 24, 2014“It takes behavioral change and it is the people — friend to friend, parent to child, coworker to coworker — that set the cultural framework for acceptable and unacceptable behaviour,” Mary Ann Turcke said Wednesday in her first major speech since assuming the post in April.

“It has to become socially unacceptable to admit that you are VPNing into U.S. Netflix — like throwing garbage out your car window – you just don’t do it.”

Turcke, formerly Bell’s group president of media sales for local TV and radio, cited her 15-year-old daughter’s discovery of the additional movie and TV content of U.S. Netflix versus the Canadian version while on a ski vacation stateside.

The teenager was able to log onto the U.S. Web streaming service when back home using a U.S.-based VPN to mask her address.

Friday March 20, 2015While residing in something of a legal grey zone according to experts, VPNing runs contrary to the California-based giant’s terms of use and Netflix has threatened a crackdown.

“She was told she was stealing.” Turcke said. “Suffice to say there is no more VPNing.”

With an estimated one third of Netflix Canada customers accessing content meant for U.S. subscribers, she said “we need to personalize the fact that content is produced by real people, and that stealing it affects their livelihoods.”

Broadcasters including Bell Media’s CTV English-language network need the support of government and the federal regulator, she said, noting that the latter plans a summit in the fall to contemplate “illegal discoverability.” In the end, she said, “I believe it is on us.”

Not only does society not scold anyone for stealing content, Turcke added, but we feature “how to” articles in our national newspapers — educating the masses on how to get around copyright law. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)