Netflix stream-quality controversy: Difference between revisions
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<!-- A number of statements here currently made in the voice of the wiki should really be sourced, maybe referencing Louis' video? Using phrases like 'consumer rights activists believe this amounts to...' that kind of thing, while citing to Louis' video or any other reasonable sources --> | <!-- A number of statements here currently made in the voice of the wiki should really be sourced, maybe referencing Louis' video? Using phrases like 'consumer rights activists believe this amounts to...' that kind of thing, while citing to Louis' video or any other reasonable sources --> | ||
Netflix imposes restrictions on accessing 4K streaming without fully disclosing the conditions under which these restrictions apply; all prerequisites for receiving a 4K stream are not listed in the terms of use,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author=[[Netflix]] |title=Netflix Terms of Use |website=Netflix Help Center |url=https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse |date=2024-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125032601/https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse |archive-date=2024-01-25 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> terms & conditions,<ref>{{Cite web |author=[[Netflix]] |title=Netflix Shop – Terms & Conditions |website=Netflix Shop |url=https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions |date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128223343/https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions |archive-date=2023-11-28 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> or help page.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=How to get the best video quality |url=https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444 |author=[[Netflix]] |website=Netlix Help Center |date=n.d. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114000324/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref> When new users sign up, Netflix defaults them to the 4K premium plan, without clearly informing them of the intentional limitations on accessing 4K content.<ref>[[:File:Netflix signup page- choose plan bottom of page.png]]</ref> | Netflix imposes restrictions on accessing 4K streaming without fully disclosing the conditions under which these restrictions apply; all prerequisites for receiving a 4K stream are not listed in the terms of use,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author=[[Netflix]] |title=Netflix Terms of Use |website=Netflix Help Center |url=https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse |date=2024-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125032601/https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse |archive-date=2024-01-25 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> terms & conditions,<ref>{{Cite web |author=[[Netflix]] |title=Netflix Shop – Terms & Conditions |website=Netflix Shop |url=https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions |date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128223343/https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions |archive-date=2023-11-28 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> or help page.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=How to get the best video quality |url=https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444 |author=[[Netflix]] |website=Netlix Help Center |date=n.d. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260114000324/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444/ |archive-date=14 Jan 2026}}</ref> When new users sign up, Netflix defaults them to the 4K premium plan, without clearly informing them of the intentional limitations on accessing 4K content.<ref>[[:File:Netflix signup page- choose plan bottom of page.png]] (Internet Archive Screenshot)</ref> | ||
Netflix, in their [https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse Terms of Service] (TOS), lists reasons why the quality of its content may vary from different devices, as stated in clause 4.7:<blockquote>The quality of the display of the Netflix content may vary from device to device, and may be affected by a variety of factors, such as your location, the bandwidth available through and/or speed of your Internet connection.</blockquote>One of the factors not listed is the use of [https://developers.google.com/widevine/drm/overview Widevine], a [[DRM|Digital Rights Management]] (DRM) software which is embedded into most web browsers such as Chrome, Chromium, Electron (CEF), Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, etc. DRM technology prevents screen capture of media hosted on Netflix. One method, such as 'SECURE_DECODE,' utilizes Widevine to decode each displayed frame. However, this process consumes more bandwidth. To compensate, Netflix lowers the streaming resolution to 720p in web browsers. | Netflix, in their [https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse Terms of Service] (TOS), lists reasons why the quality of its content may vary from different devices, as stated in clause 4.7:<blockquote>The quality of the display of the Netflix content may vary from device to device, and may be affected by a variety of factors, such as your location, the bandwidth available through and/or speed of your Internet connection.</blockquote>One of the factors not listed is the use of [https://developers.google.com/widevine/drm/overview Widevine], a [[DRM|Digital Rights Management]] (DRM) software which is embedded into most web browsers such as Chrome, Chromium, Electron (CEF), Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, etc. DRM technology prevents screen capture of media hosted on Netflix. One method, such as 'SECURE_DECODE,' utilizes Widevine to decode each displayed frame. However, this process consumes more bandwidth. To compensate, Netflix lowers the streaming resolution to 720p in web browsers. | ||
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==Terms of Service analysis== | ==Terms of Service analysis== | ||
Currently, Netflix advertises 1080p video resolution on all plans listed in their [https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Plans and Pricing] section. However, consumers watching Netflix on web browsers pay for 1080p resolution but are limited to a maximum of 720p due to DRM restrictions.<ref>[[:File:Netflix terms of service covering streaming quality.png]]</ref><ref name=":3" /><!-- In my previous edit, i put a citation needed here, and this has been addressed by quoting from the TOS, however I should have been more clear about what the citation was needed for. The issue is that the statement that this allows Netflix "to claim the user's device faulty or the user's internet speed slow to justify this behavior" is effectively a legal opinion/interpretation regarding what the TOS allows for, and it is this *opinion/interpretation* which needs to come from a source, rather than being stated in the Wiki's voice. The Wiki, in factual articles, should quote the opinions of others, rather than having opinions of its own. --> | Currently, Netflix advertises 1080p video resolution on all plans listed in their [https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Plans and Pricing] section. However, consumers watching Netflix on web browsers pay for 1080p resolution but are limited to a maximum of 720p due to DRM restrictions.<ref>[[:File:Netflix terms of service covering streaming quality.png]] (Internet Archive Screenshot)</ref><ref name=":3" /><!-- In my previous edit, i put a citation needed here, and this has been addressed by quoting from the TOS, however I should have been more clear about what the citation was needed for. The issue is that the statement that this allows Netflix "to claim the user's device faulty or the user's internet speed slow to justify this behavior" is effectively a legal opinion/interpretation regarding what the TOS allows for, and it is this *opinion/interpretation* which needs to come from a source, rather than being stated in the Wiki's voice. The Wiki, in factual articles, should quote the opinions of others, rather than having opinions of its own. --> | ||
Netflix's Terms of Service (TOS) outlines important details regarding video-quality limitations in Section 4.7, which states: | Netflix's Terms of Service (TOS) outlines important details regarding video-quality limitations in Section 4.7, which states: | ||