Netflix stream-quality controversy: Difference between revisions

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 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.
-Currently, Netflix offers 1080p video resolution on every plan on their [https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Plans and Pricing] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) for a subscription. Consumers who watch Netflix on web browsers will be paying for 1080p resolution while only receiving 720p resolution maximum due to DRM. The TOS allows Netflix to claim the user's device is faulty or the user's internet speed is slow to justify this behavior.[[File:Netflix signup page- choose plan bottom of page.png|alt=Netflix signup page: plan choice, bottom of page.|thumb|Netflix signup page: plan choice, bottom of page.]]
+Currently, Netflix offers 1080p video resolution on every plan on their [https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Plans and Pricing] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260126070652/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260216211333/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/24926 Archived]) for a subscription. Consumers who watch Netflix on web browsers will be paying for 1080p resolution while only receiving 720p resolution maximum due to DRM. The TOS allows Netflix to claim the user's device is faulty or the user's internet speed is slow to justify this behavior.[[File:Netflix signup page- choose plan bottom of page.png|alt=Netflix signup page: plan choice, bottom of page.|thumb|Netflix signup page: plan choice, bottom of page.]]
 [[File:Netflix terms of service covering streaming quality.png|alt=Netflix terms of service covering streaming quality|thumb|Netflix terms of service covering streaming quality]]