Netflix stream-quality controversy: Difference between revisions

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= Netflix =

Netflix places limits on your ability to receive a 4k stream and does not disclose all conditions under which these limits apply. Netflix defaults users to the 4K premium plan when signing up new users, while obfuscating the fact that they place willful, purposeful limitations on your ability to receive a 4K stream. This would not be an issue if Netflix provided this information upfront, but they do not. This is even worse than the EULA roofie<ref>[[EULA roofie]]</ref> , as all prerequisites to receive a 4k stream are not even listed in the terms of use<ref>https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse</ref>, terms & conditions<ref>https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions

</ref>, or help page<ref>https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444?utm_source=chatgpt.com</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: "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." One of the factors not listed is the use of [https://developers.google.com/widevine/drm/overview Widevine], a Digital Rights Management (DRM) software which is embedded into most web browsers such as Chrome, Chromium, Electron (CEF), Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, etc. A DRM protects media hosted on Netflix from being screen-captured, with one of the methods using "SECURE_DECODE", which uses Widevine to decode each frame displayed. This method demands more bandwidth, with Netflix appeasing the disparity by decreasing the quality to 720p on web browsers.

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1. They only disclose that there is a limitation on the bottom of the signup page.

2. The URL on the bottom of the signup page links to a terms of use page that provides no tangible information on what is necessary to obtain a 4k stream.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250111144808/https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse</ref>

3. The help page on how to receive a 4k stream is not linked on either the signup page, or the terms of use.<ref>https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444?utm_source=chatgpt.com</ref>

4. The help page on how to receive a 4k stream excludes many of the prerequisites necessary to receive a 4k stream.

Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they knew that they had to jump through these hoops to receive a 4K stream.

* Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they knew that they had to jump through these hoops to receive a 4K stream.

* Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they realized that netflix does not even provide you with the information on what qualifies & disqualifies you from receiving a 4K stream.

Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they realized that netflix does not even provide you with the information on what qualifies & disqualifies you from receiving a 4K stream.

* Netflix does not make this information prominently available to the customer, and uses language that implies your internet connection or hardware is the problem, in spite of the fact that your hardware & internet connection may be perfectly adequate for 4K playback of a high bitrate, 4k HEVC stream.

Netflix does not make this information prominently available to the customer, and uses language that implies your internet connection or hardware is the problem, in spite of the fact that your hardware & internet connection may be perfectly adequate for 4K playback of a high bitrate, 4k HEVC stream.

== Key Issues ==

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 = Netflix =
+Netflix places limits on your ability to receive a 4k stream and does not disclose all conditions under which these limits apply. Netflix defaults users to the 4K premium plan when signing up new users, while obfuscating the fact that they place willful, purposeful limitations on your ability to receive a 4K stream. This would not be an issue if Netflix provided this information upfront, but they do not. This is even worse than the EULA roofie<ref>[[EULA roofie]]</ref> , as all prerequisites to receive a 4k stream are not even listed in the terms of use<ref>https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse</ref>, terms & conditions<ref>https://www.netflix.shop/pages/terms-conditions
+</ref>, or help page<ref>https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444?utm_source=chatgpt.com</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: "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." One of the factors not listed is the use of [https://developers.google.com/widevine/drm/overview Widevine], a Digital Rights Management (DRM) software which is embedded into most web browsers such as Chrome, Chromium, Electron (CEF), Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, etc. A DRM protects media hosted on Netflix from being screen-captured, with one of the methods using "SECURE_DECODE", which uses Widevine to decode each frame displayed. This method demands more bandwidth, with Netflix appeasing the disparity by decreasing the quality to 720p on web browsers.
@@ Line 62: / Line 66: @@
 . They only disclose that there is a limitation on the bottom of the signup page.
 . The URL on the bottom of the signup page links to a terms of use page that provides no tangible information on what is necessary to obtain a 4k stream.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250111144808/https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse</ref>
 . The help page on how to receive a 4k stream is not linked on either the signup page, or the terms of use.<ref>https://help.netflix.com/en/node/13444?utm_source=chatgpt.com</ref>
 . The help page on how to receive a 4k stream excludes many of the prerequisites necessary to receive a 4k stream.
-Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they knew that they had to jump through these hoops to receive a 4K stream.
+* Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they knew that they had to jump through these hoops to receive a 4K stream.
+* Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they realized that netflix does not even provide you with the information on what qualifies & disqualifies you from receiving a 4K stream.
-Many users may have opted out of paying extra for the 4K plan if they realized that netflix does not even provide you with the information on what qualifies & disqualifies you from receiving a 4K stream.
+* Netflix does not make this information prominently available to the customer, and uses language that implies your internet connection or hardware is the problem, in spite of the fact that your hardware & internet connection may be perfectly adequate for 4K playback of a high bitrate, 4k HEVC stream.
-Netflix does not make this information prominently available to the customer, and uses language that implies your internet connection or hardware is the problem, in spite of the fact that your hardware & internet connection may be perfectly adequate for 4K playback of a high bitrate, 4k HEVC stream.
 == Key Issues ==