People using Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney Plus are being issued a stark warning.
It has been ruled that password sharing is illegal, which means millions of people may be breaking the law. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO), which has published the new guidance in conjunction with the Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, has issued the ruling.
The IPO said: "Piracy is a major issue for the entertainment and creative industries. Pasting internet images into your social media without permission, or accessing films, TV series or live sports events through Kodi boxes, hacked Fire Sticks or apps without paying a subscription is an infringement of copyright and you may be committing a crime."
It warned anybody “accessing … without paying a subscription” is breaking the law, reports Birmingham Live. It is a criminal and civil offence, IPO said, and warned anybody breaking the rules could theoretically face prosecution over doing so.
“There are a range of provisions in criminal and civil law which may be applicable in the case of password sharing where the intent is to allow a user to access copyright-protected works without payment,” an IPO spokesperson said.
“These provisions may include breach of contractual terms, fraud or secondary copyright infringement, depending on the circumstances. Where these provisions are provided in civil law, it would be up to the service provider to take action through the courts if required.”
Chengyi Long, Netflix’s director of product innovation, said Netflix has “always made it easy for people who live together to share their Netflix account”, allowing people to create separate profiles on a single subscription. But, “accounts are being shared between households – impacting our ability to invest in great new TV and films for our members,” Long added.
“Media companies have had a fabulous distribution system for decades,” Tom Rutledge, chief executive of Charter Communication, a major US cable company, told CNBC in 2020. He warned: “It’s just too easy to get the product without paying for it.”
Read Next:
Rishi Sunak plans law change to have Netflix regulated by Ofcom amid Harry and Meghan row
Love Island, Matt Hancock and Richard Madeley in list of most complained about TV moments in 2022
First look at The Masked Singer 2023 mystery stars in costume as clues teased
Who won The Traitors? Faithfuls win BBC show after late drama in final
