Netflix is not available in all regions, and the regions that do have the service often have different content from country to country. For example while there are currently over 8,580 titles available on Netflix USA, the Canadian Netflix only has just over 4,350 titles available on its roster, a similar number to most regions outside the U.S. Understandably, users paying for Netflix who want to access the full scope of content offered by the website often turn to geo-blocking services like VPN and DSN providers from sites such as Unblock Us, to hide their region, and bypass these restrictions.

Lately, rumors have been circling around numerous websites that Netflix is taking preventative measures and increasing their efforts to combat subscribers using VPN and similar services. These rumors started due to numerous users reporting receiving error messages on their accounts. However a statement from Netflix puts these rumors to rest – at least for now.

A Netflix spokesperson said, “There have been no changes to our VPN policies”.

The practice of using VPN and other geoblocking services is NOT illegal, as Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said, “The Copyright Act does not make it illegal to use a VPN to access overseas content”. He continued, “While content providers often have in place international commercial arrangements to protect copyright in different countries or regions, which can result in ‘geoblocking’, circumventing this is not illegal under the Copyright Act”.

The only thing geoblocking services defy is Netflix’s Terms of Use Policy – which DOES enable them to restrict a user’s service if they are found in offense. Fortunately, as we mentioned, Netflix denies employing new preventative measures, and with each service that is blocked a new one appears. Fighting VPN/DNS users, who are not breaking the law and ARE paying for the service, seems to be a losing game for streaming services. After all, people are just trying to access the full service they are paying for – should they be punished?

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