Happy days for VPN and proxy users are over with Netflix now out to block their “pirating” activities. Some subscribers were abusing the service by bypassing restrictions from their locations via IP changing applications. Movie studios requested the blocking to gain absolute control over what subscribers ought to see depending on their locations. However, Netflix offers different content library to a number of countries because of difficult licensing requirements. The circumvention tools allow people from foreign places to access the U.S. Netflix version with some local entertainment industries calling them “VPN-pirates”.
Netflix started its action by targeting VPI IP-ranges and disabling DNS based unblockers for specific locations. These actions were taken last December which saw an increase in access problems for the pirates. And while the company is testing some of the known blocking methods, some “unblock” companies are threatening to provide workarounds or solutions to bypass or re-enable the unblock.
Content providers such as Sony Pictures had forged an agreement with Netflix last year regarding identity verification of the latter’s subscribers suggesting that the blocking efforts are nothing new. Netflix is nevertheless taking an aggressive stand when it comes to blocking tools and is expected to roll out more of it in the coming months despite the effect on legitimate VPN users.
(Via)