Why do you have to change the Apple Store to US. I changed it back to UK and it seems to work fine still.
You don't, info you've read is pre-UK launch which they've not updated yet.
Only problem I am having is I can not get the UK version back now. When i go to Unblock US and select UK and go to NF on my Apple TV it says Netflix ix=s not available. However the Ireland version seems to bring up the same selection with my recently watched section.
I had the same issue on Wii and iPhone which they fixed.
Goto support and create a support ticket or email explaining your problem.
Recently watched list is normal.
Similar with US & Canada as when you've watched something on US and switch to Canada or visa versa you will see the same previous watched from US if it's available in their catalogue.
Finally can you change regions from any other device other than my pc. For instance is there a mobile app or can you go into the internet on my mobile and do it?
As the selection feature is still in Beta, Unblock-US are saying only via PC just to rule out any problems.
Saying that though it does work via mobile browser. Myself I've got the 'How to Setup' page on my iPhone home screen for easier access.
Thanks for the replies. i will do what you suggest to fix the UK problem. So far I can see what a huge selection this has opened up and agreat HD quality too. Miles better than Lovefilm who have offered me a free month to stay on their streaming service when i called to cancel. But it just doesnt seem as good although they do have some more recent films on there it doesnt remember the last point you got to on my Sony tv which is frustrating. Looking forward to sifting through and finding stuff on the various NF sites.
I have now had a good look around the US and Canada sites and yes I can see why the UK one looks silly in comparison. I cant believe all the tv boxsets on there. Literally thousands of episodes and full seasons of everything from The X Files to Cheers, Frasier etc. Everything except Friends but I imagine that will appear one day! I even found every episode of the original Upstairs Downstairs! Also all six series of new Doctor Who. This amazing to have all this on tap. Does anyone know how long stuff stays on there. Its all very well having access to all this but there are only so many hours in a day to watch things. I hope its not like Sky who remove episodes after a few weeks. So say for instance Prison Break which i have started watching from season 1. Will it stay on there indefinately or will it be removed at some point to make way for new shows. There is no available to date listed. Anyway where to start! I only looked on this forum last week to see what people were saying about NF uk. I had no idea about Unblock and changing regions. So im glad I came aboard and thanks for all the help!
So im glad I came aboard and thanks for all the help!
Welcome to the Unblock-Us world
To reply to your question, there was an API to know when a content was expiring but I saw somewhere they recently removed it.
Apparently, there is still a list on InstantWatcher http://instantwatcher.com/titles/expiring/1, this is for Netflix US only.
Most of the time, a new movie/tvshows/doc is available for at least a year.
JEFF62 I emailed Unblock-US support on your behalf and just recieved this reply.
Becky Wu replied:
Hello Mick,
Coincidentally there happened to be another minor issue with connecting to UK Netflix on all devices just in the last few hours. We were made aware of the situation and it has been resolved. All access is working now. Please try again. If you still have a problem let us know, but first restart your devices and ensure "check service" is done and you are connecting to our service first.
If you have an Apple TV and only want to watch Netflix US then you don't need to pay anyone anything. http://playmo.tv/setup/apple-tv/
Dont be so sure about that.
According to their site its currently in Beta which they will be dropping in the coming weeks and then it's $4.99 a month thereafter. Check out he link below Soon we will be dropping beta …
Is it legal? To be honest, not 100% legal. Websites like Hulu for example, use Geo Location, this website doesn't normally work outside the US cause the licenses they buy are only for US residents. Of course they all know that many people use VPN or service like Unblock to get access to their website.
For Netflix, it's a bit different. Let's say you have a Netflix UK subscription, you're taking your laptop with your for vacations in the US, when you'll be there, you will automatically have access to the US Netflix (no extra cost or anything). Netflix allows people to have access to the "local Netflix" if it's available. With Unblock-Us feature it's a bit different, Unblock lets Netflix think you are on vacation in the US/CA/Ireland/UK, but you're not really, so it's not fully legal and again, with all the VPN out there, they know how it works. Unblock-Us just simplifies the process.
Just to add to the above, with which I do not disagree, the relevant bits of Netfilx T&Cs seem to be the following:
2.4
As a condition of the limited license for the Software granted to you in this License Agreement, except as and only to the extent expressly permitted in this License Agreement or by applicable law which cannot be waived by this License Agreement, you may NOT:
... view any movies & TV shows provided by Netflix or its suppliers anywhere other than within the country or location authorized by Netflix ("Territory"); and
... instantly watch movies & TV shows outside of the Territory, and Netflix may use technologies to verify your compliance."
"Third Party Content/Third Party Software
3.1
Content. Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed by or accessed through the Software belongs to the respective content owner. Such content is protected by copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties, and is subject to terms of use of the third party providing such content..."
In practice, I think if you are caught, they will cancel your subscription but in theory and I assume in law, they and/or the content providers could sue you for copyright breach, but I am not a lawyer and I haven't read of such a case happening nor do I expect it to happen, unless this becomes a major problem and the big film and TV companies then decide to kick up a fuss. At the moment, they have much bigger fish to fry (Torrenting).
^^ breaking those license agreements above are not the same as breaking copyright laws. The key to Copyright is the word "copy" and is a serious issue with any form of media. What protects a person or company that "creates content" is copyright. Whether that is an artist, author, photographer etc. If I write a book, I don't want someone else copying my story and then selling it on, or selling it and making money without any of that coming to me.
However, watching a film outside a region which the broadcaster wishes does not infringe on any copyright. The viewer has not copied anything, nor is selling it on.
For many broadcasts, Free to Air television for example, there is not even any license agreement between the broadcaster and viewer.
In the cases above when there are, then still no law is broken. Afterall, Netflix are in no position what so ever to actually make laws. All that is happening is that the viewer is violating a agreement on how that viewer can view the broadcasters content. The most that could possibly happen here, is that the broadcaster can cancel the subscription of the viewer under terms of breaking the agreement.
We must keep in mind that laws are made in government.
Here is an example: Anyone who replies to my comment, do so under the agreement that I am always correct. If they violate this agreement and state that I am wrong, I retain the right to demand 1million euro's from the said person or corporation responsible.
Now, what I wrote above is not binding by law. Just because I wrote it, it doesn't mean I have the power to take someone to court and win that money. However, if I were a company with subscribers, I can put in certain clauses that could break certain agreements with subscribers. If the subscriber feels this is unfair, they could take my company to court where it would be tested. Something as stupid as my clause above would no doubt loose in court, but a court may side with a company regarding a person violating a geo-block clause, and allow the company to end subscriptions with that person.
But that is all. The court can not send that person to jail or fine that person because no law was actually broken.
And I would add that they all know (Netflix and co) that some people outside the US are using their service, they earn money on something that they're not supposed to allow. Money is their priority.
^^ breaking those license agreements above are not the same as breaking copyright laws. The key to Copyright is the word "copy"
Copy is only part of it. Copyright law also gives the rights owner the right to decide how and by whom their content may be viewed. That will have been the subject of content provider licensing agreements with Netflix, and their obligations are set out in the End User License Agreement agreement with the subscriber.
So, if copyright owners think the agreements are being breached, they can put pressure on Netflix to act under the terms of their End User agreement - for misuse of their software for starters (which is covered in the EULA).
But what's usually done in the cases we are discussing is nothing - and even if action against the end user is taken, cancellation of their subscription is the only likely result - because it's not seen as a major problem. It would only be a civil offence anyway so we aren't talking prison here, not even theoretically.
However, breach of Netflix and/or content providers' copyright (the right to decide by whom and how the software/content is used/viewed) does occur when you view the content in Netflix software out of the area you are in. But it's not a big deal. Well not at the moment, anyway.
I certainly agree with the second part, but the first is an interesting one though I disagree. As a content provider myself (professional photographer) and therefore one where my entire livelihood is protected by copyright, I have absolutely no control legally over who or where my photos may be viewed.
I can control the commercial side of distribution. So if for instance, I don't want one of my photos viewed in the U.S. All I can do is stipulate no commercial use of my photo may take place in the U.S. Anyone in the U.S. can however view my photo. If a commercial company sells my photo to the U.S. when I have a written agreement that this must not happen, that is copyright infringement.
In the reference to television. The owner of the video footage can stipulate that the video must not be broadcasted outside the U.S. for instance. The broadcaster is then enforced by contract to not broadcast this work outside of the agreed territory (as seen by Geo-blocking) However, if a subscriber views that video outside of the territory, that is not infringing on the copyright. That subscriber has not signed any agreement with the owner on usage of the copyright, this was only done between the broadcaster and the content provider.
The viewer is only asked to oblige by certain rules and conditions. If the viewer breaks these rules, he or she is simply violated the rules but not breaking copyright.
Where do you find that then? Will that be on Unblock US at some point?
I guess so, unblock-us are not the only people doing this, and in fact with this particular feature (choosing the area etc) they're still playing catchup with people who have had this for about 6 months (including Overplay who've had Latin America and South America, which both have different content, for ages now).
Not too sure on the legalities, but ultimately the content providers are being paid, and netflix are being paid, which i'd imagine was their priority!
I certainly agree with the second part, but the first is an interesting one though I disagree. As a content provider myself (professional photographer) and therefore one where my entire livelihood is protected by copyright, I have absolutely no control legally over who or where my photos may be viewed.
I can control the commercial side of distribution. So if for instance, I don't want one of my photos viewed in the U.S. All I can do is stipulate no commercial use of my photo may take place in the U.S. Anyone in the U.S. can however view my photo. If a commercial company sells my photo to the U.S. when I have a written agreement that this must not happen, that is copyright infringement.
In the reference to television. The owner of the video footage can stipulate that the video must not be broadcasted outside the U.S. for instance. The broadcaster is then enforced by contract to not broadcast this work outside of the agreed territory (as seen by Geo-blocking) However, if a subscriber views that video outside of the territory, that is not infringing on the copyright. That subscriber has not signed any agreement with the owner on usage of the copyright, this was only done between the broadcaster and the content provider.
The viewer is only asked to oblige by certain rules and conditions. If the viewer breaks these rules, he or she is simply violated the rules but not breaking copyright.
I'm not 100% certain on the copyright of content as such so you could well be right, but Netfix can still get you on misuse of their software, can they not? That, too, is protected by copyright, and the licensing agreement that users must enter into makes clear that the viewing of content intended to be seen out of the area you are in, via their software, is not permitted.
But as I think we agree, in practice their only sanction available is to cancel your membership. A test case for further financial penalties would be interesting but it won't happen because it just wouldn't be cost effective - and would give them a bad name they cannot at present afford to risk.
I suspect that Netflix are perfectly happy for members to view all of 'their' content anywhere - so unless content providers squeeze them, I don't think they will even cancel memberships of 'offenders' they may become aware of.
However, watching a film outside a region which the broadcaster wishes does not infringe on any copyright. The viewer has not copied anything, nor is selling it on.
The viewer has copied something - Under British (which is to say English & Welsh or Scottish) law the act of viewing an online stream creates a “copy” by virtue of it being written to computer memory as part of the process of viewing it. There is substantial court precedent to this effect (for example, an entirely unrelated offense that uses the same principle is that people who view child pornography in the UK are, without fail, charged with “creating” it, as they have “created” a copy by virtue of their computer memory taking it to display on screen). If buffers should be included in that is also going to the European Court this year, in direct response to a copyright case.
Therefore you must have at least an implied licence from the copyright owner or their appointed agent to view such material without infringing copyright. Given the terms of the service explicitly say that you cannot, that does not apply.
You are as open to civil damages through faking an IP address to gain illicit access to content as you are from downloading it from a filelocker under UK law. And you’ve given the rightsholder your name and address, and reasonable proof it was you using your account.
Comments
Thanks for the replies. i will do what you suggest to fix the UK problem. So far I can see what a huge selection this has opened up and agreat HD quality too. Miles better than Lovefilm who have offered me a free month to stay on their streaming service when i called to cancel. But it just doesnt seem as good although they do have some more recent films on there it doesnt remember the last point you got to on my Sony tv which is frustrating. Looking forward to sifting through and finding stuff on the various NF sites.
Welcome to the Unblock-Us world
To reply to your question, there was an API to know when a content was expiring but I saw somewhere they recently removed it.
Apparently, there is still a list on InstantWatcher http://instantwatcher.com/titles/expiring/1, this is for Netflix US only.
Most of the time, a new movie/tvshows/doc is available for at least a year.
-Eban
Thanks. Yes I got the same E mail back from Becky Wu! All working fine now!
Dont be so sure about that.
According to their site its currently in Beta which they will be dropping in the coming weeks and then it's $4.99 a month thereafter. Check out he link below
Soon we will be dropping beta …
Thanks for the heads up on this, been waiting to watch this:D
Where do you find that then? Will that be on Unblock US at some point?
At this time, you can't have access to Netflix Latin America with Unblock-Us, they said they were working on it.
-Eban
Just to add to the above, with which I do not disagree, the relevant bits of Netfilx T&Cs seem to be the following:
https://signup.netflix.com/EULA
2.4
As a condition of the limited license for the Software granted to you in this License Agreement, except as and only to the extent expressly permitted in this License Agreement or by applicable law which cannot be waived by this License Agreement, you may NOT:
... view any movies & TV shows provided by Netflix or its suppliers anywhere other than within the country or location authorized by Netflix ("Territory"); and
... instantly watch movies & TV shows outside of the Territory, and Netflix may use technologies to verify your compliance."
"Third Party Content/Third Party Software
3.1
Content. Title and intellectual property rights in and to any content displayed by or accessed through the Software belongs to the respective content owner. Such content is protected by copyright or other intellectual property laws and treaties, and is subject to terms of use of the third party providing such content..."
In practice, I think if you are caught, they will cancel your subscription but in theory and I assume in law, they and/or the content providers could sue you for copyright breach, but I am not a lawyer and I haven't read of such a case happening nor do I expect it to happen, unless this becomes a major problem and the big film and TV companies then decide to kick up a fuss. At the moment, they have much bigger fish to fry (Torrenting).
However, watching a film outside a region which the broadcaster wishes does not infringe on any copyright. The viewer has not copied anything, nor is selling it on.
For many broadcasts, Free to Air television for example, there is not even any license agreement between the broadcaster and viewer.
In the cases above when there are, then still no law is broken. Afterall, Netflix are in no position what so ever to actually make laws. All that is happening is that the viewer is violating a agreement on how that viewer can view the broadcasters content. The most that could possibly happen here, is that the broadcaster can cancel the subscription of the viewer under terms of breaking the agreement.
We must keep in mind that laws are made in government.
Here is an example: Anyone who replies to my comment, do so under the agreement that I am always correct. If they violate this agreement and state that I am wrong, I retain the right to demand 1million euro's from the said person or corporation responsible.
Now, what I wrote above is not binding by law. Just because I wrote it, it doesn't mean I have the power to take someone to court and win that money. However, if I were a company with subscribers, I can put in certain clauses that could break certain agreements with subscribers. If the subscriber feels this is unfair, they could take my company to court where it would be tested. Something as stupid as my clause above would no doubt loose in court, but a court may side with a company regarding a person violating a geo-block clause, and allow the company to end subscriptions with that person.
But that is all. The court can not send that person to jail or fine that person because no law was actually broken.
Copy is only part of it. Copyright law also gives the rights owner the right to decide how and by whom their content may be viewed. That will have been the subject of content provider licensing agreements with Netflix, and their obligations are set out in the End User License Agreement agreement with the subscriber.
So, if copyright owners think the agreements are being breached, they can put pressure on Netflix to act under the terms of their End User agreement - for misuse of their software for starters (which is covered in the EULA).
But what's usually done in the cases we are discussing is nothing - and even if action against the end user is taken, cancellation of their subscription is the only likely result - because it's not seen as a major problem. It would only be a civil offence anyway so we aren't talking prison here, not even theoretically.
However, breach of Netflix and/or content providers' copyright (the right to decide by whom and how the software/content is used/viewed) does occur when you view the content in Netflix software out of the area you are in. But it's not a big deal. Well not at the moment, anyway.
I can control the commercial side of distribution. So if for instance, I don't want one of my photos viewed in the U.S. All I can do is stipulate no commercial use of my photo may take place in the U.S. Anyone in the U.S. can however view my photo. If a commercial company sells my photo to the U.S. when I have a written agreement that this must not happen, that is copyright infringement.
In the reference to television. The owner of the video footage can stipulate that the video must not be broadcasted outside the U.S. for instance. The broadcaster is then enforced by contract to not broadcast this work outside of the agreed territory (as seen by Geo-blocking) However, if a subscriber views that video outside of the territory, that is not infringing on the copyright. That subscriber has not signed any agreement with the owner on usage of the copyright, this was only done between the broadcaster and the content provider.
The viewer is only asked to oblige by certain rules and conditions. If the viewer breaks these rules, he or she is simply violated the rules but not breaking copyright.
I guess so, unblock-us are not the only people doing this, and in fact with this particular feature (choosing the area etc) they're still playing catchup with people who have had this for about 6 months (including Overplay who've had Latin America and South America, which both have different content, for ages now).
Not too sure on the legalities, but ultimately the content providers are being paid, and netflix are being paid, which i'd imagine was their priority!
I'm not 100% certain on the copyright of content as such so you could well be right, but Netfix can still get you on misuse of their software, can they not? That, too, is protected by copyright, and the licensing agreement that users must enter into makes clear that the viewing of content intended to be seen out of the area you are in, via their software, is not permitted.
But as I think we agree, in practice their only sanction available is to cancel your membership. A test case for further financial penalties would be interesting but it won't happen because it just wouldn't be cost effective - and would give them a bad name they cannot at present afford to risk.
I suspect that Netflix are perfectly happy for members to view all of 'their' content anywhere - so unless content providers squeeze them, I don't think they will even cancel memberships of 'offenders' they may become aware of.
The viewer has copied something - Under British (which is to say English & Welsh or Scottish) law the act of viewing an online stream creates a “copy” by virtue of it being written to computer memory as part of the process of viewing it. There is substantial court precedent to this effect (for example, an entirely unrelated offense that uses the same principle is that people who view child pornography in the UK are, without fail, charged with “creating” it, as they have “created” a copy by virtue of their computer memory taking it to display on screen). If buffers should be included in that is also going to the European Court this year, in direct response to a copyright case.
Therefore you must have at least an implied licence from the copyright owner or their appointed agent to view such material without infringing copyright. Given the terms of the service explicitly say that you cannot, that does not apply.
You are as open to civil damages through faking an IP address to gain illicit access to content as you are from downloading it from a filelocker under UK law. And you’ve given the rightsholder your name and address, and reasonable proof it was you using your account.
Good selection of Disney/Pixar films on Netflix Brazil, just looking around now.
EDIT: The Artist is on there as well.
God I wish the uk version was half as good as the transatlantic ones.
I can log in to Netflix on my laptop but the password will not be accepted on any apple app.
Has anyone else had this issue?
I know a few users of the app have by reading the app reviews but no mention of a resolution.
Thanks in advance!