Sharing Netflix Password Now a Crime in the UK

Attention all streaming service users in the UK: sharing passwords is a big no-no according to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The IPO has declared that password sharing for services such as Netflix breaks copyright law and is considered a criminal and civil matter. This means that those who share their passwords could potentially face charges for “breach of contractual terms, fraud, or secondary copyright infringement,” depending on the situation.

But don’t panic just yet – Netflix has never indicated that it will take legal action over password sharing. In fact, the streaming giant wants to make it easier for people borrowing accounts to set up their own or even create “sub-accounts” for a small fee for friends and family. These new features will be rolling out in early 2023.

According to research firm Digital i, approximately 4 million UK Netflix subscribers (or about a quarter of all subscribers) are sharing their passwords. While Netflix has tried to crack down on the practice, it has never actually taken legal action. Instead, it has introduced new price tiers to make the service more appealing to users.

So, what happens if you do get caught sharing your password? A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stated that any decision to charge someone for sharing streaming service passwords will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, before the CPS can take action, there must first be a police investigation. It’s unclear at this time if other streaming video operators in the UK, such as Amazon and Disney, will take legal action over password sharing.

In case you were wondering, even former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries admitted to sharing her account with several other people back in May. Just a friendly reminder to keep your streaming service login information to yourself!