Google Allies With Netflix To Combat Pirated Websites

Google has joined forces with Netflix to counter pirated websites.

Netflix Inc. conducted a crackdown on virtual private networks (VPN) initially, but now they have started to target the pirate sites. This move is in compliance with the company’s vulnerable strategy to discourage consumers belonging to other markets to gain access to its clients through illegal means.

Back in January, the company started this pursuit where those users were blocked who made use of privacy protection service such as virtual private networks. These people made use of software that enabled them to circumvent the geographical barriers so that they could stream content that was solely for the United States. The company made this decision to satisfy the content partners who have given the company streaming rights. Moreover, it also wishes to secure its own content from any ill activity.

By making use of the VPNs the users who belong to global markets have the ability to alter the servers and the IP address to stream all the popular shows like House of Cards which is available to the US audience but not to the users in New Zealand and Australia. The content which the company is regulating belongs to various regions in compliance to the license agreement for TV shows and movies with media houses limited to a few geographies. Moreover, the subtitle language is also different from one country to another.

In the infancy stage, it seemed like Netflix wishes to implement stricter laws to prevent the users from streaming illegal content via VPNs. However, the action was confirmed by Reddit in February where the subscribers of the social media platform got an error every time they tried to access the US version of Netflix via any software.

The company has finally started to issue petition to take down a bunch of websites which are dealing with the hosting of its private content on their medium. It is running after all those sites that are offering original content via torrents. This allows the users to get access pirated version of their favorite movies or shows. Moreover, they can also stream and download them free of cost.

Hence the company has started to go against oline piracy where the streaming giant has asled Alphabet Inc. Google to assist them.

On Netflix’s behalf, Vobile – an anti-piracy company operating globally would be directly reporting to the search engine giant with defaulted pirated links. These will be then removed by Google from it searches. So this will allow the company to camouflage those pirated websites that allow users to get access to shows and movies illegally. Hence content that is not authorized will not be readily available over the Internet.

Hence in a nutshell, Netflix has tactically taken its first step to counter pirated websites. It is a great idea to have GOOG on board since majority of searches are governed via the company’s search engine only. This might not be a permanent solution to the problem but it certainly is a good way to combat the regulation of licensed content in an illegal manner.