Netflix is testing the waters on blocking virtual private networks (VPN), proxies and other tools to bypass geo-location barriers, after complaints from movie studios on "proxy pirates" viewing content for specific regions.

Currently, Netflix is only available in a handful of regions, due to the limitations put on the streaming service by the movie and TV industry. Even in those few regions, the selection of media is entirely different, depending on licensing in each country.

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To avoid any further issues with the movie industry, Netflix is enacting new rules on its service, making sure anyone viewing U.S. Netflix in another region, for instance, is blocked from the content.

Netflix is exploring a variety of ways to block these circumvention tools, including blocking the most popular proxy or VPN services. TorGuard, one of the more popular VPN services, claims it has seen a surge in issues mid-December regarding Netflix.

Even though TorGuard and other VPN services claim to already have the solution if Netflix blocks the service, it is going to be harder for the average Netflix customer to enjoy media only available in the U.S.

For countries like Australia, this could mean a huge decrease in available content. Netflix charges the same monthly subscription, devoid of the amount of content available.

The new move comes at a time where Netflix is trying to scale back licensing, focusing more on original programming. Still, it needs the movie and TV industry to make up the bulk of its service, and that means playing ball with the programmers.

It is unknown how many people use a VPN or geo-location bypass service to watch Netflix in the U.S., considering the viewership is over 50 million, it might be a large part due to foreign audiences.

Via: TorrentFreak

Tagsnetflix, VPN, proxy, geo-location, U.S. Netflix