Netflix takes care of accounts, and how does it look like with others? HBO Max and Disney+ (for now) let us go

Netflix is ​​still there the most popular service streaming in the world. In recent months, however, the growth dynamics of users has slowed down significantly, as admitted by the company’s president, Reed Hastings. To make matters worse, Netflix’s competitors are starting to tread on its heels – primarily the Disney + platform.

The number of users cannot grow indefinitely, of which the Americans are aware, of course. The way to increase the number of accounts for Netflix is ​​to fight their sharing. And there is something to fight with, because according to the company’s calculations, accounts on the platform shared by up to 100 million people.

In some countries, Netflix intends to charge extra fees for sharing your account with another person. In other countries – including in Poland – the website approaches the matter more liberally.

There will be no additional fees (for now), but people who share an account and do not live together will be asked from time to time to enter a four-digit code that will be sent to the email or phone number associated with the account of the primary account holder.

And how do Netflix’s main rivals approach account sharing? We decided to take a look at the rules that apply to platform users Disney+, HBO Max and Prime video.

Disney+ logo Disney Twitter twitter.com/Disney

Disney+

• Subscription cost: PLN 28.99 per month or 289.9PLN 0 per year
• Maximum number of profiles: 7
• Number of devices logged in simultaneously on the platform: 4

Disney+ is one of the youngest streaming services on the Polish market. The platform officially debuted in our country in June 2022. Currently, the fee for using the website is PLN 28.99 per month or PLN 289.90 when we pay for the entire year in advance.

Within one user account, we can create a maximum of seven profiles (this also includes child profiles). Disney+ is one of the most generous services when it comes to the number of devices/people using the platform at the same time – there can be as many as four.

How does Disney+ approach account sharing? The use of one account by people who live in the same household is completely in accordance with the regulations.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your username and password and for all activities that occur on or through your Disney+ Service account. However, if you allow other people in your household to access your Disney+ Services account, this Agreement, as well as any consents you provide, will also apply to their access, use, and disclosure of information

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There is no direct reference to the issue in the Disney+ subscription contract sharing your account with people who are not with us they live. However, the regulations contain a provision that prohibits sharing login details with “third parties”.

So much for theory, what about practice? Disney, of course, is aware that the account sharing process works,

We recognize that password sharing exists and will continue to exist

said Paul.

See you, the company does not intend to prosecute users, who share their login details with others, although Michael Paull admitted that Disney monitors unusual logins and may block the account of those users who abuse this ability.

However, it is primarily people who that sell access to servicesi (e.g. on online auction platforms), not a group of close friends who jointly pay for a subscription.

HBO Max will not enter Poland yet. When will the new service start? press material

HBO Max

• Subscription cost: PLN 29.99 per month or PLN 234.99 per year
• Maximum number of profiles: 5
• Number of devices logged in simultaneously on the platform: 3

HBO Max allows you to create up to five user profiles, while at the same time the platform can be run on three devices. There is a provision in the website regulations that allows the service to be made available to members of the immediate family or household.

After creating an HBO Max Account, you will be able to add up to 5 (five) profiles of authorized Users (“Authorized Users”) to your HBO Max Account. We may limit the maximum number of Authorized Users that you may add or who may use the Platform at the same time. Users can only be members of the immediate family or household.

– we read in the regulations.

This means that we can share the account with people with whom we live, as well as members of the immediate family with whom we do not necessarily live in the same house. However, the Regulations do not define who meets the definition of “immediate family member”.

In practice, the situation is similar to Disney+. HBO is not going to “chasing” a group of friends who share an account with each other, but the company can take a fight against the practice of trading subscriptions.

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video

• Subscription cost: PLN 49 per year
• Maximum number of profiles: 6
• Number of devices logged in simultaneously on the platform: 3

Prime Video is currently one of the cheapest services streaming services available on the Polish market. As part of the promotion for PLN 49, we can get an annual access to the service. The website allows you to create six profiles user.

Using the same Amazon account, you can stream up to three videos at the same time. The same video file can be watched simultaneously on no more than two devices

– we read in the regulations.

Amazon’s terms of service do not address the issue of sharing login details with people outside of your household. We know that the company does not limit the possibility of sharing an account with friends in any way, and there is no indication that this will change in the near future.