New terms of use: Disney+ prohibits account sharing
Disney is also introducing new terms of use for its new subscription plans. They are quite something: if you read them carefully, you will recognise Disney's first blow against account sharing.
Disney is currently sending its subscribers an email to inform them about upcoming changes to its terms of use. It contains a small passage: "We're clarifying how you can share your account with other people." What at first sounds inconspicuous actually has a much greater significance:
After Netflix, the House of Mouse also wants to take active action against account sharing.
The fight against account sharing
This is how it reads under point 1c of the new licence agreement: "Unless otherwise permitted by your plan, you may not share your Disney+ account with anyone outside your household. [...] If we detect unauthorised account sharing, we may take reasonable technical measures to prevent the use of the Disney+ Account outside your household (unless otherwise permitted by your plan options)."
Disney is not just talking about blocking accounts that are used for account sharing. Disney explicitly adds "unless otherwise permitted by your plan options" to the passage - twice. This can only mean paid account sharing. In other words, authorised account sharing with people outside of your own household, but for an additional charge.
Like Netflix: The "terms of use" weapon
This is probably all part of Disney's plan to finally make its streaming division profitable by the end of 2024. According to the Los Angeles Times, the megacorporation promised this to its investors last May.
The situation is indeed serious: in the second quarter of this year alone, Disney's streaming division lost a whopping 659 million US dollars. This is a small improvement on the 887 million US dollars of the same quarter a year ago. But still a long way from a profitable business like that of Netflix.
Cover photo: Luca Fontana
I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
From the latest iPhone to the return of 80s fashion. The editorial team will help you make sense of it all.
Show all