Disney is getting ready to implement account sharing. (Image: Disney)
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So this is how it begins. CEO Bob Iger had already announced it in August last year, and now the company is getting serious: the USA is due from March 14th (in Canada, by the way, since November 1st, 2023). From there it's just a stone's throw to us.
US users found this out through the user agreements.
Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus affected
CNN reports that Hulu subscribers received an email on Wednesday that the Terms of Use have changed. It says that from March 14th there will be “restrictions on sharing your account outside of your household.”
The ban already applies to new customers, more precisely since January 25th.
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This is why Hulu is important to us: The provider belongs to the Disney Company. Although we cannot use the service in Germany, it can be assumed that other streamers under the Disney umbrella will also be affected.
In addition, all user agreements concluded by all three providers of the house – Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus – were last updated to the same extent on January 25, 2024.
It was only last fall that Disney Plus, Netflix and Co. increased their prices.
What's happening now?
Account or password sharing was previously only tolerated.
The terms of use for Disney Plus, Hulu and sports streaming service ESPN Plus specifically prohibit users from impersonating another person by using their username or password. Disney initially did nothing.
The German terms and conditions of Disney Plus say:
If we detect unauthorized account sharing, we may take appropriate technical measures to prevent use of the Disney+ account outside of your household.
But Hulu goes one step further and writes that the provider “may, at its sole discretion, analyze the use of your account to verify compliance with this Agreement.” Digital trends suspects that the streamer will then suspend or terminate accounts.
Is Germany also affected?
In the case of Netflix, it only took weeks for the crowbar ban to come into force in Germany.
It is not yet known whether March 24th is considered a possible date for us or Disney Plus as such. However, it can be assumed that the provider will enforce the ban worldwide in the medium term, just as Netflix did.
Disney will have a fiscal first quarter earnings conference call on February 7th. We assume that CEO Iger will then reveal more about Disney's plans.