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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think that streaming platforms shouldn't tell customers they can "buy" films and series?

41 replies

Oyen · 20/10/2023 13:40

Because the platform can remove it at any time, and then the buyer won't be able to watch it. So the customer doesn't have permanent ownership, so they haven't bought anything.

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BibbleandSqwauk · 20/10/2023 13:43

What platform are you talking about? As far as I know, Prime doesn't to that which is the only one I "buy" things on in addition to the sub.

stargirl1701 · 20/10/2023 13:47

I had wondered that, OP!

Oyen · 20/10/2023 13:49

Yeah Prime and Disney plus (through premier access) that I know of. Both do remove titles and when they do you can't watch them any more.

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CyberCritical · 20/10/2023 13:50

BibbleandSqwauk · 20/10/2023 13:43

What platform are you talking about? As far as I know, Prime doesn't to that which is the only one I "buy" things on in addition to the sub.

Prime can do that, it's in the T&Cs, they don't do it often but they can and do remove titles.

AIBU to think that streaming platforms shouldn't tell customers they can "buy" films and series?
Needmorelego · 20/10/2023 13:54

It's the 21st century version of renting a film from Blockbuster @Oyen .

Oyen · 20/10/2023 13:56

Man, they even use the word "purchased" in the sentence where they say it won't always be available. How is that a "purchase"?

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Queucumber · 20/10/2023 13:57

Have you bought something that you can no longer watch? That’s never, ever happened to me on any platform.

Oyen · 20/10/2023 13:57

@Needmorelego then they should say "rent". Prime has two options - rent or buy. But what they really mean is "short term rent" or "long term rent".

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MrsTerryPratchett · 20/10/2023 14:23

Needmorelego · 20/10/2023 13:54

It's the 21st century version of renting a film from Blockbuster @Oyen .

It's not. I've 'bought' and 'rented' films and when I buy it, I expect to be able to watch it for as long as I want. The equivalent of buying a film in HMV.

Needmorelego · 20/10/2023 14:32

@MrsTerryPratchett I've never really looked into that closely but with Disney isn't it when something is new it's available for an extra payment for a limited time - then made free.
That's what it was in the Blockbuster days. Film had a cinema release (so you pay to watch once), then video rental release (pay for 24 hours of viewing), then video available to buy (pay once, own it, watch however many times you like).
Isn't it just essentially the "rental" stage?
I've not looked into that closely tbh as I said.

jeffgoldblum · 20/10/2023 14:38

I've purchased many films and tv series on Amazon over the years and I've always been able to view them even when it's been removed from the site, it's still available in my library.

Oyen · 20/10/2023 14:46

@jeffgoldblum when content is removed purchasers can no longer view it. It's in the t&C's and it's literally how it works so not sure why you're saying otherwise.

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jeffgoldblum · 20/10/2023 14:59

Honestly @Oyen , I have films that I purchased years ago and they are no longer available for non purchasers but still are viewable by me in the my stuff section!

jeffgoldblum · 20/10/2023 15:04



AIBU to think that streaming platforms shouldn't tell customers they can "buy" films and series?
jeffgoldblum · 20/10/2023 15:06

Ignore that awful picture failure! Basically that section is referring to Amazon losing access rights , this is unusual and different to them removing titles to make room for new content.

jeffgoldblum · 20/10/2023 15:09

I'm not defending them by the way ! ( many shady practices!) and don't get me started on Apple !
I was incensed to find out that I don't actually own my iTunes library!!!!

CliantheLang · 20/10/2023 15:20

If you want to own anything, search on "best free torrent clients". It's easy.

FortofPud · 20/10/2023 15:23

Can you not download something you've purchased?

SquashedCushion · 20/10/2023 15:25

If no one bought them, they would have no one to sell them to.
Then they'd either have to show them for free or not show them at all.

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 15:29

I agree. And when you own it you should own it, and do what you like with it, as if it were a physical object, IMO. No-one should be able to decide that the rights no longer apply and you can't watch it any more.

Bobbotgegrinch · 20/10/2023 15:34

Eh, this has been a problem with computer games for about 15 years now. When you buy a game from a digital storefront, they reserve the right to remove availability for it at some point in the future.

It doesn't happen often, even if they remove it from sale then it's still available for people who've purchased it. But there have been a few high profile occurances where games have been changed, or some functionality stops working, or they just plain disappear.

It's the same with Disney+ and prime. Even if it's gone for streamers, its usually still available for people who've bought it, but it's not a guarantee. And of course it's in their T & C's, which you read when you signed up. (What do you mean you didn't read 25 pages of legalese?)

And of course, there's always the chance that the platform will go bust, maybe not likely with Disney or Amazon, but certainly for smaller content providers. At the end of the day, data is ephemeral. Once upon a time you were at risk of your tape player chewing up the cassette, or the DVD getting scratched, now it's the whims of the content gods.

BriocheForBreakfast · 20/10/2023 15:36

Oyen · 20/10/2023 13:57

@Needmorelego then they should say "rent". Prime has two options - rent or buy. But what they really mean is "short term rent" or "long term rent".

Yes, exactly

Oyen · 20/10/2023 15:43

FortofPud · 20/10/2023 15:23

Can you not download something you've purchased?

For prime, only within the app, on whichever device you've got your app on. If you want to put it on a stick to use elsewhere, you can subscribe to a 3rd party service that promises to undo the encryption. May or may not be legit.

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Needmorelego · 20/10/2023 15:49

Hold on.......I just had a 2 week free trial of Prime which I wanted because I was desperate to watch a particular film (made by Amazon Prime). So if I had downloaded it I could have kept it forever and watched a million times? I just watched it by pressing "watch now"
I watched twice but I wanna watch it again 😭.

Oyen · 20/10/2023 15:58

Probably not. Some of the films you "buy" you can "download" - but effectively that just means "access them within the prime app on your laptop, for as long as amazon a) retains the rights to them and b) keeps your permissions as they are. Unless you use one of those third party unencryptors. Which are also subscription based. And which may not be quite legit.

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