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Comment by izacus | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, funny how I'm allowed to order a DVD from US or Germany, while at the same time I'm forbidden from paying to watch that show from a German or US streaming service just because I live a bit to the south.

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The reason for this is the technical difference between streaming and playing a DVD. Transporting a DVD isn't copyright infringement. Streaming always requires a license because it involves making a copy.

Netflix actually built itself on the fact that you can send DVDs wherever you want.

> Streaming always requires a license because it involves making a copy.

This does not apply in Germany.

Copies that exist purely in cache, or, copies, that stop working after some time, are always legal, and you need no license for that.

It’s why streaming music from a chinese website is legal.

You can order a DVD from Germany, but it'll be region-locked when you try to play it in a US DVD player.

Sorry, but there's profit to be had.

This is actually what surprises me - what profit is there to be had if they don't allow me to give them euros? :)

The licensing deals that can be made with local broadcasters. They are making profits, just not from you. Supposedly if you wanted to watch it legally you would pay for whatever service is allowed to legally broadcast the content to you.

For reference I believe this to be stupid, but that's where this fabled profit lies.

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