Sharing Netflix password may be illegal, Government suggests

Guidance from the Intellectual Property Office suggests many users could be falling foul of the rules as sharing accounts is a common practice.

Netflix customer icons (Nick Ansell/PA) (PA Archive)

Users of online streaming platforms such as Netflix could be breaking the law by sharing their account with other households, a government agency has said.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) said password sharing may amount to “secondary copyright infringement”.

Sharing log-in details for streaming services with family and friends is a widespread practice, despite Netflix’s terms stating that “people who do not live in your household will need to use their own account”.