Why is it illegal to share your screen via Discord, etc. when watching Netflix – and how is it differentiated from people sitting on your couch next to you to watch alongside you?

Question

To further explain, the concept is the same, isn’t it? Watching IRL you can have 2, 3, 10 people around one screen. Online, you can do the same thing by sharing your screen through Discord and similar apps, but in that case it is illegal, you can get accounts banned, warned, etc. and is seemingly considered to be piracy. What is the actual difference between the two?

In: Other

Answer 1

The key difference between watching Netflix with friends in person and sharing your screen via Discord comes down to the issue of licensing and distribution rights. When you invite friends over to watch Netflix together, you’re essentially sharing the content within the confines of your own private space. However, when you share your screen via Discord or similar platforms, you’re essentially broadcasting the content to potentially hundreds or thousands of people over the internet which makes the company lose money