It makes me incredibly happy as an Australian with no access to a Netflix type service (because none exists here) that isn't cable television that costs over $100 per month via Foxtel to be able to stream movies.
Yes, I do feel bad for using apps like this, but I have no other legal and affordable choice. I have Fetch TV which offers movies and additional content bundled with my Internet connection, you get 30 free movies per month (usually older movies) and have to pay for newer ones which can quickly add up if you pay for a few of them.
Popcorn highlights a real problem in the entertainment industry and as someone who's looked into starting a Netflix like service in Australia, the licencing and costs associated with licences and obtaining decent content are way too expensive to even consider starting something up.
Until the situation improves for us Australians and our New Zealand neighbours amongst other countries, people will continue to use apps like this. Learn from Spotify industry heavyweights and open up your content for streaming globally via paid services like Netflix.
You should consider subscribing to Netflix and using a service like Hola Unblocker to access it in Australia. This approach is still illegal but arguably better than torrenting.
IANAL, but I would say that if you're violating the TOS, you don't have a proper license to the content (since that's contingent upon following the terms), and so you're committing copyright infringement.
On the other hand,
"In relation to the use of VPNs by Australians to access services such as Hulu and Netflix, on the limited information provided there does not appear to be an infringement of copyright law in Australia," a spokesman for Attorney-General Robert McClelland said. "Whether the Australian users have committed an offence by deceiving these providers about their identity, or eligibility to receive their services, would depend on state or territory criminal law."
It's never been tested in court, but the US AG has repeatedly claimed that violating the TOS is "unauthorized access" which they prosecute as a felony.
Full disclosure, Presto seems to be a subsidiary of Foxtel.
It doesn't stream in HD.
It costs $19.99 a month (first month is $4.99).
It's only movies, no TV.
Yes, I do feel bad for using apps like this, but I have no other legal and affordable choice. I have Fetch TV which offers movies and additional content bundled with my Internet connection, you get 30 free movies per month (usually older movies) and have to pay for newer ones which can quickly add up if you pay for a few of them.
Popcorn highlights a real problem in the entertainment industry and as someone who's looked into starting a Netflix like service in Australia, the licencing and costs associated with licences and obtaining decent content are way too expensive to even consider starting something up.
Until the situation improves for us Australians and our New Zealand neighbours amongst other countries, people will continue to use apps like this. Learn from Spotify industry heavyweights and open up your content for streaming globally via paid services like Netflix.