Netflix have begun clamping down on Irish users sharing their passwords with people outside of their households.
For a number of years, viewers have been able to log in to the Netflix accounts of friends and family members without having to sign up themselves.
However, the streaming giant is now finally taking action against this practice, after years of threatening to do so.
Netflix issue statement on account-sharing
Some users in Ireland may already have received an email with the new policy, with Netflix releasing the following statement on Wednesday:
Starting today, we will be sending this email to members who are sharing Netflix outside their household in Ireland.
A Netflix account is for use by one household. Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are – at home, on the go, on holiday – and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices.
We recognise that our members have many entertainment choices. It’s why we continue to invest heavily in a wide variety of new films and TV programmes – so whatever your taste, mood or language or whoever you’re watching with, there’s always something satisfying to watch on Netflix.
Netflix change aims to minimise losses
Users will be able to transfer a profile over to a new member, who has to pay for it, or the original holder of the account can add an extra member for the price of €4.99 extra per month.
It was reported last year that Netflix had lost around a million subscribers, in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Apple TV, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.
Irish users faced a price hike as recently as last August - from €12.99 to €14.99 per month for the standard package - and this latest news will be seen as another attempt by the company to minimise its losses.
If you haven't received the aforementioned email from Netflix as of yet, you can expect it to land in your inbox in the coming days.