Plex, the popular media software and service, has long been a favorite for millions who wish to curate, organize, and stream their video content.
While many use it for legitimate purposes, it’s no secret that some have exploited it as a gateway to piracy.
Plex has taken a significant step in a recent move that seems to be aimed at curbing this misuse. Here’s a deep dive into what’s happening.
Understanding Plex’s Utility
Plex is a versatile tool that allows users to consolidate all their entertainment content, be it movies, music, TV shows, or photos, into one accessible platform.
The software organizes and indexes this content, making it ready to stream across various devices.
While the technology is neutral, the user’s intent can sometimes steer it toward the darker side of copyright infringement.
The Issue at Hand
The misuse of Plex for sharing copyright-infringing content hasn’t gone unnoticed. Rightsholders are well aware and have taken measures to shut down many shared servers.
Some server owners have even been tracked down. Despite these efforts, the problem continues to persist.
Plex, on its part, has been striving to collaborate with rightsholders to provide legal entertainment.
The misuse of its platform only hampers these efforts. It seems that Plex has now decided to take matters into its own hands.
Plex’s Recent Action
In a surprising move, Plex sent out emails to customers who run their servers at the German hosting company, Hetzner.
The email, while not naming Hetzner or directly citing piracy, alludes to violations of Plex’s Terms of Service.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: IPTV WIRE does not own or operate any IPTV service or streaming application. We do not host or distribute any applications. We do not verify whether IPTV services or app developers carry the proper licensing. The end-user shall be solely responsible for media accessed through any device, app, addon, or service mentioned on our Website.
For 100% legal IPTV service, IPTV WIRE recommends Vidgo.
It states that due to large-scale violations from that hosting provider, Plex will soon block access and activity from servers hosted by them.
This decision could potentially impact even those customers who use Hetzner for legitimate purposes. Such a sweeping measure indicates the gravity of the ongoing violations.
Reactions and Implications
Hetzner, understandably, expressed disappointment at Plex’s decision. Christian Fitz, Hetzner’s spokesperson, mentioned their regret over Plex’s action.
Plex’s community had mixed reactions. Many users on Plex forums reported using Hetzner’s servers for legitimate purposes, like storing personal media collections.
One user highlighted the unfairness of the decision, stating that their server on Hetzner only contained their music library, devoid of any pirated material.
Another user termed it a “sledgehammer approach”, predicting that those misusing the service would merely shift to another provider, leading Plex into an endless game of whack-a-mole.
Workarounds and the Future
Interestingly, some users mentioned using Hetzner not for hosting a Plex server but as a VPN to mask their actual server’s location.
If Plex goes ahead with its plan, it might ban the IP addresses of the hosting company. This would mean users could switch to another provider and use that as a VPN gateway.
Several workarounds, including using third-party VPNs to hide that a server is hosted at Hetzner, are being discussed on platforms like Reddit.
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Over the years, copyright holders have pressured Plex to intensify its actions against piracy. This recent move seems to be a step in that direction.
Whether it proves effective or leads to more such measures in the future remains to be seen.
However, one thing is clear: Plex is committed to ensuring its platform is used responsibly and legally.
For more information on this story, refer to the report from TorrentFreak.
Legal Streaming Options
It’s impossible for IPTV Wire to determine whether unverified IPTV services, apps, websites, or add-ons hold the proper licensing.
If and when a streaming website is deemed illegal, we notify our users immediately and update reports on our website like this one to reflect that information.
In conclusion, the end-user is responsible for all content accessed through free streaming sites, apps, and paid services.
See our detailed guide below for more information on the legality of IPTV and everything you need to know before streaming.
For 100% verified and legal IPTV providers, see the options listed below:
fuboTV
fuboTV is one of the most popular paid legal IPTV providers among cord-cutters around the globe, especially sports fanatics.
The best part is fuboTV offers a 7-Day Free Trial for new users! This means you can try the service hassle-free.
This IPTV service offers three different plans with the most popular for $69.99/month for over 115 channels and DVR.
Philo
Philo is a solid option for those who enjoy entertainment and news channels. This service costs $20.00/month for over 60 channels and unlimited DVR.
Just like fuboTV, Philo also offers a 7-Day Free Trial for new users! This is a must-have feature when choosing any IPTV provider.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is another popular free and legal IPTV application used by millions of cord-cutters.
This free IPTV provider offers hundreds of live channels along with thousands of movies and TV shows.
Check out our Pluto TV guide below for more information.
