Is It Legal to Use Subscriptions from Other Countries?
Digital subscriptions have different prices in many countries. This raises the question of whether it's allowed to use a subscription from another country if it's cheaper there. The answer is complex and depends on several factors – legal, contractual, and technical.
This article classifies the situation, explains the various perspectives, and shows why there's no simple yes-or-no answer. Important: This is not legal advice, but a general classification.
The Legal Perspective
Contract Law and Terms of Service
Digital subscriptions are concluded through usage contracts. These contracts usually contain clauses about residence or billing address. If these details are incorrect, it may constitute a violation of the terms of service.
However, a contract violation is not automatically a criminal offense. The consequences are primarily on a civil law level: providers can block or terminate accounts.
Fraud and Deception
Criminal relevance can arise if deliberately false information is provided to obtain a cheaper price. Legally, this is evaluated differently depending on the country. In practice, providers rarely prosecute such cases criminally, but instead restrict access.
Bypassing Geoblocking
The use of VPN services to circumvent country blocks is explicitly excluded in many terms of service. Here too: a violation usually doesn't lead to legal action, but to account suspensions or restricted access.
What Providers Technically Enforce
Detection and Restriction
Providers use various mechanisms to detect whether a user is accessing from another country:
- IP Addresses: Many services check the IP address and compare it with the billing address.
- Payment Information: Credit cards and payment providers are often tied to a specific country.
- VPN Blocking: Some platforms proactively identify and block VPN access.
Consequences Upon Detection
If it's discovered that a subscription is being used from another country, the following measures may occur:
- Account Suspension: Temporary or permanent, depending on the provider.
- Price Adjustment: In rare cases, the difference to the local price is billed retroactively.
- Restricted Access: Some services reduce the available catalog or block certain content.
Why International Prices Exist – And Why Providers Protect Them
International price differences are based on economic factors such as purchasing power, market size, and local costs. Providers have a financial interest in maintaining these structures, as they're based on market segmentation.
If a large portion of users from high-price markets access at lower prices, revenue losses occur. Therefore, providers use technical and contractual means to prevent this.
Edge Cases: When It's Less Problematic
Travel and Temporary Access
Those who travel abroad with an existing subscription and use it there are in a legal gray area. Within the EU, this is often covered by the portability regulation. However, for longer stays abroad, restrictions may apply.
Moving to Another Country
With a permanent move, it's common for providers to adjust the billing address and convert the subscription accordingly. The price may change depending on the destination country.
What FairSubs Does in This Context
FairSubs transparently displays international price differences. However, the platform does not provide instructions or tools for bypassing country blocks. The focus is on information and comparison, not on providing technical workarounds.
Users receive transparency about pricing but make their own decisions about using subscriptions – including the associated risks.
Conclusion
Using subscriptions from other countries is in a legal and contractual gray area. While it's not generally illegal, it often violates providers' terms of service. The consequences are usually practical, not criminal: account suspension, restricted access, or termination.
Those who want to compare international subscription prices can do so with platforms like FairSubs – but should understand the risks and legal framework before making corresponding decisions.