As of: February 14, 2024, 4:47 a.m
By: Vivian Werg
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Streaming a series or film without advertising was recently the norm for Prime customers and will now cost more.
What users can do now.
Berlin – Whether pension, inflation bonus or additional payment at the pharmacy – the new year brings with it a variety of innovations.
The entertainment sector is not unaffected by this either.
The Netflix app will soon no longer be available on some devices.
The Amazon Prime Video program has also only been running with advertising since February 5th.
If users want to continue using the subscription without annoying interruptions, they have to pay an additional monthly payment of 2.99 euros.
However, the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV) sees this as a “significant contractual change” that was made without the consent of the customers and has now filed a lawsuit against the streaming giant.
Last year, the association took legal action against the streaming providers Spotify and Netflix - with success.
Amazon is now showing advertising in Prime videos - this can only be prevented for a monthly surcharge (symbolic image) © Silas Stein/dpa
Changing Amazon Prime Video without your consent: What you can do
“Amazon cannot simply present its Prime Video customers with a fait accompli.
This is a disregard for consumer law,” says the VZBV press release.
Stiftung Warentest also describes the procedure as illegal in its report.
“The advertisement is essentially a price increase.
This is only permitted with the consent of the customer.”
According to the consumer organization, consumers now have the following options:
Cancellation of the subscription:
In the event of cancellation, the unused subscription fees will be refunded.
Demand to stop advertising
: Users can contact the company with a letter of demand to stop advertising on Amazon Prime Videos.
Take legal action:
If Amazon rejects the request, the only option left for users, according to Stiftung Warentest, is to take legal action.
As the portal
digital Fernsehen.de
reports, consumers could also join the VZBV and “join the lawsuit”.
If consumer advocates win in court, the price increase could be brought back.
“Unlawful income is of course also retroactive
to consumers,” said Heiko Dünkel, head of the legal enforcement team in the consumer policy division at the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations, to the portal.
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Stream ad-free on Amazon Prime Video: The additional charge does not avoid all advertisements
Amazon sees it differently and continues to stick to its change.
“We have fulfilled all legal obligations,” said Amazon spokesman Michael Ostermeier to the specialist portal
Meedia
.
“Prime Video customers were informed transparently and in accordance with legal regulations by email at the beginning of the year, and the price of the ad-free option was also announced as 2.99 euros.
Customers have all options and can continue to use their Prime membership with limited advertising as before, switch to an ad-free version or cancel their membership at any time.
The courts will decide which view is ultimately legally compliant.
But as the web portal
netzwelt.de
reports, the surcharge only allows you to avoid some of the advertising.
“Live sports broadcasts on Amazon continue to be interrupted by advertising.”
According to the portal, “advertising interruptions cannot be ruled out” in the Amazon Channels.
The same also applies to the trailers of Prime Video's own productions.
These will continue to be played at the beginning of a series or film - even the 2.99 euro upgrade wouldn't help.
(vw)