[SGVLUG] No Netflix for Linux

[Michael Proctor-Smith]

The reason that Netflix does not support generic Linux desktop is not
really technical, it is contractual with the content owners, and does
not have to do with Silverlight. They support PS3, Wii, Blue-ray
Players, Android, Roku and Chrome OS all of which do not use
silverlight, but do support an approved DRM(digital rights management)
scheme. The reason that Netflix does not support generic Linux desktop
is that the generic Linux desktop does not support an approved DRM
scheme. Android, Roku, Chrome OS are all Linux based but have
implemented DRM that Netflix feels is compatible with what ever the
content owners are requiring.

The solution is for the open source community to design and implement
a DRM scheme that could work in the open source ecosystem. Most of the
problem being that many, I might say most, in the open source
community are against DRM for philosophical reasons. So chances of DRM
scheme being implemented that would be acceptable to content owners
and the FOSS community is low.

The result is that we don't get to watch Netflix streaming on the
Linux desktop. Breaking someone else's DRM scheme in order to do some
thing that user think they "should" be able to do can have unintended
consequences. People broke DRM on the PS3 in part using Linux so Sony
took away the ability to run Linux on the PS3.

On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Dave <3 Ubuntu <dave at iheartubuntu.com> wrote:
> Netflix running on linux is becoming sort of a holy grail these days. Ive
> blogged about it a bunch of times and its one of the most requested
> features. With it working on Chrome OS, I dont understand why it doesnt get
> ported to other linux distros (well, we know why). I would think for those
> with any programming knowledge to check into how/why Netflix in Chrome OS is
> working fine, but not for the rest of the linux community.
>
> There are a couple simple workarounds for now. Ive successfully ran Netflix
> in Windows XP via Virtual Box. A computer with at least 4GB memory is pretty
> much needed otherwise video will be choppy in Netflix set to full screen. If
> you have an Android account, you can also run the Android OS using Virtual
> Box and run the Netflix app. if seen it done, but have not personally done
> this myself.
>
> Those workarounds are obviously not native for us. Not everyone has Virtual
> Box or wants to run XP at all.
>
> There was another "kind of native" solution I've read about, but dont know
> if it works. Install and run a program called "PCSX2", a Playstation
> emulator and then find the ISO for the Netflix disc that Netflix used to
> ship to people who wanted to run Netflix on their Playstations. Ive included
> a couple links in case it helps with your research.
>
> http://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/kzlaf/want_netflix_on_linux_with_pcsx2_now_you_can_has/
>
> Info on Dolphin emulator (for Wii & Gamecube)...
>
> http://forums.dolphin-emulator.com/showthread.php?tid=10022
>
> Hope the info helps in your quest!
>
> Best Regards, Dave
>
>
>
>
> On 02/13/2012 10:07 AM, Christopher Smith wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 6:57 AM, John Kreznar<jek at ininx.com>  wrote:
>>>
>>> "Sean O'Donnell"<sean at seanodonnell.com>  writes:
>>>
>>>> Haven't googled too much yet, but do the web service API stream
>>>> features require silver light to decode, too?
>>>
>>> In that case, Braddock might start with the Google response to
>>> "silverlight+linux".  It's rich with hits.
>>
>> You want to start with Moonlight: http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/
>>
>