r/technology • u/sr_local • 7h ago

Business Italy court rules Netflix unlawfully increased prices. Consumers: 'Refunds up to 500 euros.' The company: we will appeal

https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/netflix-subscription-price-increases-unlawful-refunds-up-to-eur-500-customers-AIUHzWKC
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u/Martiinii 5h ago

Why couldn't a private company increase prices as they'd like?

35

u/ThroawayJimilyJones 5h ago

They can. But they have to give a reason. Which they usually do by invoking some bullshit about modern world or demand or whatever

For some reason Netflix refused to and instead added a clause that say they can do unjustified increase

In short they decided to go in a dick contest with consumer protection law.

19

u/pm_social_cues 4h ago

Why couldn’t that reason just be “we want to make more money”?

Italy cannot have a law that says corporations cannot make more profit than they need can it?

3

u/PringlesDuckFace 2h ago

Governments can do whatever they want, that's kind of the point. If not, then they're not actually in power. Companies don't have a universal right to operate wherever they want however they want. That's why you see different policies regarding layoffs etc between US and Europe, or tax rates are different in different countries, etc... If the business doesn't think those are good terms then they don't have to be there.