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ADA May Force Netflix To Provide Closed Captioning On Content

Posted by Soulskill on from the information-neutrality dept.

Shivetya writes "Last year Netflix was sued by the National Association for the Deaf for failing to provide closed captioned text through its on-demand streaming service. Now, a judge has denied Netflix's attempt to have the suit thrown out, saying that the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in any venue — not just physical structures. The easiest means to comply would be to remove all videos which do not have a closed captioning component, the other route would require Netflix to pay to have this done to any video it wants to provide. The implications to other providers is immense as well. The plaintiffs will still need to prove that Netflix is legally obligated to provide closed-captioning, but the ruling is still significant for recognizing that Internet sites may fall under the purview of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

6 of 694 comments (clear)

  1. Is that serious, or a straw man? by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quite seriously, is that normal in the US that every program needs to have CC or are TV networks trying to push the competition out of business? Just asking...

    Another question, does it say anything about the quality of the CC? I mean, how expensive could it be to have some Chinese or NKor people create yet another Backstroke of the West style CC?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Don't forget the blind! by _8553454222834292266 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Netflix will need to mail a Braille transcript.

  3. what does this mean for all websites? by Eponymous+Hero · · Score: 3, Funny

    if this is about discrimination in any venue, then there are millions of porn sites and otherwise that are not ADA compliant.

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    insensitive clod overlords obligatory xkcd car analogy russian reversals whoosh pedant fanbois ftfy in 3...2...1..PROFIT
  4. Re:Mixed feelings by Jeremy+Erwin · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the DVS track for Basic Instinct

    Correli unconsciously licks his lips.
    She leans forward with an eager smile.

    Nick Curran glances up from his notepad.
    Correli eyes him curiously.
    With a saucy gaze, Catherine uncrosses
              her thighs.
    She briefly exposes her pubic hair
    then recrosses her legs.

    Basic Instinct Poems

  5. Re:Mixed feelings by Soporific · · Score: 1, Funny

    What's next, all porn is required to have CC?

    Now that would be funny!

    ~S

  6. Re:Mixed feelings by Teresita · · Score: 3, Funny

    Some channels actually have "descriptive audio" here. It's actually exactly what it sounds like.

    That would be hilarious. I would really like to hear some narrator attempting to describe Eraserhead.