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MoviePass Changes TOS To Prevent You From Seeing the Same Movie More Than Once (engadget.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the too-good-to-be-true dept.

MoviePass has changed its terms of service to prevent subscribers from seeing the same movie more than once. First spotted by iMore, the new limitation will apply to all subscribers, new and existing. MoviePass' website says, "We recently updated our Terms of Service to reflect that MoviePass subscribers are only permitted to see a select movie in theaters once with your MoviePass. We hope this will encourage you to see new movies and enjoy something different!" Engadget reports: This isn't the first time the company has done this, however. It limited users to seeing titles just once in its earlier days as well and CEO Mitch Lowe said the rule's reinstatement is to cut down on fraud. "When we took that policy down, we saw some people turning MoviePass into a cottage industry, standing in front of a theater selling their tickets to Star Wars, or whatever," he told The Hollywood Reporter. Lowe also said that new features are in the works including couples plans and options that include 3D and IMAX movies.

34 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. I thought that was a built in feature by rossdee · · Score: 4, Funny

    of modern films - you wouldnt want to watch them more than once

    1. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by Snotnose · · Score: 2

      Back when I went to movies there was a reason I saw them more than once in a theater. First time I'm trying to get into my date's pants. Second time I'm interested in the movie. Sometimes that order is reversed. Sometimes that first scenario happened more than once.

    2. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      Considering all 704 movies that were in theaters in 2017, there is less than 21 / 704 = 2.9% of that crap that I'd even want to see once.

      i.e.
      You know Hollywood is doing something wrong when you would rather watch a 5 hour analysis of why Stupid Wars: The Latest Junk sucked, then the movie itself.

    3. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by AlanBDee · · Score: 1

      I can think of multiple movies I wanted to see a second time; the Greatest showman being the latest. Especially when I found out they had sing-a-long version. It is still rare that I would want to see a movie a second time even if it didn't cost me anything. I would wager it's far more common for people to "share" a pass then it is that they deliberately want to watch a movie multiple times.

    4. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by TigerPlish · · Score: 1

      In Theaters:

      Wreck-It Ralph: 8 times.
      Brave: 7 times
      Cars 2: 2 times
      Rush (the one about F1 in 1976) 1 time
      Bridge of Spies, 1 time
      Force Awakens: 3 times
      Zootopia: 5 times

      Speak for yourself. I know a few other peeps that binge Pixar (and the odd Disney) at the theaters. Because 50 foot screens is still a thing.

      But yes, 99.9% of the stuff from the studios is still dreck, unfit for even one watching.

      --
      The "Civilized World" jumped the shark ca. 1973.
    5. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is NOT about preventing people from watching the same movie twice. It is to discourange multiple people from sharing the same movie pass.

    6. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by flargleblarg · · Score: 1

      And how is this going to change anything? People can still share the same pass. They just have to see different movies.

      You and a friend each want to see two first-run movies this week? Swap your passes and see both movies twice. Done and done.

    7. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      That,s completely different then what the article states. Nowhere in the article does it say anything about sharing moviepass...

      "Quote"
      "We recently updated our Terms of Service to reflect that MoviePass subscribers are only permitted to see a select movie in theaters once with your MoviePass. We hope this will encourage you to see new movies and enjoy something different!"
      "End Quote"
      Also stated on MP site

      https://moviepass.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003094371-Why-can-t-I-see-the-same-movie-more-than-once-now-

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    8. Re:I thought that was a built in feature by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      Ad hominem fallacy much?

      You DO realize that both sides, Democrats AND Republicans, dislike movies, right?

      /sarcasm Because the political leanings of the viewer determine if a movie is good or not -- and not the script, director, execution, pacing, editing, etc.

  2. Bait and Switch by elohssa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So, they got a bunch of people to sign up for 1-year plans, then changed the plan. How's this legal?

    1. Re:Bait and Switch by yodleboy · · Score: 1

      Probably subscribers accepted the right of MoviePass to change plan terms at anytime when you agreed to the old TOS...

    2. Re:Bait and Switch by alexo · · Score: 2

      This practice should be expressly prohibited by consumer protection laws.
      The fact that it is not, has a lot to say about the "of the people, for the people, by the people" claim.

      Interesting read:
      https://www.eff.org/wp/dangero...

    3. Re:Bait and Switch by alexo · · Score: 1

      Changes to TOS generally allow you to cancel the service effective immediately. Unless the US has fucked up laws in this area.

      The US has fucked up laws in this area.

      (For any value of "this")

    4. Re:Bait and Switch by elohssa · · Score: 1

      Sure, thats pretty standard boilerplate. I don't think anybody would consider it "right". My thought is, that doesn't even make it legal.

      This is the kind of thing I'm referring to: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2007/07/court-says-no-to-changing-terms-of-service-without-notification/

    5. Re:Bait and Switch by Desler · · Score: 1

      How is this changing terms with no notification when its users are clearly being notified about the terms changing?

    6. Re:Bait and Switch by Desler · · Score: 1

      No. Why would they be able to? If you don’t accept the terms you lose access to the service.

    7. Re:Bait and Switch by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Why would they be able to? If you donâ(TM)t accept the terms you lose access to the service. Flag as Inappropriate

      Because they paid money for a service that isn't being provided as agreed to in the contract?

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    8. Re: Bait and Switch by Reverend+Green · · Score: 2

      Clauses like that essentially say: "We win, you lose, no matter what, no matter how badly we rip you off." Such clauses are manifestly unjust. No legitimate court would even consider upholding them.

      Now what our drunken kangaroo courts will actually say, that I wouldn't venture to guess...

    9. Re:Bait and Switch by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      So, they got a bunch of people to sign up for 1-year plans, then changed the plan. How's this legal?

      It's not. But since this is 'muerika there won't be some government consumer advocacy body fighting the good fight, rather it will be up to a few little guys to take these douchebags to court.

    10. Re:Bait and Switch by torkus · · Score: 1

      Why would they be able to? If you donâ(TM)t accept the terms you lose access to the service.
      Flag as Inappropriate

      Because they paid money for a service that isn't being provided as agreed to in the contract?

      Exactly this.

      MP went hog wild selling yearly subscriptions for an upfront price. Material changes to the agreed-upon terms would not be permitted by US law - things like price or availability would count while things like mailing address or cancellation method would not. I expect that what they're doing will be challenged in court by someone or other. The catch is, even with this new rule the service is still a great deal ... so who's really going to want to not do business with them?

      --
      You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
    11. Re:Bait and Switch by torkus · · Score: 1

      Material changes are protected. It's the same reason they can't change the monthly charge if you signed up for a fixed price over the contract terms.

      --
      You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
  3. Re:Do theaters not sell tickets at the entrance by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    If you get 4 subs and get 4 tickets/day, you could sell them for half and supplement your income to the tune of $20/day.

    If I was a kid and already had a shit job near the theater, I'd have been all over it. Wouldn't have limited myself to 4, at least once I saw they were paying off.

    Theaters rarely check you're going into the movie you paid for (sometime requires a bathroom detour). Just scalp them as 'general admission'.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  4. Re:Fuck all this shit. by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hear you. I have a friend who keeps dragging me to the theaters. I go because they value it, but I hate the movie experience compared to my home theater.

    I'd rather sit at home being able to drink what I want, pause the movie, adjust the volume, rewind, be guaranteed to get the best seat, turn on/off CC, and go the bathroom on my terms, instead of paying for an over-priced ticket.

  5. Two words: by no-body · · Score: 1

    Control Freaks!

  6. Kids like seeing the same movie over & over ag by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    if you've got kids you know exactly what I'm talking about. This is what that's about.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  7. Re:Do theaters not sell tickets at the entrance by known_coward_69 · · Score: 1

    popular movies at the nice theaters are sold out for days in advance around release time

  8. Technically by Solandri · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Since according to the MPAA you've purchased a license to see the movie, shouldn't the theater let you see it as often as you like with the same ticket^H^H^H^H^H^Hlicense as long as the showing is not sold out?

    1. Re:Technically by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Since according to the MPAA you've purchased a license to see the movie, shouldn't the theater let you see it as often as you like with the same ticket^H^H^H^H^H^Hlicense as long as the showing is not sold out?

      You didn't purchase a license to see the movie though. You purchased a rental of a seat in the theatre for that specific movie.

      Going to the theatres is not "buying a movie" in the sense that a digital download through iTunes/Amazon/Google/Vudu/etc is. It's a rental of a seat in a theatre that hopefully will show the movie stated.

      It's just like buying a ticket to a play, or a ticket to a sporting event, or a plane ticket, or ticket to a cruise, etc. It just means you have the right to park your butt at the specified location for the specified times.

  9. Re:Do theaters not sell tickets at the entrance by jonwil · · Score: 1

    I go to the cheapest theater chain in Brisbane (Cineplex, no relation to the North American entity of the same name) and the only time I have ever seen a session that was sold out was for Avengers Infinity War on opening day (Wednesday Anzac Day public holiday) when all the sessions were sold out. Went there on Thursday to see it and had no problems walking up to the ticket counter and getting a ticket.

  10. So we're not too bright by terdog1 · · Score: 1

    We need this because we're really too stupid that we forget which movies we've seen???

  11. Not trying to sound snobby, but by Presence+Eternal · · Score: 1

    These days I won't go to a film if I don't think I'll want to watch it again.

    You know, I just realized I don't remember if I have watched Inception more than once.

  12. Re: Do theaters not sell tickets at the entrance by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    I was a rotten kid, I had a dozen 'battery of the month' club cards. Collected batteries like cordwood, but siblings, so never lasted.

    '4 free game tokens every time you come in' cards! Went in the token machines. On the bike ride to/from school. They had to buy more tokens, then more. Then we got smart, started selling bags of tokens at school. After a while the cards stopped working, what a ripoff.

    Same tokens worked at fancy, expensive (4/dollar), 'puke got cleaned up' arcade, years later.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  13. homeless by bugs2squash · · Score: 1

    well this and the demise of the unlimited plan destroys my idea of ending homelessness by handing out moviepass memberships.

    I wonder if snap fitness has a daily time allowance...

    --
    Nullius in verba
  14. half hour of nonsense before the film by speedlaw · · Score: 1

    I can take the expensive food, I don't care if other folks text. What keeps me OUT of a movie is the actual experience. Before the feature, you get a reel of ads. you get another reel of promos. then, you get a few more ads. Lastly, before the actual move, another long roll of previews....so If I want to get a good seat, I have to show up early, and sit through a half hour of loud promos, or show up around the time of the movie, and end up stuck in the back. The bang ! Loud ! Flash ! is like trying to eat a gourmet meal after being forced to suck a lemon, eat sugar, and follow up with bitters, then have the appetizer. the mandatory 30 minutes of loud adverts after I've paid for the experience means I really have to want to see the film......