Britons could be banned from accessing Netflix and Spotify accounts while visiting EU countries in no-deal Brexit, Government warns

British tourists visiting EU countries could be barred from accessing their accounts for Netflix, Spotify and other online entertainment in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a technical paper on copyright has warned.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Oct 2018, 14:49 BST
Updated 13th Oct 2018, 07:34 BST
Britons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal BrexitBritons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal Brexit
Britons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal Brexit

Under the EU-wide '˜portability regulation' agreed in 2017 and in force since April, citizens can access accounts set up and based in one country while visiting other member states.

But the technical notice said: '˜The portability regulation will cease to apply to UK nationals when they travel to the EU.

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'˜This means online content service providers will not be required or able to offer cross-border access to UK consumers under the EU Regulation.

Britons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal BrexitBritons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal Brexit
Britons could be banned from accessing their Netflix accounts while in Europe under a no-deal Brexit

'˜UK consumers may see restrictions to their online content services when they temporarily visit the EU.'

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The Government has also warned that the UK will lose free trade agreements with more than 70 non-EU countries around the world if it leaves without a deal in March next year. 

In a document on the implications of failure to reach agreement on an orderly withdrawal, the Department for International Trade (DIT) said: '˜In the event of a 'no deal', EU trade agreements will cease to apply to the UK when we leave the EU.'

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The document was one of 29 technical papers released by Government departments on Friday, in the final tranche of guidance on preparations for a no-deal Brexit. A total of 104 such papers have now been released.

New guidance covers areas ranging from the regulation of pesticides, trading in electricity, rail transport and the trade in rough diamonds.

DIT said that, in its preparations for Brexit, it is seeking to forge new bilateral deals with the 70 countries which are '˜identical or substantially the same' as the EU agreements which Britain is giving up.

But it warned companies that, even if such deals can be reached, there may be '˜practical changes' to the way trade takes place, depending on discussions with each individual country.

And it confirmed that if these are not in place in time for a no-deal Brexit, exports and imports to these countries will become subject to tariffs under World Trade Organisation rules.

Related topics:BrexitGovernmentNetflix