Illegal to Share Netflix Password in Tenessee

By Gilbert Falso :: 1:45 PM

The governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, has just signed legislation that makes theft of subscription entertainment services like Netflix a crime in that state.

The new law equates theft with something as innocuous as sharing an account password too broadly. The law was backed strongly by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which says that this is the first legislation of its kind in the United States.

The bill, H.B. 1783, was introduced in February and signed by Haslam on Monday. It goes into effect on July 1st. Violators that steal services valued under $500 will be charged with a misdemeanor and involve a fine of up to $2,500 fine and as much as one year in jail. If the value is between $500 and $1,000, or if it’s a person’s second offense, the crime would be charged as a felony.

The Associated Press notes that the bill was originally targeted toward computer hackers who steal and sell passwords in bulk, and not necessarily casual users who may share their password with a friend, relative or room mate.