Italy has gained attention with a significant court decision against Netflix, deeming the streaming giant’s price increases from 2017 to 2024 unlawful. The court in Rome determined that Netflix did not provide specific, justifiable reasons for these hikes in its contracts, breaching Italy’s Consumer Code. Consequently, long-standing Italian subscribers are expected to receive considerable refunds, with Premium plan users possibly getting as much as €500 and Standard plan users up to €250.
Netflix is now under a 90-day obligation to inform all affected customers via its website and national media, or it will face a €700 daily penalty. This ruling follows closely after Netflix’s recent price increases for U.S. subscribers, underscoring the global scrutiny the company encounters regarding its pricing policies.
The Italian consumer organization Movimento Consumatori brought forth the lawsuit, contending that Netflix’s contracts did not sufficiently detail potential future price shifts. The court’s ruling requires Netflix to restore prices to their pre-increase amounts, such as lowering the Premium plan from €19.99 to €11.99.
While Netflix intends to contest the ruling, it has revised its contract terms since April 2025 to better outline future price changes, suggesting that price hikes after this date may be allowed. Nevertheless, the ruling currently pertains only to Italy, leaving subscribers in other areas subject to the most recent price modifications unless similar legal measures are initiated locally.