It’s something that Internet users in Saudi Arabia have coped with for years - accessing content that US companies don’t want us to have. Whether it’s a television program, movie or song, consumers in the Kingdom have long been forced to pay high fees for what US consumers, through advertising supported channels, usually get for free. There are also some intellectual property holders who choose not to let Saudi consumers have access to their media at all. Such policies are in part behind the high intellectual property piracy rates in the Middle East. 



This week TorrentFreak reported that Hulu.com started blocking VPN users. When trying to access the site, those using a virtual private network (VPN) or anonymizer now see the message:



“Based on your IP-address, we noticed that you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the U.S. If you’re in the U.S. you’ll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.”



Hulu is an online video service that offers a wide selection of hit TV shows, clips, movies and more through its free, ad-supported Hulu.com service. They also offer a subscription service - Hulu Plus - for just $7.99 monthly. The service allows viewers to instantly stream any current season episode of primetime US TV shows such as “Modern Family,” “Glee” and the “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”



Considering that the region’s main paid satellite TV provider charges Saudi consumers at least SR150 monthly to access a minimal amount of US television programming, it’s easy to understand the attraction of being able to reach Hulu. Such access used to be simple by using a VPN service. After the crackdown, it’s more difficult, but not yet completely impossible.



Rather than checking if people are trying to connect to the site through a VPN, Hulu is blocking VPN access by noting the specific IP addresses used by various VPNs globally. Not every publicly available VPN has been blocked and more expensive dedicated VPNs are still able to access the site. How long that will continue, nobody knows as Hulu panders to US TV networks and movie studios/distributors.



These license holders of the programming streamed through Hulu want to lock out all users of the service who are outside the US. That’s because they make enormous money selling US television shows and movies abroad - often with the newest programs and films going to just one broadcaster in each country or region. The license holders generally make more money selling international rights to US produced video content, than they gain through their US rights. The local broadcasters who have purchased the rights most certainly want to hold consumers in their regions captive. They complain loudly to the license holders if they cannot wring every bit of revenue out of their markets.



The license holders consider those people accessing Hulu.com from outside the US to be pirates, criminals engaging in illegal activity. Hulu is not alone in its attempts to block non-US users. Companies including Amazon.com, Apple and Netflix, either restrict the entertainment content available to Saudi account holders or they don’t provide service at all.



This is based on the legal requirements to comply with the licensing agreements set forth by the holders of the intellectual property.



Unfortunately, with no impetus to change the antiquated system under which intellectual property rights are licensed and administered, Saudi consumers can expect to be forced to frequently consider if criminality is the only choice in accessing digital media.