Read OP quote again, parent missed the part that shows this is what they are talking about.

>> If the court follows this argument the ...

Op is referring to precedent potentially being set, but I'm not sure it would actually apply in practice. (Different laws)

Country-based IP blocks at content providers (Netflix, other streaming services) relate to their content licensing. They may have purchased the rights to distribute the film in question in the US, but not in Spain, for example. Sure, information wants to be free. But films cost real money to create, and the streaming services have a duty to the people who provide their content.

Just sayin'

Better hypothetical scenario:

User inside the United States uses a VPN to access foreign Netflix content.

Felony obstruction of Netflix's business model? :-)

> the foreign user is potentially liable for felony criminal charges in the US

US law does not apply to non-US citizens. How could a foreigner possibly be liable for anything?

The UK already deported one of their citizens to the US over hacking (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/07/news.usne...), so it depends on how much of a backbone your country has.

This particular case did not result in extradition - it was overturned several years later.

So long as you don’t set foot on US soil, or piss off someone enough to get extradited.

Being a foreigner is often enough to avoid the punishment, but it’s not enough to be exempt from the laws.

What the hell? You're telling me some foreign national could actually be extradited to the US over VPN IP nonsense? As if this was as bad as drug trafficking?

I just checked my country's laws. Looks like international drug trafficking is the only reason allowed for extradition. Good to see the people writing these things have some common sense.

It's worth remembering that Mega's founder, Kim Dotcom, is still fighting off extradition attempts for Copyright infringement from New Zealand.

Here's one example:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/us-charges-greek-national-for-...

The F it doesn't. You are correct that it can be nebulous to apply it to people not currently physically present in the US due to jurisdictional limitations, but there are numerous exceptions.

What? Law applies to the country.