Khaberni - A court in Rome ruled that the price increases imposed by "Netflix" on its subscribers in Italy between 2017 and January 2024 were illegal, and ordered the company to return the amounts collected unjustly.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the consumer protection association "Movimento Consumatori", which argued that the price amendment clauses in the subscription contracts were unfair, allowing the company to make increases without providing clear justifications, in violation of consumer protection laws.
The court confirmed that subscribers have the right to reduce their current subscription fees, to receive refunds of the amounts paid, and the possibility to demand compensation in some cases.
For its part, "Netflix" announced its intention to appeal the decision, noting that its terms are, in its opinion, in line with the laws and practices in force in Italy.
Italian Communications Authority data indicates that the platform's user count in the country exceeded 8 million users in 2024, with about 5.4 million subscribers in 2025.
According to consumer lawyers, the illegal monthly increases in the "Premium" plan amounted to 8 euros, compared to 4 euros in the standard plan. Subscribers who continued paying since 2017 are estimated to be entitled to a refund of about 500 euros in the higher plan, and roughly 250 euros in the standard plan.
The court also ordered the company to publish the judgment on its website and in national media, to inform subscribers of their rights and to nullify the previous clauses.
"Netflix" is one of the largest streaming platforms globally, with more than 325 million paid subscribers, and its market value is estimated at around 420 billion dollars.
