Overview

• The Cologne Regional Court declared Netflix's unilateral price increases from 2017 to 2022 unlawful due to inadequate consumer consent mechanisms.
• Netflix must refund approximately €200 to the plaintiff for overpaid fees since 2019, with older claims deemed expired under the three-year statute of limitations.
• The court found Netflix's pop-up consent process insufficient to establish a binding contractual amendment under German law.
• Millions of Netflix subscribers in Germany could now pursue refunds for similar overcharges, potentially reshaping industry practices for digital service agreements.
• Netflix criticized the ruling as inconsistent with other court decisions, while consumer advocates hailed it as a significant step toward stronger subscriber rights.