VidAngel Customers,

We just received news from Judge Birotte that “without further factual development on this issue, the Court is not in the position to declare the rights of the parties with regard to this new service.” This is nothing to worry about, it just means the can was kicked down the road.

Judge Birotte’s denial of VidAngel’s motion today was based purely on procedural grounds and not on the merits of our case. Our attorneys are evaluating the decision and will decide next steps in the near future. It is important for everyone to note that this does not affect VidAngel’s new system, which is fully up and running, it simply delays our ability to provide customers with content created by the plaintiffs.

In the meanwhile, we’ll be posting the following notice on the plaintiffs works to let customer know why they are unable to filter those movies and TV shows.

Keep enjoying all the other great content while we sort this out.

Sincerely,

Neal Harmon

CEO

Disney and other studios are trying to block even the NEW VidAngel System, even though we met all their previous demands.  Don’t worry, we have thousands of the best titles available. But in 3 minutes, here’s why they’re trying to block us, and how you can help.

A year ago, Disney sued VidAngel and persuaded a judge to temporarily close our old site. ‘Cause Disney used the same rationale it used on the Tower of Terror: “A lot of people love this. Let’s shut it down.”

We think they were in the wrong, as you can see in our video addressing VidAngel’s legality. But while we keep fighting the legal battle, we’ve released a new system that meets Disney’s demands:

• 1) Pay creators through normal streaming channels, and…
• 2) Don’t use decryption.

Yet Disney’s still trying to block us in court from filtering their movies. So it begs the question — how can it get all it wanted, and still not be happy?

Here’s the problem. Disney says Hollywood’s ok with filtering, just not with VidAngel’s model. But look at the history — Hollywood’s not ok with filtering. Except for filtering dollars out of actresses’ paychecks.

Sony recently tried to release cleaned-up versions of movies, but the Directors Guild threatened to sue for violating contracts that forbid filtering — contracts we know exist because of the Sony leak in 2014. So Sony backed down.

VidAngel (in the past) and our competitor ClearPlay (more recently) tried to filter using a Google Play plugin, but VidAngel got a cease-and-desist letter and ClearPlay was quietly blocked from adding new movies. Now that service doesn’t work at all.  And if ClearPlay’s new service gets big enough to bother Disney, it can be blocked in the same way, by enforcing anti-filtering contracts.

Hollywood studios may say they’re ok with filtering, but look at their actions. They’ve opposed the Family Movie Act, threatened to sue Sony, and actually sued VidAngel, ClearPlay, Cleanflix, and every other filtering company in history prior to VidAngel.

If you ask their permission, they reject you. And if you don’t ask, they sue you. They may say it’s not about filtering. But if Sauron sues Frodo and claims it’s not about the ring, you won’t believe him ‘cause he’s clearly obsessed with the ring. Though that analogy’s not perfect, ‘cause Sauron’s empire is way smaller than Disney’s.

But now you can help. Senator Orrin Hatch and other members of Congress are working to find a solution that allows families to filter on any device and any streaming platform. Please contact your own representatives, and ask them to support Senator Hatch’s efforts.

Here’s how.

Most effective: visit their offices. Very effective: give them a call. It’s like texting, but with your voice. Effective: Post on their Facebook and Twitter since, unfortunately, e-mail messages are often ignored.

To make it easier, you can go to SaveFiltering.VidAngel.com and enter your Zip Code to find their contact info and our advice on what to say.

Thanks for all you do. Now go enjoy our other titles.

LEGAL UPDATE: Setting the Record Straight About Disney’s False Set of Claims Concerning VidAngel and ClearPlay

UPDATE: We have discovered that in some instances, on some devices, it is possible to stream 1080p from Amazon.com on Google Chrome. We have corrected the video and images in this post accordingly.

VidAngel is back! But Hollywood isn’t going to let stay up without a fight.

Disney claims it supports parental filtering but in the words of a well-respected former U.S. Senator, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts.”

Does Disney’s rhetoric match reality?

Let’s find out.

FACT: Disney is trying to block VidAngel’s new system from filtering movies. Here is a short video we submitted to the court Monday night taking a deeper look at its arguments:

It took 45 mins of repeatedly watching heads get blown open before we were able to get ClearPlay’s filters to work without crashing. After doing so, we counted at least 65 pauses while playing the movie. This is NOT what Congress intended when it passed the Family Movie Act, the law sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch that made filtering for families legal.

Want to know how you can help? Go to SaveFiltering.VidAngel.com, tell your Member of Congress to clarify the FMA to ensure its future. 

And, for those who are interested, let’s look at the other facts:

• FACT: June 8th – Disney tells the Ninth Circuit that if VidAngel comes up with a system that isn’t “premised on the DMCA,” VidAngel should file a motion to clarify the preliminary injunction. Watch here.

• FACT: June 19th – VidAngel submits a motion to clarify the injunction based on the new filtering system. Read motion.

• FACT: June 20th –  Disney asks the judge either to strike VidAngel’s motion or allow it at least three months to look into every aspect of VidAngel’s business, obviously trying to drain our resources and buy time. Read motion.

• FACT: June 21st – Senator Orrin Hatch announces his support of VidAngel and filtering.  Read story.

• FACT: June 22th – VidAngel opposes Disney’s requests to strike or for more time and discovery: Read opposition.

• FACT: The Court DENIES Disney’s requests to strike and for time time to conduct further discovery (give it up for small victories!).

• FACT:  July 3rd – Disney files opposition to the new VidAngel Technology. Read opposition

• FACT: July 10th – VidAngel files its reply. Read Reply.

• UPDATE: July 31st – hearing in LA scheduled to present the truth to the District Court.

We think the Schells’ comment below posted on Facebook sums up Disney’s opposition well:

• FACT: Disney’s words lead one to believe they support filtering, but its actions tell an entirely different story.

Want to know how you can help? Go to SaveFiltering.VidAngel.com, tell your Member of Congress that Disney’s Mickey Mouse image on filtering is Fantasy, or Fantasia if you wish.