Clearplay and VidAngel both offer services to filter objectionable content from movies and TV shows, but they differ significantly in their methods of content delivery, their legal standing, and how they interact with copyrighted material.
Clearplay: The Legal Filtering Software
Clearplay operates as a software-based filtering service. It does not provide the content itself; instead, it allows users to apply filters (to skip objectionable scenes, language, or violence) to content they have legally acquired. This includes physical media like DVDs and Blu-rays, or content accessed through streaming services to which the user already subscribes.
Clearplay's model is generally considered legal because it aligns with the provisions of the Family Movie Act of 2005. This Act permits technologies that enable private viewing of filtered content without altering the original work or creating a new, unauthorized copy. Clearplay's software runs "on the fly" over legally-acquired content, meaning the user is merely applying a filter to content they already own or lawfully access, rather than Clearplay providing the filtered content itself.
VidAngel: Content Delivery and Legal Challenges
VidAngel's original business model was markedly different from Clearplay's and faced significant legal challenges from major Hollywood studios.
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Original Model (Pre-2017 Legal Battles): Initially, VidAngel purchased DVDs, ripped their content, and then streamed filtered versions of these movies and TV shows to its users. They employed a controversial "buy-back" model, where users would ostensibly "buy" a DVD for a dollar, watch the filtered version, and then "sell" it back for a partial refund. This model was found by courts to constitute copyright infringement, as VidAngel was creating unauthorized reproductions and public performances of copyrighted material. This approach did not fall under the protection of the Family Movie Act because VidAngel was providing the content directly, not just the filtering software for user-owned content.
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Current Model (Post-Legal Pivot): Following extensive legal battles and a multi-million dollar judgment, VidAngel pivoted its business model. Its current service integrates with existing popular streaming platforms (such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, etc.). Users subscribe to these platforms independently and then use VidAngel's software or browser extension to apply filters to the content they stream, similar in principle to Clearplay's original approach but adapted for the streaming era. This revised model is generally considered legally compliant, as it no longer involves VidAngel providing the copyrighted content directly.
Key Differences Summarized
The fundamental distinction lies in whether the service provides the content along with the filter or simply provides the filtering mechanism for content already legally accessed by the user.
| Feature | Clearplay | VidAngel (Original Model) | VidAngel (Current Model) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content Source | User's legally acquired content (DVDs, streaming subscriptions) | VidAngel-owned and ripped DVDs | User's existing streaming subscriptions |
| Method | Software applied on-the-fly by user | Ripping DVDs and streaming filtered copies | Software/extension applied to existing streaming services |
| Legality | Generally considered legal (per Family Movie Act) | Faced major lawsuits, deemed copyright infringement | Generally considered legal, aligns with Family Movie Act principles |
| Function | Provides filters for user-owned/accessed content | Provided filtered content | Provides filters for user-subscribed content |
| Evolution | Has largely maintained its operating model | Original model discontinued due to legal battles | Operates under a revised, legally compliant model |
In essence, Clearplay has consistently operated as a software tool that empowers users to filter their own content, remaining within the bounds of copyright law. VidAngel, after its initial contentious model, evolved to adopt a similar "filter-only" approach, but for content accessed via streaming services.
