Warning email from Amazon

[IronicMan]

There is always Play on or something similar

maybe i will look into that thanks.

[Sebastian001]

I haven't downloaded anything from Amazon for a while, so no series. The last time was April/May. But I had about 200 downloads per day... try entering Microsoft Copilot to see how Amazon sees it. It talks about license requests without playback. I haven't tested it on Amazon yet. But on RTL+, every episode plays before downloading. By the way, it must also affect MusicFab. Maybe Google is too stupid to create a new Widevine :-)

[Stan001]

There is always Play on or something similar

Playon has been around a long time, but at the same time, so has streamfab. (And this problem has just now started with streamfab.)
YES, Playon itself admits it records. ($39.99/year using the home version)
Downside: I hate them because, since Windows 11, they stopped the lifetime support, as well as not being easily streamed, as it has to be cast from a computer.

Cast to your
Roku, Chromecast,
Fire TV and more.

[Fogue]

To confirm, you received the warning email/message prior to this one? If so, when did you get the warning email and when did you get this one? What were your download habits (number per day/concurrently, etc) since the first mesage?

No warning, I simply received this email and my account was deactivated immediately. Currently, I only download two series per week, 720p and 1080p of the same episodes, meaning four downloads per week. I’ve been avoiding downloading anything unnecessary as much as possible to prevent this, and even so, one month after managing to recover my account, it happened again. Now, I’ll just send the information they’re asking for and try to “recover” the account. Since I live in a country where copyright laws are less strict compared to first-world countries, I’ll try to appeal. Otherwise, I would never download anything from Amazon again; I’d just get it from private sites.

[MrMayor]

i guess i will go back to playing the show on my computer and recording the screen....don't think Amazon will protest about that...i don't have a movie theatre setup with several speakers, etc...i just watch on a tv using the tv speakers so i don't think I'll notice much difference...and all my stuff is 1080p at most, some 720p or even less...also i watch a lot of older shows like the three stooges...i find the emotional satisfaction i get from watching a screen recorded show is about the same as when i watch a show with better properties-details numbers. i remember watching a screen recorded show and thought "it looks really good, is this a screen recorded show or was it downloaded?"...however, occassionally, with a scene that involves panning the camera, there can be a bit of stuttering, i guess because there is a bit too much data for the screen recorder to take in to make it smooth... the only other thing is that it will take longer because i will want to run the recording thru handbrake to reduce file size, but i think handbrake has a batch option so i could let more than one show run at night while sleeping

There is always Play on or something similar

[IronicMan]

i guess i will go back to playing the show on my computer and recording the screen....don't think Amazon will protest about that...i don't have a movie theatre setup with several speakers, etc...i just watch on a tv using the tv speakers so i don't think I'll notice much difference...and all my stuff is 1080p at most, some 720p or even less...also i watch a lot of older shows like the three stooges...i find the emotional satisfaction i get from watching a screen recorded show is about the same as when i watch a show with better properties-details numbers. i remember watching a screen recorded show and thought "it looks really good, is this a screen recorded show or was it downloaded?"...however, occassionally, with a scene that involves panning the camera, there can be a bit of stuttering, i guess because there is a bit too much data for the screen recorder to take in to make it smooth... the only other thing is that it will take longer because i will want to run the recording thru handbrake to reduce file size, but i think handbrake has a batch option so i could let more than one show run at night while sleeping

[Stan001]

This has become more widespread. It does not matter what Amazon site you use.
The verified message is in Amazon messages if you have received a warning.
You may also see it in the email you use for Amazon.
Looking at the Reddit alternative to streamfab forum, much more info is becoming clear about what users are having happen.

They have now also banned/blocked/suspended accounts, that to me is a bit extreme. To me, they could just block offenders for 30 days from the movies/shows. Although even that can be harsh, but I am sure in Amazon's mind they are losing too much by people posting the movies to torrents and other means. Just like their poor selves needing to add ads even after raising prime membership several times.

And I hate to say it, but most posting for torrents or other means, I highly doubt using streamfab to gather the movies/shows, as I have seen 4K, which can't be done with StreamFab for most sites; only a few can be supported for 4K with StreamFab.

[DQ1]

I think StreamFab should start exploring implementing something like Requiem.

For the youngins that are not OG like some of us, the whole concept of WEB-DL for the masses started with Requiem. It was an app that would decrypt your downloads from iTunes.

So you would download things through iTunes, legit, and then run the app to remove the FairPlay DRM. I believe DVDFab had a program that did the same thing.

If SF can figure out a way to do this for things downloaded with the built-in function of PrimeVideo, we would at least have that.

I mean that's essentially doing the same thing as now is it not? Just maybe in a different order. You still move a file from a cloud resource to your device and decrypt it at some point. Still requires the download regardless of what app it is through and I personally believe it's the action of download whether in speed or cumulative number that is the signal.

But it's maybe a window into history that could repeat. Look how Napster and others were stomped out. A small number of people got hosed but the overall effect was the industry radically changed and now we have Spotify with access to anything and 99 cent songs where prior you were forced to buy a CD for $20. It could be argued though the CD was better because you physically possessed it. So less choice but it was yours.

[jpp72]

Yes, but it's in a cage, you can't get to it!

I think StreamFab should start exploring implementing something like Requiem.

For the youngins that are not OG like some of us, the whole concept of WEB-DL for the masses started with Requiem. It was an app that would decrypt your downloads from iTunes.

So you would download things through iTunes, legit, and then run the app to remove the FairPlay DRM. I believe DVDFab had a program that did the same thing.

If SF can figure out a way to do this for things downloaded with the built-in function of PrimeVideo, we would at least have that.

[MrMayor]

Second time this has happened. The first time, I was able to resolve it by calling them. When I log into Amazon, they say there was a payment issue (even though that’s not what the email says), and they ask me to send proof of payment for my last order. I’ll try again, but it’s getting complicated. I only download about 10 files per week at most, and today I received this email from them.

To confirm, you received the warning email/message prior to this one? If so, when did you get the warning email and when did you get this one? What were your download habits (number per day/concurrently, etc) since the first mesage?

[Fogue]

Second time this has happened. The first time, I was able to resolve it by calling them. When I log into Amazon, they say there was a payment issue (even though that’s not what the email says), and they ask me to send proof of payment for my last order. I’ll try again, but it’s getting complicated. I only download about 10 files per week at most, and today I received this email from them.

[Stan001]

I admit i was skeptikal because of the Hello without the name and the Account Specialist signature but upon searching all emails i received from Amazon, i stumbled across one from Amazon US when i was trying to reload a gift card. It does follow the weird format of the warning people have been getting:

OK, so we now have to accept it's real. Again, what to do. Users can only either stop downloading or be careful in what and how much they download.
Will it be easy or hard for streamfab to figure out how it's being detected, as well as then hide it from detection?

[Sebastian001]

Ok so now that we know these messages are legit, we need info from StreamFab to see if there is anything they can adjust on their end to make it more covert.

If it's not possible, then it will be back to Newsgroups only for me (For Amazon stuff). I never stopped using newsgroups as that is all automated with Sonarr. I usually just download stuff i already got off newsgroups but want H265 and subs in my languages.

If they want to lose money from me, they are doing a bang up job. You would think that someone paying $100/month, downloading stuff and NOT distributing it is better than someone not paying and therefore not downloading...

Before StreamFab, i had setup automatic conversion to H265 and removal of all subs except French and English so it's no huge loss. GPU is upgraded from RTX 3050 to RTX 4050 so conversion with nvenc is very fast. It's not lossless but it's mostly TV Shows. I am not gonna die.

With the last DRM update, they were still using the old version, and Streamfab just pretended to Amazon that it was the new version. Germania, or even you, told me something like that. Maybe that could be a clue...

The conversation took place at the time when you were wondering whether Amazon was using a different MPD, since the bitrates had plummeted after the DRM update...

I'm not guaranteeing anything. I could be wrong!

[MrMayor]

You can do that but don't get your hopes up. First, streamfab will have to verify this is happening. Second, figure out if/how Amazon is detecting this. And 3rd, possibly work out a miracle to stop Amazon from detecting it.

BTW, Amazon does allow downloading via their apps.

A couple of years ago (not sure if still in play) Disney would suspend someone for 24 hours if they downloaded 20-25 videos concurrently. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon did something similar, but the concurrent cutoff being less.

[jpp72]

I HIGHLY doubt we will hear anything from someone representing streamfab. If we do, I will be very shocked.
99% of those who say they got it, it was via email. The one that is concerning is TheRaven, who has stated it was in their Amazon Messages.
This is why jpp72 said it would be amazing if we could get a full screenshot, even if the member had to block out any identifying info before posting.
That can't be faked unless Amazon itself has been hacked. The emails are another issue.
It does seem to overall be very suspicious that some got it, and others who download tons of stuff have not.

Again, if members are concerned, they can completely stop downloading for a while from Amazon or restrict how much and what they download.

Also, even if there is someone from streamfab looking into it, they will have to not only figure out how it is being triggered by Amazon, but also how to bypass it. Especially those who received the message from AmazonUK and us, the .com version of Amazon.

Also, it could be triggered in many ways. But it still seems to be only reported by Streamfab users.

I admit i was skeptikal because of the Hello without the name and the Account Specialist signature but upon searching all emails i received from Amazon, i stumbled across one from Amazon US when i was trying to reload a gift card. It does follow the weird format of the warning people have been getting: