Japanese video streaming service Rakuten TV has announced that it will stop selling “single purchase content” as of December 25, 2025, according to Otaku Soken. That means users will still be able to rent shows and watch via subscriptions and livestreams, but buying and permanently owning your copy of a show will no longer be a thing.
While this in itself was disappointing news for users of the platform, another announcement by Rakuten TV has prompted backlash. The company will impose a viewing deadline on content already purchased, so people will only be able to watch the shows in their libraries until December next year. The announcement includes no mention of refunds.
Given that most consumers believed they would have permanent ownership over the content they were buying up until now, the platform has been on the receiving end of scalding criticism from Japanese users on X.
“Damn, I paid over 65 dollars for the full series pack, but they can just make it impossible to watch with one simple announcement? I get that it’s in the fine print of the contract, but it’s still unbelievable. That’s awful.” (via X)
Isn’t this ridiculous? It’s like buying a DVD only to be told you won’t be able to watch it starting next year. They should at least let us download and save the content we’ve purchased. I mean, we paid for the right to watch it forever! This is crazy! (via X)
Rakuten TV’s decision appears to be legally sound, as its terms of service do state that even when content is labeled as “purchased,” it reserves the right to halt streaming or access under certain conditions. However, users of the platform are disappointed with the ethical side of things, calling on Rakuten to offer a better solution.
The incident has, unsurprisingly, prompted many to stress the importance of physical media when it comes to true ownership.
