Last week, Roku started to slowly roll out a mandatory update to its terms of service. These new terms change the dispute resolution terms with Roku, but it is not clear exactly what changed. When the new terms and conditions message shows up on a Roku Player or TV, your only option is to accept them or turn off your Roku and stop using it. Now these new terms with the same restrictions have come to The Roku Channel streaming service.
This week Roku also started to roll out these new terms of service to users of its ad-supported streaming service and subscription store. The streaming service The Roku Channel is now making viewers agree to new terms, or they can not use the app. There only options are to view the terms and conditions or accept them. There is no option to decline the new terms unless you just stop using the app. The Roku Channel offers free movies and TV shows but also lets you subscribe to paid services through the app.
In an email to customers about the Roku player and Roku TV update, Roku says:
We wanted to let you know that we have made changes to our Dispute Resolution Terms, which describe how you can resolve disputes with Roku. We encourage you to read the updated Dispute Resolution Terms. By continuing to use our products or services, you are agreeing to these updated terms.
Thank you for making Roku part of your entertainment experience.
The Roku Team
Roku does offer a way to opt out of these new arbitration rules if you write them a letter to an address listed in the terms of service. You do need to hurry though as you only get 30 days to write a letter to Roku to opt out. It is unclear if that is from when you bought your Roku or agreed to these new terms. It is unknown why both owners of Roku Players and Roku TVs along with viewers of The Roku Channel must agree to these terms now.
Customers are understandably confused by the new terms of service that have appeared recently. Raising questions about why now and why such aggressive messaging about them forces you to manually accept them or stop using your device. Roku has slowly been rolling out these new terms of service, and if you have not received them yet you likely will in the days to come at least in the United States.
The new terms of service do come a few weeks after Roku sent developers a beta version of its new Roku OS 13. It is unknown if these are related.
Cord Cutters News has reached out to Roku for comment and will update our story if we hear back.
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