[pttrpttrwttr]

I really don't see why Netflix needs insider knowledge or whatever to be able to detect john.doe as being the same as johndoe.

[SlowBro]

I believe it’s because this feature is largely unique to Gmail? So Netflix would need to know and maintain a database of rules based on domains.

* Gmail: Dots are cool.

* Hotmail: No capes! I mean dots. No dots!

* Multiplied by 8 hundred gazillion domains...

[DataWorker]

You’re thinking too much like a programmer. It’s a single rule for a single domain that accounts for the majority of users.

The right thing to do is ask for a password, but absent that, accounting for gmail addresses seems worthwhile. It would save them getting a thread like this on hn.

[patcheudor]

No database needed, just ask for e-mail validation by sending an account validation link to the e-mail. Problem mostly solved.