AfterDawn: News

Downloading pirated content is now officially illegal in the Netherlands

The Dutch Ministry of Security has ruled that downloading content from unauthorized sources is illegal, and does not fall under the Netherland's private copying regulations.

Downloading pirated content causes damages to copyright holders and also encourages broader sales of pirated works, says the court.



The European Court of Justice (ECJ) was asked to make the decision after the Netherlands introduced a new levy on blank DVDs/Blu-rays, smartphones, set-tops and tablets as a way to compensate content holders for when consumers do private home copying of copyright protected content. The levy is three cents on discs, and up to €5 for devices.

Dutch film makers have argued that the levy is a good start, but cannot reverse the damages caused by unauthorized downloading and sharing. Film makers applauded the new ruling.

As of today, all downloading from illegal sites and other sources is now banned in the nations.

Source:
Court Decision

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Apr 2014 21:18

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• 4 comments

• KillerBug

  Quote: The European Court of Justice (ECJ) was asked to make the decision after the Netherlands introduced a new levy on blank DVDs/Blu-rays, smartphones, set-tops and tablets as a way to compensate content holders for when consumers do private home copying of copyright protected content. The levy is three cents on discs, and up to €5 for devices. What a load...they just assume that people buying phones and tablets will pirate content...but not people buying PCs??? Shouldn't you have the right to pirate €5 worth of content for every such device you buy?
  

  
  

  11.4.2014 11:34 #1

• ivymike

  Kinda ironic that weed is legal in this country but not personal piracy.......
  

  11.4.2014 20:51 #2

• xboxdvl2

  Originally posted by ivymike: Kinda ironic that weed is legal in this country but not personal piracy....... they should handle the legal cases in a coffee shop.
  

  custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.

  12.4.2014 15:03 #3

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by ivymike: Kinda ironic that weed is legal in this country but not personal piracy....... You can argue that piracy hurts content creators but you can't argue that selling crops hurts farmers. It would be nice if there was a provision that downloading isn't a crime if you own the original...but realistically most downloading is piracy. The thing that really annoys me is that they just assume that you are a pirate if you have a cell phone or a tablet. It is like being fined for speeding because you bought a car.
  

  
  

  12.4.2014 15:28 #4