Dutch court overturns ruling on former state secretary's words about illegal download

An appeal put to the Court of the Hague has overturned the 2018 decision about former Secretary of State for Justice Fred Teeven. The court ruled in September 2018 that Teeven’s statements about downloading files, made in 2011 and 2012, were wrong, and that downloading films, music and games from illegal sources is unlawful. The ruling went to appeal and was overturned on 11 August. All claims from Sekam, an organisation for film producers, have now been rejected.

The ban on illegal downloading had not yet been codified into Dutch law when Teeven made the statements, but it already existed in European legislation. The European Court of Justice ruled in April 2014 that the Netherlands should better protect copyright online. The download ban came later that year.

Film producers say they have been harmed by Teeven's statements, with Dutch people believing that illegal downloading was allowed. Film producers say they are losing millions worth of revenues every year due to piracy. Based on the original decision of the court of The Hague, the film producers wanted to enter into talks with the Dutch government to discuss compensation. Now that the judgment has been overturned on appeal, there will be no compensation.