Survey: 93 percent of Dutch youngsters download illegally
by Griffin McElroy 
{ May 23rd 2009 at 8:30PM }
An interesting caveat: Downloading copyrighted media isn't actually illegal in the Netherlands -- but uploading copyrighted works is. Bizarrely enough, the Dutch pirates' preferred form of file sharing is BitTorrent, with 45 percent using sites such as The Pirate Bay to yoink their movies, music and games. However, BitTorrenting, which causes users to download and upload simultaneously, is illegal under the Netherlands' copyright regulations. Fascinating, right? Right?
[Via MaxConsole]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tmacairjordan87 @ May 23rd 2009 8:36PM
In before all the ones that visit here conviently being in the 7% that don't.
Jaks @ May 24th 2009 7:29AM
Downloading is a complicated issue. Read more here:
http://www.cato-unbound.org/2008/06/09/rasmus-fleischer/the-future-of-copyright/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-copyright
iluvmyzune @ May 23rd 2009 8:37PM
duh everyone does. Telling someone not to download free movies after they started is like telling a crack addict to stop snorting crack. i don't get the games thing cuz u need a key to play the game?
tmacairjordan87 @ May 23rd 2009 8:41PM
That's what Cracks are for. They enable games to be played without a cd being in the drive or a key code.
Also, I think downloading old games is technically illegal (although I don't know why, it's not like any store is selling N64 games still) too and they don't require anything but an emulator.
Aero @ May 23rd 2009 9:05PM
I think it's illegal because Nintendo can still sell them like on the Virtual Console.
Johnathan @ May 23rd 2009 9:07PM
The Gamestop in my mall sold N64 games in a bargain bin. Then they took it out a couple years ago. Sons of bitches.
The Baron @ May 24th 2009 11:49AM
It's illegal because it's in the law that these things are copyrighted for decades. The fact that Nintendo can sell them on virtual console just provides a small amount of logical morality to the law.
Kamizar @ May 23rd 2009 8:37PM
What if they limit their upload speed to 0kbps?
Also, I wonder how many "Coffee" shops have free wifi.
ProgHead @ May 23rd 2009 10:14PM
Every one of them.
Just eat a space cake and smoke a hash joint and you're set for the internetz.
ShadowflareXIII @ May 23rd 2009 10:26PM
Maybe if game/movie companies did away with 'region codes', piracy would be lessened dramatically as well would eliminate the need for mod chips etc. across the board.
Regulating formats for the benefit of a corporation leading to price discrimination and creating a barrier for free trade is technically illegal too and has yet to be officially fought against...
But, "pirates" are the only bad guys according to popular opinion...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_lockout
As far as I'm concerned, if I bought a Japanese/PAL region game or movie and wanted to play it on a US 360 or Wii etc...and paid good money for it...I should damn well be able to do so without some message coming up onscreen giving me BS about it.
Period.
Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2009 8:41PM
How frequently, though? What are we talking about?
I mean, i've downloaded things. Megas XLR and SWAT Kats, i've illegally downloaded them. Would i qualify in the 93% alongside some kid with a cable connection and a BitTorrent app running 24/7?
Clarification is needed.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 23rd 2009 8:44PM
S.W.A.T. kats ruled.
slycooper_rocker (PSN SniperChameleon) @ May 23rd 2009 9:19PM
khan, your taste in TV is great. two great cartoon network shows that sadly got canceled. i'm losing respect for them because they're adding live action shows. shows as in more than one. on freakin cartoon network. not even their current lineup of total drama island/action, 6teen, chowder, flapjack, and ed,edd,and eddy can make up for that.
Insight (Attack the POINT, not the PERSON) @ May 23rd 2009 9:32PM
They are ditching the 'cartoon network' name as it turns out.
And Megas XLR is the greatest show to have ever hit CN. I can't stand 6teen but TDI is tolerable.
I wish Ed, Edd, and Eddy/Fosters weren't done for.
devilsei @ May 23rd 2009 9:33PM
Khan... all I had to read was Megas XLR to know you were amazing...
swat kats was just icing on that cake... and I want to eat it all up
sorry, just loved both of those shows, shame all cartoon network is doing is throwing in reality tv and shows with the same actors in practically the same rolls *coughTotalDramaIsland/ActionAnd6Teen*
Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2009 9:45PM
TDI is actually pretty good. I'm kinda looking forward to TDA
But i feel a little sick to my stomach when i see these horrible live-action shows they're pitching for this summer. what the hell, man.
Insight (Attack the POINT, not the PERSON) @ May 23rd 2009 9:56PM
They really oughta bring back the Funimation dub of One Piece.
MrKlorox @ May 23rd 2009 10:20PM
Exactly. Do they count people that do both as just a dirty pirate? What about those that pirate then determine if they want to invest in a purchase or if the game was not worth their time, let alone money?
Perhaps they clarify in the Dutch original?
slycooper_rocker (PSN SniperChameleon) @ May 23rd 2009 10:42PM
fatass, you do know that ed,edd,and eddy isn't finished right? they're just working on the movie. but yeah, fosters' death was a sad thing. seeing the special credits on the last episode made me tear up a bit.
6teen is great, just because of the awkward little moments they have on it. some episodes are completely unbearable and some are masterpieces. it all depends.
slycooper_rocker (PSN SniperChameleon) @ May 23rd 2009 10:44PM
oh, and toonami never should have left. or had that last 'update'. do they show naruto shippuuden on any TV network in america?
R @ May 23rd 2009 10:54PM
AS is going bad too. Anime only one night a week, and decent comedy being phased out for crap like tim and eric, delocated, etc,etc.
TV channels becoming crappy is even more of a reason that i watch stuff online/download it.
Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2009 11:25PM
The fun thing is that apparently (can't remember where i read this) ratings for One Piece went up, considerably, after they switched over to the Funimation dub, and they still canceled it
They're making an Ed, Edd, and Eddy movie though? Kickass.
devilsei @ May 23rd 2009 11:32PM
True, TDI/A and 6teen are good, just the same actors kind of bugs me, Ed, Edd and Eddy was great until recently when it started going a little downhill, and well Fosters? I loved the show... so sad to see it died...
I really do miss Toonami, it started going downhill but I remember when they first started airing it... I first saw Outlaw Star on that, and got me hooked heh.
As for Naruto, they stopped showing. They hit the "two years of filler" part Japan was stuck in. As for Shippuden, they were no where near it, so your best bet is fansubs, and I've heard you can watch it on the naruto site during one of the new commercials for the cardgame.
And I agree. AS is going down too, Tom goes to the mayor was bland, and T&EAS:GJ just... god makes me lose all hope for humanity with the crap they air. I actually like Delocated a bit, best new thing they've aired.
I miss the dedicated "anime saturdays" though. Now all the anime is shown later at night which sucks to be honest. Bring back Yu Yu Hakusho, bring back and don't edit Outlaw Star, get rid of Inuyasha (it got bad after what, 4th 5th time naraku was killed?). Keep Bleach, keep Big O. Get Neo Genesis Evengallien back. Hell, they need "Grenadier" and "Excel Saga". And please... Rurouni Kenshin? I miss that show...
Slaziman @ May 23rd 2009 11:49PM
you guys actually like ed edd and eddy? i always thought it was one of the worst shows on cartoon network, but maybe that was because i watched it dubbed into dutch
cuteSAVAGE @ May 24th 2009 7:38AM
All of this nostalgic Cartoon Network spiel, and not one mention of "Courage the Cowardly Dog."
For Shame! :P
BigD145 @ May 24th 2009 12:23PM
Courage was many orders of magnitude greater than Ed/Edd/Eddy.
slycooper_rocker (PSN SniperChameleon) @ May 24th 2009 12:41PM
we were mostly talking about the current lineup as in new episodes. courage stopped airing new episodes years ago. but yeah, that was a ballsy show. so was that cow & chicken show.
Josh @ May 24th 2009 2:10PM
Oh yeah! I had forgotten about Cow & Chicken!
Weird stuff......
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ May 24th 2009 5:58PM
Megas was awesome and the best show they had.
I slowly stopped watching cartoon network after they canceled Megas XLR,Courage the Cowardly Dog and Cow & Chicken.Some cartoons like Dexter's Lab and Johnny Bravo got worse after a while to the point they weren't worth watching anymore only the Powerpuff girls got better with the time.
The last cartoons I liked from CN were xiaolin showdown,mucha lucha,Kids next door,Samurai Jack and Duck Doggers.The Batman was okay but is not as good as JLAU and Batman TAS.I heard the Legion is worth watching and that Wolverine and The xmen is quite decent but I have never watch them,to be honest nowadays I don't watch anything except but the History channel.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 23rd 2009 8:44PM
Two things I hate: Piracy and the Dutch.
MystileArmor @ May 23rd 2009 8:51PM
Why? Cause we have legalized prostitution and weed?
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 23rd 2009 8:53PM
nvm. Can I come over and play at your house? :)
MystileArmor @ May 23rd 2009 8:56PM
Yeah but I'm grounded from prostitutes and weed, after the dead hooker that was found under my bunkbed.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 23rd 2009 8:58PM
lol! My bad. I really should apologize for not cleaning up my playthings.
LaughingTarget @ May 23rd 2009 9:34PM
9 year old pop culture references tend to go over people's heads, especially when it was based on the weakest of the trilogy.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 23rd 2009 9:50PM
Yeah, that will happen...
MystileArmor @ May 23rd 2009 10:25PM
Now, if you guys please excuse me, I am going to go for a schmoke and a pancake.
HighFiveJesus @ May 24th 2009 12:17AM
downvoted for a movie quote? i thought it was well played. asshattery. i do wish i had legalized weed though.. freakin a.
elmuerte @ May 24th 2009 12:11PM
@MystileArmor
Weed is not legalized. It's just legally tolerated.
MystileArmor @ May 24th 2009 1:09PM
Yeah I know it's "legally tollerated" but it wouldn't have done much good for the freakin' joke. I've lived for 20 years near Amsterdam, so I'm well aware of certain laws.
MechaGamerX @ May 25th 2009 9:42PM
I DONT DOWNLOAD AND I NEVER WILL!!!!
I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE AT ALL!!!
YOU WILL NOT B-BREAK ME, INTERNETS!!
HighFiveJesus @ May 24th 2009 12:47AM
wow..
maybe you should start
KeenCommander @ May 24th 2009 1:49AM
The Internets are (collectively) lies!
Sorry, just finished Portal today...so gotta be late on this bandwagon...
NukeAssault @ May 23rd 2009 8:48PM
Mind = Blown.
MystileArmor @ May 23rd 2009 8:50PM
Well, I'm Dutch, although not living in the Netherlands currently.
It is alot more common there. Alot of movies don't get a simultaneous release there, and alot of movies just period don't get released in Europe. Wanted to see Anchorman? Tough shit. Never came out there in theatres, and try finding it on DVD. It's hard as hell. Music cd's and DVD's have been overpriced there for a long time as well.
And no one over there really gives a rats ass about pirating in general. It hasn't been an issue there as of yet, from what I understand.
The economy also plays part in this. Alot of people make decent money, have health insurance etc. It's not an issue to having to pay for movies. Maybe 93% of the Dutch youth pirates music and movies, but that doesn't mean they don't spend alot of money on music, movies and games as well.
Slaziman @ May 23rd 2009 8:54PM
I'm dutch and the only thing I pirated was Rock Band 2 for the Wii (NTSC version).
The piece of crap still hasn't come out in Europe, or maybe it was released VERY recently since last time I checked it was going to be released sometime May.
But seriously that took a long long time.
XGM @ May 23rd 2009 9:10PM
Well don't worry, 100% of the people in my college course download stuff illegally, most of the time because we all get stuff before the release anyways. If its worth it we buy, if not they should have made a better game...
Slaziman @ May 23rd 2009 9:24PM
It's mostly music that the Dutch download (from what I've noticed in the people I know), but luckily for the music industry ringtones sell like hotcakes
ProgHead @ May 23rd 2009 10:19PM
Nhe, I wouldn't worry. I'm actually portuguese and I already went to visit Holland. Nice country you got there people. Portugal is trying to suceed the Netherlands in legalizing weed and hoes. But the hipocrisy level can sometimes be too big.
Jokin.
Actually youth people downloading games and videos and music, aint that big of a deal really. See it more as something every youngster passes through normally. Kind of like any youngster will pass that time where he tries a cigarrete, or has a year or so, where he goes out a lot and drinks a lot of alcohol, or, the time where one tries some dope fiendish drugs.
The sins people!! Watch out for the sins!
Jon2309 @ May 23rd 2009 9:03PM
...and the other 7% don't want to admit it.