Dutch report indicates that music and eBook sales have dropped, much more in The Netherlands than in other countries, and file sharing may have something to do with that.
Historically, downloading from an illegal source has been legal in The Netherlands. Only the process of uploading copyrighted content has been declared illegal by law, but that crime is not being enforced by local authorities.
On the contrary, they have officially indicated that no criminal prosecution in relation to piracy activities is to take place.
Dutch language news article:
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/83134/omzet-muziekdownloads-blijft-mogelijk-achter-door-illegaal-aanbod.html
See also:
BREIN Threat Of Criminal Prosecution Meaningless Because Dutch Government Issued Guideline Never To Criminally Prosecute Online Piracy
http://vrritti.com/2012/06/28/brein-threat-of-criminal-prosecution-meaningless-because-dutch-government-issued-guideline-never-to-criminally-prosecute-online-piracy/
Piracy and Privateering in the Golden Age – Netherlands
How can it be that the same society which crafted such exacting and specific legislation concerning piracy and its punishment could, at the same time, turn a blind eye to egregious examples of the very conduct it denounced?
http://vrritti.com/2012/01/28/piracy-and-privateering-in-the-golden-age-netherlands/
