Can I download movies?
No — downloading (or streaming) movies or series from an illegal source is forbidden. Only legal platforms like Netflix or Streamz are fine. Copying copyright-protected films is not allowed without authorization (art. XI.165 of the Code of Economic Law). The private-copy exception (art. XI.190, 9°) does not cover a download from a manifestly illegal source — the EU Court of Justice ruled so (ACI Adam judgment). Illegal streaming also falls outside the exception (Filmspeler judgment). In practice enforcement mainly targets those who upload or share (torrents), but downloading remains unlawful. Since 1 June 2024 the judge can also quickly have sites blocked: in one year nearly 150 illegal sites were made inaccessible. Anyone infringing risks damages and, for counterfeiting, criminal fines.
📋 The rules
- Copying protected films needs the rightsholder's authorization (art. XI.165 CEL)
- The private-copy exception (art. XI.190, 9°) does not cover a download from an illegal source (CJEU, ACI Adam)
- Illegal streaming also falls outside the exception (CJEU, Filmspeler)
- Enforcement mainly targets uploaders/seeders, but downloading remains unlawful
- Since 1 June 2024: fast judicial blocking of illegal sites (± 150 in a year)
- Legal platforms (Netflix, Streamz, Disney+ …) are of course allowed
🔓 Exceptions
- A private copy is allowed from a legal source (e.g. a DVD you own), for personal use
- Works in the public domain (author died > 70 years ago) or under a free licence may be freely copied
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Downloading or streaming from an illegal source is a copyright infringement. Rightsholders can claim full damages and obtain a cease order (also against intermediaries such as providers). Someone who wilfully counterfeits risks a criminal fine of €500 to €100,000 and/or 1 to 5 years (Book XV CEL), doubled on repeat. In practice individual downloaders are rarely prosecuted; the focus is on uploaders and illegal IPTV.
📎 Official sources
- FPS Economy · illegal streaming and downloads →
- FPS Economy · copy for personal use (private copy) →
- deJuristen · torrents, downloading and streaming →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I download a movie for personal use?
Not from an illegal source. The private-copy exception only applies to a legal source. Downloading a film from a pirate site is therefore a copyright infringement.
And illegal streaming?
That too is forbidden: the EU Court ruled you cannot invoke a copy exception for a manifestly illegal source. Only legal streaming services are fine.
Will I be prosecuted as a downloader?
Rarely. Enforcement mainly targets those who upload or share and illegal IPTV. But downloading remains unlawful, and sites have been blocked faster since 2024.
Can I copy a DVD I own?
For purely personal use and from that legal source, a private copy is allowed. Distributing or sharing is not, and circumventing technical protection can be separately problematic.
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