Home copying levy
The home copying levy is a tax consumers pay when purchasing storage media (such as blank DVDs and external hard drives) and devices (such as tablets, phones and computers). The levy compensates authors, artists and producers for copying music and movies for private use.
In the Netherlands, making a copy of copyrighted material is permitted, provided it is for personal use. The primary purpose of the home copying levy, which is distributed by Stichting de Thuiskopie, is to compensate copyright owners for the income they lose as a result.
Illegal downloading
In addition, the home copy levy was used to compensate copyright holders for downloading work from illegal sources. Downloading material protected by copyright was always allowed in the Netherlands. Only uploading was illegal. In 2013, as a result of a European ruling, 'illegal downloading' was also no longer allowed in our country. As a result, the home copy levy was lowered.