Slashdot points to a new Dutch study that finds that file sharing has positive economic effect on social welfare. The study, completed by several independent groups on behalf of the Dutch Ministries of Education, Economic Affairs, and Justice, acknowledges that file sharing may lead to some reduced sales for some artists, but that file sharing also have positive effects on purchasing behaviour. Industry Canada commissioned a study on the same issue, which concluded that there is a positive correlation between peer-to-peer downloading and CD purchasing.
Dutch Study Finds File Sharing Provides Positive Economic Impact
January 19, 2009
Share this post
2 Comments

Law Bytes
Episode 256: Jennifer Quaid on Taking On Big Tech With the Competition Act's Private Right of Access
byMichael Geist

Episode 256: Jennifer Quaid on Taking On Big Tech With the Competition Act's Private Right of Access
February 2, 2026
Michael Geist
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 255: Grappling with Grok – Heidi Tworek on the Limits of Canadian Law
January 26, 2026
Michael Geist
December 22, 2025
Michael Geist
December 8, 2025
Michael Geist
December 1, 2025
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Recent Posts
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 256: Jennifer Quaid on Taking On Big Tech With the Competition Act’s Private Right of Access
Government Says There Are No Plans for National Digital ID To Access Services
Government Reveals Digital Policy Priorities in Trio of Responses to Canadian Heritage Committee Reports
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 255: Grappling with Grok – Heidi Tworek on the Limits of Canadian Law
Canadian TikTok Ban Called Off as the Government Hits the Digital Policy Reset Button Once Again

This is good news! But….
“…positive economic effect on social welfare…”
Well, THERE’s two topics the Conservatives know nothing about! đ
like me buying the diablo 2 boxset after p2ping diablo2?
like me buying the diablo 2 boxset after p2ping diablo2?
getting it and trying it unhindered by DRM and crap and then saying htis is a very cool game i like it and going out and saving and buying a boxset that included manuals maps and an expansion disk.