European Union: Supreme Court of the Netherlands referred case to Court of Justice of the European Union on whether offline streaming copies fall within the private copying exception

On 17 July 2024, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands lodged a request for a preliminary ruling with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Stichting de Thuiskopie and SONT v HP Nederland, Dell, Stichting Overlegorgaan Blanco Informatiedragers (Case C-496/24). The case concerns whether offline streaming copies- downloads of protected musical or audiovisual works placed on a user's device by a paid streaming service provider for offline playback-constitute reproductions for private use within the meaning of Article 5(2)(b) of Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands referred 3 questions: whether an offline streaming copy can be regarded as a reproduction made by a natural person for private use under Article 5(2)(b), read in conjunction with the three-step test in Article 5(5), whether the objectives of Directive 2001/29/EC preclude a national regulation excluding offline streaming copies from the private copying exception, and whether it is relevant whether rightholders receive compensation per offline streaming copy made or per number of plays.