Is Pirating Movies Legal in Denmark After the 2026 Law Changes?

No, pirating movies in Denmark violates the Copyright Act (Ophavsretsloven) and EU Directive 2019/770, exposing individuals to civil liability and criminal penalties under the Markedsføringsloven and Straffeloven. The Danish Agency for Digitisation (Digitaliseringsstyrelsen) enforces these rules, with ISPs collaborating via the Copyright Infringement Notice Scheme to track offenders. Fines range from DKK 2,000 to 50,000, while repeat offenders face imprisonment up to 6 months under the 2026 amendments to the Criminal Code.

Key Regulations for Pirating Movies in Denmark

  • Copyright Act (Ophavsretsloven) §§ 2-3: Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or streaming of copyrighted films constitutes infringement, even for personal use, as Denmark adheres to the EU Copyright Directive.
  • EU Directive 2019/770 & Danish Implementation: The 2026 transposition of the Digital Services Act strengthens obligations for platforms to remove pirated content within 24 hours of notice, increasing liability for torrent sites and streaming services.
  • ISP Enforcement & Takedown Notices: The Copyright Infringement Notice Scheme (2021) requires Danish ISPs to issue warnings to users detected accessing illegal streams, with persistent violations escalating to legal action via the Danish Copyright Society (Copydan).