News

Belgium bans videogame rentals

Posted on Saturday, 1 November 2008 by Speed, source: De Standaard
Only in Belgium something this stupid can happen.

Belgian newspaper De Standaard is reporting that as of December 1st, Belgian video rental stores are no longer allowed to have people rent videogames. In fact, according to Belgian law it has never been allowed in the first place but the government up to now has always closed their eyes on it.

Not anymore though, after the Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA) put pressure as they believe rentals to increase piracy, the government has decided to stop videogame rentals completely.

The local game industry hopes that this ban on rentals will increase actual sales. Personally I believe this is complete bollocks and that the rise in retail sales will be equal to the diminished sales to rental stores while piracy may even increase.
In other news:

6 Comment(s)

NINJAFISH

NINJAFISH

I dont even know if Gamefly is available in Belgium, but would any similar service be banned aswell?
I dont even know if Gamefly is available in Belgium, but would any similar service be banned aswell?
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Posted on 18:31, November 01st 2008
Speed

Speed

I don't know what Gamefly is, but if they allow you to rent games it would be banned indeed
I don't know what Gamefly is, but if they allow you to rent games it would be banned indeed
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Posted on 22:10, November 01st 2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

Hey, just thought I'd let you know this story has been debunked: gamegrep.com/news/15402-belgium_sees_illegal_game_rentals_cracking_down/

Perhaps you could update..=)
Hey, just thought I'd let you know this story has been debunked: http://gamegrep.com/news/15402-belgium_sees_illegal_game_rentals_cracking_down/ Perhaps you could update..=)
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Posted on 22:26, November 01st 2008
Speed

Speed

There are no "special rental copies" available... so in effect game rental will no longer be possible.
There are no "special rental copies" available... so in effect game rental will no longer be possible.
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Posted on 22:35, November 01st 2008
Anonymous

Anonymous

Game Rental is not banned, they are just banning what is illegal anyway, 'the purchase of retail copies for rental'. All rental games and movies, require you to buy wholesale.
Game Rental is not banned, they are just banning what is illegal anyway, 'the purchase of retail copies for rental'. All rental games and movies, require you to buy wholesale.
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Posted on 11:33, November 02nd 2008
Watcher

Watcher


Only in Belgium something this stupid can happen.
Well, erm, yeah :)
[quote]Only in Belgium something this stupid can happen.[/quote]Well, erm, yeah :)
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Posted on 21:42, November 02nd 2008
 

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