3 ms·

Downloading the sound of youtube videos is illegal now?

coldtea 8y ago
It has always been illegal. Both for songs and for regular videos, even vlogs. You don't have the copyright to the recording, the creator of the video (or the owner for the sync/mechanical rights for a piece of music) has.
- salutonmundo 8y ago
  Really? I was under the impression that there's no legal distinction between "the website sending you a file and you caching it in memory" and "the website sending you a file and you storing it on your hard drive". (Redistributing the file, or breaking DRM, are different matters.)
  - coldtea 8y ago
    The have a terms of service, and ripping in this way is against it. "It IS illegal to convert copyrighted music videos into downloads. That said, nobody has been sued for this (yet). Again, it is completely legal to watch any video you want on YouTube. Streaming from a legitimate site is permitted under copyright law. And if it doesn’t involve creating a video mp3 or download, you’re in the clear. But, it IS illegal to create a personal download conversion of a copyrighted work under US copyright law. That includes an mp3, mp4, or any other download file type from your videos convert process." https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/10/10/youtube-to-mp3-sites-illegal/ https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/10/10/youtube-to-mp3-s...
    - framp 8y ago
      That doesn't look like a reputable source for legal advice. It is certainly violating YouTube terms of service. Given the video is available publicly, copying the video is what happens every time you watch it from your computer. The conversion point doesn't apply as YouTube videos are mp4 and you can just play a mp4 as audio. I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer.
      - coldtea 8y ago
        >Given the video is available publicly, copying the video is what happens every time you watch it from your computer. What's copying technically and what's from a legal perspective is not necessarily the same thing (and one version can be allowed while another is not). >I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer. Fair use is a US thing.
- rightbyte 8y ago
  Illegal in what country? This is essentially taping TV or radio, which is legal, right?
  - coldtea 8y ago
    As per Google's YouTube terms of service: "you agree not to access Content through any technology or means other than the video playback pages of the Website itself, the YouTube Player, or such other means YouTube may explicitly designate for this purpose". There are also more nuances to it. E.g. lots of songs and movies on YouTube are uploaded illegally, and the ability to download personal copies doesn't extend to illegal material produced due a copyright violation. That for example is the case in German law. (So e.g. an official VEVO music video would be ok). >This is essentially taping TV or radio, which is legal, right? Taping TV or radio in some countries is allowed as part of a time-shifting permission (to be able to watch/hear at a later date when it's not longer broadcast). But technically this applies to broadcast media, not to online video which you can watch at a later time online anyway. Note also that "fair use" is not applicable outside the US, specific laws apply to different countries, and in Europe things are usually towards more the creators/publisher's side.
- ajnin 8y ago
  Not true, at least not everywhere, for instance in France, there is a right to make a copy of a copyrighted work for one's own private use. Or rather, this is not a right but an exception to the right of the copyright holder who cannot restrict that specific usage. A tax is paid on each blank media sold and distribited to copyright holders in compensation. There are similar laws in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and maybe other countries.

It has always been illegal. Both for songs and for regular videos, even vlogs. You don't have the copyright to the recording, the creator of the video (or the owner for the sync/mechanical rights for a piece of music) has.

salutonmundo 8y ago
Really? I was under the impression that there's no legal distinction between "the website sending you a file and you caching it in memory" and "the website sending you a file and you storing it on your hard drive". (Redistributing the file, or breaking DRM, are different matters.)
- coldtea 8y ago
  The have a terms of service, and ripping in this way is against it. "It IS illegal to convert copyrighted music videos into downloads. That said, nobody has been sued for this (yet). Again, it is completely legal to watch any video you want on YouTube. Streaming from a legitimate site is permitted under copyright law. And if it doesn’t involve creating a video mp3 or download, you’re in the clear. But, it IS illegal to create a personal download conversion of a copyrighted work under US copyright law. That includes an mp3, mp4, or any other download file type from your videos convert process." https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/10/10/youtube-to-mp3-sites-illegal/ https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/10/10/youtube-to-mp3-s...
  - framp 8y ago
    That doesn't look like a reputable source for legal advice. It is certainly violating YouTube terms of service. Given the video is available publicly, copying the video is what happens every time you watch it from your computer. The conversion point doesn't apply as YouTube videos are mp4 and you can just play a mp4 as audio. I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer.
    - coldtea 8y ago
      >Given the video is available publicly, copying the video is what happens every time you watch it from your computer. What's copying technically and what's from a legal perspective is not necessarily the same thing (and one version can be allowed while another is not). >I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer. Fair use is a US thing.
rightbyte 8y ago
Illegal in what country? This is essentially taping TV or radio, which is legal, right?
- coldtea 8y ago
  As per Google's YouTube terms of service: "you agree not to access Content through any technology or means other than the video playback pages of the Website itself, the YouTube Player, or such other means YouTube may explicitly designate for this purpose". There are also more nuances to it. E.g. lots of songs and movies on YouTube are uploaded illegally, and the ability to download personal copies doesn't extend to illegal material produced due a copyright violation. That for example is the case in German law. (So e.g. an official VEVO music video would be ok). >This is essentially taping TV or radio, which is legal, right? Taping TV or radio in some countries is allowed as part of a time-shifting permission (to be able to watch/hear at a later date when it's not longer broadcast). But technically this applies to broadcast media, not to online video which you can watch at a later time online anyway. Note also that "fair use" is not applicable outside the US, specific laws apply to different countries, and in Europe things are usually towards more the creators/publisher's side.
ajnin 8y ago
Not true, at least not everywhere, for instance in France, there is a right to make a copy of a copyrighted work for one's own private use. Or rather, this is not a right but an exception to the right of the copyright holder who cannot restrict that specific usage. A tax is paid on each blank media sold and distribited to copyright holders in compensation. There are similar laws in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and maybe other countries.