Lots of people use tertiary-political party tools to download YouTube videos—simply is it legal to do so?

Sometimes, the case is articulate-cutting (for example, downloading Television receiver shows or music videos is illegal), but what about other types of content? Is information technology ever illegal to download YouTube videos, or are in that location occasions when you're allowed to do so?

Let'south have a closer expect at the legality of downloading YouTube videos.

What Does YouTube Say Near Downloading Videos?

Information technology's essential to differentiate the ii sides of the question. On the one manus, there's the question of how YouTube views the situation. On the other, there are the national laws of the country in which the downloading is taking identify.

And so, we'll start with YouTube. When you watch a video on YouTube, you agree to abide by the company's terms.

Here's the of import part of YouTube's Terms of Service:

You lot are not allowed to [...] admission, reproduce, download, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, alter, modify or otherwise utilise any role of the Service or any Content except: (a) as expressly authorized by the Service; or (b) with prior written permission from YouTube and, if applicable, the corresponding rights holders.

There's no room for interpretation; YouTube explicitly forbids y'all from downloading videos unless you have permission from the company itself.

Can YouTube Ban You for Downloading Videos?

If you contravene the Terms of Service, YouTube has a range of legal options available to it. Theoretically, everything from a ban to a ceremonious lawsuit could be on the table.

That said, YouTube has never sued anyone for downloading content. Several years ago, the company did consider suing one of the largest YouTube video downloaders (YouTube-MP3.org) for breach of the Terms of Service, but backed downwards after the site refused to budge.

Interestingly, YouTube-MP3.org eventually shut down in 2017 after Sony Music and Warner Bros launched a copyright infringement lawsuit against it.

Is Downloading YouTube Videos Against the Law?

youtube downloader

We've learned that YouTube doesn't like video downloaders, even if information technology may be happy to turn a bullheaded eye to them for now. Only what nearly the police force? Are y'all committing a crime if you download a video from YouTube?

Equally is often the mode—it depends. Let's wait at how United states law views the downloading of YouTube videos.

When Is Downloading YouTube Videos Illegal?

In the United States, copyright police force dictates that information technology is illegal to make a copy of content if you lot exercise not have the permission of the copyright owner.

That applies to both copies for personal use and to copies that yous either distribute or financially benefit from.

As such, downloading Goggle box series, movies, sports clips, or any other copyrighted content on YouTube is breaking the law. It puts you lot at hazard of facing a criminal trial. The situation is the same across the Britain and the European Union.

In practice, the take chances of facing a criminal lawsuit—especially equally an private—is extraordinarily slim, but you lot are breaking the police force regardless.

We've established that downloading video means you're always breaching YouTube'south terms. Nosotros also know that if you download copyrighted content, you're breaking the law. But are at that place any times when it's legal to download YouTube videos?

Yes! You can use third-party YouTube downloaders to download videos for which the copyright laws practise not apply, or videos for which the copyright grants you the right to reproduce the video.

There are a few dissimilar types of videos you can legally download on YouTube:

  • Public domain: Public domain works occur when the copyright has expired, been forfeited, been waived, or been inapplicable from the commencement. No one owns the video, pregnant members of the public can reproduce and distribute the content freely.
  • Creative Eatables: Creative Commons applies to works for which the artist has retained copyright, but has given the public permission to reproduce and distribute the work.
  • Copyleft: Copyleft grants anyone the right to reproduce, distribute, and alter the work, as long every bit the same rights apply to derivative content. Read our commodity explaining copyright vs. copyleft if you would like to acquire more.

With a scrap of digging on YouTube, yous can find lots of videos that fall under one of the above categories. Think, downloading the videos volition still interruption YouTube's Terms of Service, but will not plant a criminal human action.

The Moral Argument of Downloading Videos

Of course, there's likewise a moral question surrounding the process of downloading YouTube videos.

In much the same way that sites like MUO rely on ads to keep providing readers with free content, many YouTube personalities live off their channel revenues.

By downloading the video and sharing information technology with friends offline, you deny the creator clicks, and past extension, reduce their income. In an farthermost state of affairs, the creator could sue for loss of earnings.

Are the Authorities Fighting a Losing Boxing?

A quick look at any search engine will reveal a bevy of sites, tools, and apps that let you download YouTube videos.

It's probably why nosotros've non heard from YouTube about whatsoever new lawsuits against the tools' operators. Information technology appears that the company has decided that the difficulty of creating legally watertight cases confronting the sites is more problem than it's worth.

Anecdotal evidence fifty-fifty suggests many of the YouTube downloader sites are being allowed to run Google Ads. Perhaps Alphabet is more concerned with monetizing those sites' vast traffic than penalizing them.

Equally was the instance with piracy in the 2000s, the whole thing is developing into a game of whack-a-mole betwixt the apps/sites/tools and TV networks and record labels. As soon every bit one site is forced offline, a dozen new offerings popular up in its place.

Let'southward recap what nosotros've learned:

  • Downloading videos from YouTube is in breach of YouTube's Terms of Service, and the company could sue yous.
  • YouTube has shown no want to penalize users for downloading videos.
  • Downloading copyrighted videos without permission is a criminal act.
  • Some videos with the correct licenses are legal to download from a criminal standpoint.

And all of this probable applies to all the other video sites out at that place, so be conscientious.

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About The Author

Dan Price (1604 Manufactures Published)

Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been Partnerships Director since July 2020. Attain out to him for inquires about sponsored content, affiliate agreements, promotions, and whatsoever other forms of partnership. Y'all tin also find him roaming the show floor at CES in Las Vegas every year, say hullo if you're going. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant.

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