A popular YouTube download tool has been removed from GitHub by the recording industry

The world’s most popular software repository has been issued a downgrade notice for the removal of a popular open source tool used to download YouTube videos, which it claims will be used to “copy and / or distribute” copyrighted works.

Friday, Letter from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Published on GitHub, A website now used to store and collaborate on software development owned by Microsoft.

This letter lists 18 copies of YouTube-DL, which allowed users to easily download YouTube videos from the command line (which you can actually do in some countries) and claim that they are being used for copyright infringement.

While this may seem like a TMCA downgrade notice – the document sent to the service hosting the copyright item, it was sent without consent to order its removal – the letter was about the potential of the tool for copyright infringement, rather than examples of actual infringement.

“The clear purpose of this source code is to (i) avoid technical security measures used by authorized streaming services such as YouTube, (ii) to reproduce and distribute music videos and audio recordings owned by our member companies without authorization for such use,” the letter states.

In response, GitHub has removed plans from service.

What’s wrong with hosting a tool that can download YouTube videos?

There is nothing illegal about a tool that allows you to download YouTube videos.

There is an endless amount of content that you can legally download from the Service: Videos licensed by Creative Commons, lost copyright or owned by you.

The YouTube-DL program is popular with streamers who want to keep copies of their works and archivists who want to save web history.

But the RIAA accuses the plan of violating anti-circular rules in US law. According to Parker Higgins, a former Electronic Border Trust activist, the RIAA did not prove copyright infringement listed in the letter.

“This part of the letter is decorated like a TMCA notice, but it’s a melee. The” function “that RIAA says is unrecognized is imaginary. If an owner approves the copy, that copy will be (explicitly) approved,” he said. Tweeted.

This part of the letter is decorated just like the TMCA announcement, but it is melee. The “function” that RIAA claims to be unrecognized is imaginary. If an owner authorizes copying, that copy will be (explicitly) approved. pic.twitter.com/yfQOpyfAH6

– Parker Higgins (orxor) October 23, 2020

In this situation, the RIAA is like trying to stop the use of a hammer Can Used to smash windows. Does that make sense? You be the judge.