Feb 13, 2023 21:00:00

GitHub and the Electronic Frontier Foundation submit a ``opinion supporting a website that downloads videos from YouTube'' in a lawsuit by the Recording Industry Association of America

A legal battle against the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by Yout.com, a web application that downloads videos from sites such as YouTube, GitHub and

the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) support Yout.com ( Amicus・Curie ) was submitted.

GitHub and EFF Back YouTube Ripper in Legal Battle With the RIAA * TorrentFreak
https://torrentfreak.com/github-and-eff-back-youtube-ripper-in-legal-battle-with-the-riaa-230210/

Github-amicus-brief.pdf
(PDF file) https://torrentfreak.com/images/Github-amicus-brief.pdf

EFF-amicus-brief.pdf
(PDF file) https://torrentfreak.com/images/EFF-amicus-brief.pdf

In October 2020, the RIAA applied to GitHub to delete the repository of `` youtube-dl '', a YouTube video downloader, based on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The relevant repository was temporarily deleted, but was revived in November 2020.

GitHub decides to revive the video download project 'youtube-dl' - GIGAZINE

At the same time, the RIAA applied to Google to exclude it from search results, stating that ``a website that allows you to download videos from YouTube bypasses YouTube's technical security measures and violates the DMCA.'' In response, Yout.com sued the United States District Court in Connecticut, saying, ``The RIAA's DMCA application is wrong.''

However, in October 2022, the federal district court dismissed Yout.com's claim, ruling that ``there is no evidence that Yout.com has not circumvented YouTube's technical security measures.'' Also, the federal district court pointed out that 'tools like Yout.com and youtube-dl allow people to download videos and music from YouTube even though there is no download button on streaming platforms such as YouTube.' increase.

Yout.com operator Jonathan Nader appealed the decision in February 2023. And in Yout.com's appeal, GitHub submitted an opinion to the appeals court in support of Yout.com's claims.

In its opinion, GitHub said, ``The federal district court has broadly construed the DMCA's access control technical measures provision (Section 1201) to unnecessarily threaten a myriad of widely used software. No,' he argued, claiming that the federal district court's conclusion was premature.

GitHub also said, ``YouTube's decision not to provide a download button does not limit access to copyrighted material.It simply affects the way users experience it.'' GitHub cites browser extensions such as translation and ad blockers, media player software that can play YouTube videos, etc., and developers of other software can also be held criminally responsible if the order of the federal district court is accepted. He warned that it would create volatility and effectively stifle innovation.

And EFF also submitted an opinion to the appeals court separately from GitHub. The EFF said, ``Yout.com's technology has legitimate and important purposes as well as copyright infringement uses. You can't say it violates the DMCA,' he said.

The EFF said, ``DMCA Section 1201 covers tools for bypassing technical access restrictions and does not apply to YouTube's JavaScript-based code. YouTube videos are not encrypted in the first place. It is sent to the user's device without being scrambled, and no login or password is required to access it.'

The EFF also said, ``Journalists and human rights watchdogs should copy and preserve videos documenting notable events, conflicts and wrongdoings on YouTube. We use tools to download copies of our work, ”he said, and the appeals court should reject the expanded interpretation of Section 1201 and reverse the dismissal of Yout.com's claim.