Slashdot Mirror


YouTube Download Sites Are the Biggest Piracy Threat To Music Industry, Industry Figures Say (independent.co.uk)

Websites dedicated to "stream ripping" music from YouTube represent the biggest threat to the global music business, UK news outlet The Independent reported this week, citing industry figures, who added that that these shady sites are also posing business threat to "fantastic range" of legal streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. The report describes the nature of the issue: Sites that allow YouTube videos to be converted into an MP3 file and illegally downloaded to someone's phone or computer are attracting millions of visitors, with estimates suggesting that a third of 16-24-year-olds in the UK have ripped music from the Google-owned platform. Other platforms affected by the illegal ripping sites include DailyMotion, SoundCloud and Vimeo, however YouTube is by far the most pirated. The results of a crackdown that began in 2016 are beginning to be seen, thanks to a coordinated effort by organizations representing record companies in the US and the UK. Earlier this week, stream ripping website MP3Fiber was forced to shut down following legal pressure. However, dozens of sites offering similar services still remain active and are easily accessible through Google, whose search engine provides more than 100 million results for the term "YouTube MP3 converter." The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said that even referring to the aforementioned questionable websites as "stream ripping" sites is misstating copyright law. "There exists a vast and growing volume of online video that is licensed for free downloading and modification, or contains audio tracks that are not subject to copyright," the EFF told the US Office of the United States Trade Representative last year. "Moreover, many audio extractions qualify as non-infringing fair uses under copyright. Providing a service that is capable of extracting audio tracks for these lawful purposes is itself lawful, even if some users infringe."

3 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Radio recording threat by GeekWithAKnife · · Score: 4, Funny

    That ability to record radio is a serious threat that steals food from the mouths of poor artists. We *must* ban all casette recorders due to this terrible threat. If people can record radio in an unregulated fashion the music industry will die. Sorry I meant to say that if people can dub casette tapes the music industry will die. Erm, I mean if people can record music digitally the music industry will die. *cough* Apologies. I meant that if people can send each other MP3s music will cease to exist. (But is there a pattern? -The music industry is going from strength tk strength FYI)

    --
    A 'singular oddity' is an event that cannot be explained and only happens when you are alone.
  2. Are the Biggest Piracy Threat To Music Industry by dissy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are the Biggest Piracy Threat To Music Industry

    You've used that phrase so many times that it's lost all meaning.

    Besides, I've consulted with our crack team of honey badgers and we are in unanimous consensus that the music industry is the biggest threat to the music industry.
    It's a scientific fact.

  3. Re:Speakers are by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Funny

    The best way to beat music piracy is to start making only crappy music. Oh wait, I think they're already working on that...