German Court Upholds Ban on YouTube-DL Stream-Ripper Hosting in Landmark Ruling
A German appellate court has upheld a ruling against YouTube-DL's web hosting provider, reinforcing the music industry's ongoing efforts to combat stream-ripping services. The Hamburg Appeal Court's decision maintains both the initial injunction and damages order from early 2023.
Hamburg canal illuminated at night
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and Germany's Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) succeeded in their legal action against the host of YouTube-DL, a software tool that enables users to download audio from YouTube videos, potentially including copyrighted music content.
Key points of the ruling:
- The appeal was dismissed entirely
- The injunction requiring the host to stop hosting YouTube-DL remains in place
- The damages order stands
- The decision is final with no further appeals authorized
This ruling represents part of a broader global effort to combat stream-ripping services. Similar legal actions have resulted in:
- ISP blocks in India and the UK
- Shutdown of Russia-based FLVTO.biz in the US
- Recent takedowns of fake stream providers in Canada
- Court-ordered closure of Germany's PimpYourFollower.de
Despite these legal victories, the challenge of controlling stream-ripping and fake streaming services persists. For example, when PimpYourFollower.de was shut down, a similar service, RatingHero24.de, quickly emerged to take its place, demonstrating the ongoing nature of this challenge.
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