Legal concerns about downloading YouTube videos using third-party software or tools, which are known as YouTube downloaders, are serious. According to the Terms of Service, YouTube prohibits downloads of content without prior permission, with the exception of a download button provided by the platform itself. In 2023, YouTube had over 2 billion monthly active users, and the platform generated $29.24 billion in advertising revenue. Even with the widespread use of third-party tools, it remains a violation of YouTube’s intellectual property rights, and in the United States, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. One of the most recent, high-profile cases in 2021 involved the creators of the popular YouTube downloader “4K Video Downloader,” which was temporarily blocked by YouTube in an effort to continue to protect its content.
The legality of youtube downloaders is dependent on the jurisdiction. The exception, of course, might be made in some regions for users to download videos for personal use only; but redistributing or using downloaded content for commercial purposes is very likely a breach of copyright. As YouTube enforces terms quite broadly, various famous companies, including Google, have worked to remove apps enabling unauthorized video downloading. Google removed more than 100,000 YouTube-related apps from the Play Store in 2020 for breaching copyright regulations, and most of those provided YouTube download capabilities. “Intellectual property rights protect creativity and assure that creators are rewarded for their work,” says Jonathan L. Zittrain, a professor of law at Harvard University, drawing broader significance from the issue of respecting the rights of content creators in the digital age.
In 2023, YouTube itself introduced a “YouTube Premium” service, which lets users download videos legally for offline viewing within the YouTube app. This app, for $11.99 per month, provides a legitimate solution for offline access. This service, however, has limitations regarding the distribution and usage of downloaded videos. Downloading content from YouTube without permission can result in fines, takedown requests, and even legal action in some countries.