Youtube Downloads

NowWhat_2

Hi

I know its illegal to do downloading of music from filesharing, etc. and I dont do it - at least I dont think I do, so can I clarify that point please to be sure?

As I understand the law - one can look at anything one pleases on YouTube and share it on a public blog if one wishes to. Lots of bloggers DO give YouTube clips on blogs and the main reason YouTube is there in the first place is that people can view music clips on it. So - I am just taking it that this must be perfectly okay legally - or such a large website as YouTube wouldnt exist (someone would have closed it).

Can anyone clarify on this please?

£$&*"($£&(

Your not allowed to post copyrighted material on Youtube and it does get removed, although this is often only if the copyright holder complains. I think there a good promotional advantage on a band having old videos or live performances from TV programmes on Youtube. I've checked a number of bands and songs there and then bought the album or track. However I'm sure clips from Jools Hollands Later or the old Sight and Sound in Concert still break copyright.

NowWhat_2

Thanks for that.

I understand what you are saying - and have seen elsewhere that I would have to ensure I was okay on the copyright front if I were the person who put the clip on YouTube in the first place.

So - as far as I can see - I am covered for giving a link to a clip that someone else has put on YouTube. Because:

1. The person who posted the clip on YouTube has the necessary permission from the copyright holder - so I have, by extension.

or

2. That person didnt bother to get the permission - but how would I know that fact? I just know that You Tube's terms of use state that the person posting the clip on YouTube in the first place has to have necessary permission - so I know that person will have the permission (and I would be in total ignorance of the fact if they had broken YouTube's terms and not got that permission first).

Stompa

2. That person didnt bother to get the permission - but how would I know that fact?

I don't know, but presumably it would apply to most TV programme clips? Either way, there are (or have been) a huge number of unauthorised clips on there:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7420955.stm

NowWhat_2

Hmmm...thanks for that Stompa.

The plot thickens it seems! So - YouTube are being held responsible by this company - despite their disclaimer stuff. I presume YouTube would be in the clear if they withdrew every single "suspect" thing - but, to them, that would mean the whole website going off air I guess.

So - to me - as an individual I guess I work on the basis that owt someone doesnt like being on YouTube - then that someone gets the clip removed - and my link wouldnt work anyway (I have found for some reason or other a few of my links have stopped working - could be thats why). Presumably if anyone wanted to stop me putting in a link at a personal level they would have to first give me a chance to do so by asking me - at which point, as long as I deleted the link, then no problem (with the fact that I have no way of knowing of myself if YouTube clips are legit).

Marty_J

I really wouldn't worry too much about it. If a copyright holder takes umbrage with a video on YouTube, it's YouTube they're going to be telling, not a site that links to the video. It's far easier to cut it off at the source.