German Appeals Court Confirms Ban and Damages Against YouTube-DL Host in Stream-Ripper Battle
The Hamburg Appeal 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 court dismissed the defendant's appeal entirely, maintaining both the injunction to stop hosting YouTube-DL and the original damages order. This decision, which cannot be further appealed, marks a significant victory for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and Germany's Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI).
Hamburg canal illuminated at night
YouTube-DL, a software tool that enables users to download audio from YouTube videos, has been a target of industry legal action for years. The IFPI emphasized that this software has enabled numerous stream-ripping services to illegally obtain music from licensed platforms, depriving artists and rightsholders of revenue.
This ruling sends a clear message to both ripping service operators and online intermediaries that facilitating illegal content downloading will have consequences. The decision reflects a broader global crackdown on stream-ripping services, with similar legal actions occurring in India, the UK, and other nations.
Recent industry efforts have also expanded to combat fake streaming services. Notable actions include:
- Takedowns of fake stream providers in Canada (March 2024)
- Court-ordered shutdown of Germany's PimpYourFollower.de (August 2024)
- Ongoing challenges with replica sites, such as RatingHero24.de emerging to replace banned services
The music industry continues to face challenges in combating both stream-ripping and artificial stream manipulation, particularly as streaming revenue growth slows and concerns about streaming fraud schemes increase.
Related Articles
Travis Scott, SZA, and Future Hit With Copyright Lawsuit Over 'Telekinesis' by Roc Nation Artist
