Free Media Converter & Download. - Legal or not?

hitmeasap Level X⁵

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December 11, 2016, 2:30 pm

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Free Media Converter & Download. - Legal or not?

Hey guys,
Clip converter is only one of literally hundreds of similar tools you can find online. Anyone looking for a way to download a youtube video will most likely end up with clip converter or a similar tool within seconds, as an answer for their question.

What I wonder.. Is if it's actually legal to download videos or mp3 files this way?

I mean, shouldn't it be some sort of copyright infringement if you used clip converter for instance, for that latest, awesome funny video you just found on Youtube?

I've used this tool myself a few times and I know others who're using this tool frequently.. But I never really cared to ask the question. Is it legal?

Sure, one could and should always read TOS etc. But let's face it, most people don't do that, and I'm one of those guys, in this scenario.

That being said. Would it be legal to download something using a tool like this? - Or would any use of such a tool be some sort of copyright infringement?


Best Regards,
hitmeasap

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Lynne

Well I would think downloading just any Youtube video is not legal?

However that said I think the thing to look at here is that the software doesn't actually do anything illegal it is the person using it. So many things can be used legally and illegally and I think it is up to the person using it to decide which route they will take. That said it does sound a little sketchy to me.

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CryptoGuru

This is full blown piracy my friend, and 100% illegal. Some companies release thing exclusively on YouTube and they do not want people downloading it. The thing is that its hard to get caught doing this unless you are making a ton of money bootlegging. The other thing is its not a torrent file so your ISP cannot tell that your illegally downloading music or whatever. This is not copyright infringement unless your claiming you made the songs your downloading and your trying to sell them for a profit. This is stealing or theft of intellectual property and the other thing is if its a free release its even more unlikely that you get in trouble.

The best thing for you to do is to make sure that you keep this kind of thing to yourself lol. I am in no way telling you to illegally download music or anything else for that matter. If you like something you should buy it piracy is a crime. One of the largest piracy sites has been taken down recently and they should serve as an example for everyone and im not talking the pirate site either lol. I hope my answer helped you out! thank you for sharing!

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hitmeasap

Thank you jkeyz2, I appreciate your answer. I can see why this would be piracy, in some sense. But how about videos on youtube that are from "normal" people then? - I mean, I can see why it would be piracy in case I downloaded Eminem's new music video, or a new trailer for an upcoming movie for instance.

But how about funny cat videos or whatever, from normal people like you and me? - Would that still count as piracy? - And would it count as piracy even if I just kept it from myself, without sharing it with others in any way at all?

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Everett

Unless you actually own the content, or if the content is released under a Creative Commons license it's illegal to download. I do not even download youtube videos unless the creator has granted permission by a General Public License or granted permission to me via a message or similar.

Creative Commons - Youtube

As jkeyz2 has stated, it's piracy and illegal in most countries. You do not want to get caught with a lawsuit, or other negative legal action because you are downloading videos, or music via a converter. People do go down for this, but it's highly unlikely because of how often it happens. Just purchase what you want to download and support the author/creator/singer/etc!

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hitmeasap

Thank you Everett, I appreciate it. And yeah, I totally agree with you. I do purchase things I want. No matter if it's a song, an ebook or a new video game. I always support the original authors and creators, and I tell others to do the same. - But I'm still curious to know why it would be illegal to download something another person have shared for free, on youtube, which is a free website for everyone to use. - Like I stated above. I can see why it would be piracy and illegal if I downloaded Eminem's new music video or whatever.. But a funny cat video? - Would that still count as illegal or piracy?

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Everett

It depends on the type of license the video has. If the license states that it is okay to redistribute, etc than you may download it. I believe the only way to claim such a video as your own would be to completely change the video up a bit. People are constantly downloading videos, and uploading them to their own channels, for Adsense earnings. Google eventually finds this, and terminates Adsense, and Youtube accounts. However, if this person was to download a cat video, edited it to the point where you can claim as your own, then nothing would happen.

It's always best to check content licenses, most of the Youtube videos have this information near the "drop bar".

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CryptoGuru

I have to agree with Everett he is correct about this. You are less likely though to get sued for downloading a funny video or a local musician or artist. Unless your making money off of it they don't really have the resources to sue. I am not saying this makes it ok im just saying that downloading stuff for yourself is illegal and frowned upon downloading stuff to sell it will get you fined and arrested.

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Cristian

Well, I know people that are doing this for years now. Just use websites and converters like this to grab music from YouTube and download it into mp3 format.
I probably did it too a couple of times, I may even have a couple of songs on my phone probably. I always wondered if the people that uploaded the initial songs had any right or permission to do so, probably not.
As far as you don't use the music or video in some commercial purpose and you just keep everything for private and personal use, everything will be fine I guess.

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hitmeasap

Cristian, I know exactly what you mean. I've been using these tools myself too, even though I've used them just a few times. But I definitely have used them in the past, and I know literally a handful of people I could name right away, and all of them have been using tools like this for a long period of time too. However, as you said, as long as you're using these for your own use, I think it's "okay". - Although I truly believe that people should pay for whatever things they want to use or watch. The original owners/authors and creators should get paid for their work. - But if I decide to download a funny video from YouTube with crazy cats or human failures, then I'd do it without a second thought about "paying them for the work" so to speak, as it's free to watch the videos on YouTube after all.

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kgord

It sounds like you have gotten your answer. That being said, I don't there will be any consequences for doing it. I would use it at my own discretion knowing that is likely illegal, and there could potentially be problems done the road from doing it.

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augusta

I don't see anything legal about downloading someone for whatever reasons without prior permission from the owner.But as humans we do a lot of illegalities and get away with them,this does not make it right because the owner has the right to sue for this.Even the company producing the converter can also be sued for aiding and abetting crime but I know they just let it slide but the point is it never legal.

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