It has always been illegal.
Both for songs and for regular videos, even vlogs. You don't have the copyright to the recording, the creator of the video (or the owner for the sync/mechanical rights for a piece of music) has.
Both for songs and for regular videos, even vlogs. You don't have the copyright to the recording, the creator of the video (or the owner for the sync/mechanical rights for a piece of music) has.
"It IS illegal to convert copyrighted music videos into downloads. That said, nobody has been sued for this (yet).
Again, it is completely legal to watch any video you want on YouTube. Streaming from a legitimate site is permitted under copyright law. And if it doesn’t involve creating a video mp3 or download, you’re in the clear.
But, it IS illegal to create a personal download conversion of a copyrighted work under US copyright law. That includes an mp3, mp4, or any other download file type from your videos convert process."
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/10/10/youtube-to-mp3-s...
It is certainly violating YouTube terms of service.
Given the video is available publicly, copying the video is what happens every time you watch it from your computer.
The conversion point doesn't apply as YouTube videos are mp4 and you can just play a mp4 as audio.
I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer.
What's copying technically and what's from a legal perspective is not necessarily the same thing (and one version can be allowed while another is not).
>I'd argue it's covered by fair use but I'm not a lawyer.
Fair use is a US thing.
There are similar laws in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and maybe other countries.
There are also more nuances to it. E.g. lots of songs and movies on YouTube are uploaded illegally, and the ability to download personal copies doesn't extend to illegal material produced due a copyright violation. That for example is the case in German law. (So e.g. an official VEVO music video would be ok).
>This is essentially taping TV or radio, which is legal, right?
Taping TV or radio in some countries is allowed as part of a time-shifting permission (to be able to watch/hear at a later date when it's not longer broadcast). But technically this applies to broadcast media, not to online video which you can watch at a later time online anyway.
Note also that "fair use" is not applicable outside the US, specific laws apply to different countries, and in Europe things are usually towards more the creators/publisher's side.