Tell HN: YouTube download websites disappearing from Google search results
The VCR was a tool that allowed people to time-shift (record now, watch later) copyrighted material, which was determined by courts to be fair use. It also allowed people to duplicate their <i>own</i> material, which was unquestionably always legal.<p>YouTube downloaders are just modern day VCRs. That they <i>can</i> be used to violate copyright doesn't mean they are <i>only</i> used to violate copyright. There are plenty of public domain videos on YouTube, and downloading them doesn't violate copyright.