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 own material, which was unquestionably always legal.YouTube downloaders are just modern day VCRs. That they can be used to violate copyright doesn't mean they are only used to violate copyright. There are plenty of public domain videos on YouTube, and downloading them doesn't violate copyright.