Many content creators and YouTube channel owners try to make videos by using clips from already existing videos. Sometimes, users may want to download YouTube videos in bulk on their devices for later viewing offline. In such cases there is a strong demand for downloading of YouTube videos. And where there is demand there is supply. Last decade has seen a huge surge in number of YouTube video downloader websites, browser extensions and software tools. But are these tools really legit.
Is downloading videos from YouTube legal?
YouTube terms of service state that content creators have a copyright claim over all their content, which means it would be illegal to download any YouTube videos to your device without the permission of content creators. However, contrary to this YouTube does have its fair use policy when it comes to using videos of other content creators. Under fair use, use of other YouTube videos is allowed under certain cases.
Different countries around the world have different copyright laws. YouTube does take local rules into consideration when determining copyright infringements. For e.g. in the United States, works of commentary, criticism, research, teaching, or news reporting may be considered fair use. What this really means is as a user you really have to understand the legal implications before you download YouTube videos using YouTube downloaders and using them in your own YouTube videos.
What is a YouTube Downloader and is it safe?
A YouTube downloader may be a YouTuber video downloader, YouTube mp3 downloader or a YouTube thumbnail downloader. A YouTube downloader requires a URL of a YouTube video using which extracts the relevant data from YouTube.
Music companies and artists on YouTube are extremely protective of their music content. If you are using music from other content creators in your videos and are thinking of monetizing your videos, then your video will most likely be hit with a copyright claim. This makes most YouTube mp3 downloaders useless unless you are planning to use content for personal and non-commercial use. If you want to download music legally from YouTube, you can check the article about YouTube to mp3.
Using thumbnails of other content creators is straight up stealing making most YouTube thumbnail downloaders illegal.
You can use YouTube video downloaders if you intend to use the video in your own content only under the accepted fair use policy. Under such circumstances it becomes very important to consider if the YouTube video downloader you are using is safe and legal. Most of the YouTube video downloader websites are filled with ads promoting scam and malware links. There is a high possibility of your device or browser downloading a malware program or virus from such sites. Use of such websites can also make your device venerable to phishing attacks.
Having said all this, there are a few YouTube downloaders like 5kplayer that allow you to download YouTube videos safely to your Windows or Mac computers.
YouTube Premium for offline viewing
If you want to download YouTube videos purely for offline viewing, then YouTube Premium service is your best bet. In YouTube Premium you subscribe with monthly or yearly plans at a very little cost. It allows you to watch ad free videos on YouTube and even allows you to download YouTube videos for offline viewing. There is practically no risk of any malware or spam. To top it off it even includes the YouTube Music Premium in the subscription cost.
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