September 18, 2017

IFPI reports that YouTube-mp3.org, formerly the world’s largest site dedicated to offering illegally “stream ripped” music, has ceased to operate following legal action from record companies in the US and UK. The Germany-based site, which had 60 million visitors per month from around the world, has shut down globally and its operator has agreed not to infringe the rights of artists and record companies in the future.

IFPI explains that stream ripping, which is the process of creating a downloadable file from content that is available to stream online, is now the most prevalent form of online music copyright infringement. Sites like YouTube-mp3.org extract an audio file from an audiovisual work, usually a music video, and present it to a user as a free permanent download that can be added to their music library. These sites exploit high levels of traffic to profit from advertising. It is estimated that YouTube-mp3.org generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue per month, often from major brands. However, these sites do not pay anything back to music artists or creators.

The international legal action brought by organisations representing record companies in the US and UK against YouTube-mp3.org detailed the egregious illegal nature of stream ripping and serves as a strong warning to other similar sites, IFPI says.

In the UK, the BPI, representing UK record labels, warned the site that it would face legal action if it did not immediately stop infringing copyright. In October 2016 the site agreed to block downloading by UK visitors.

In the US, legal proceedings were filed by the RIAA on behalf of US record labels in the federal court in California against YouTube-mp3.org for flagrantly violating the labels’ copyrights. In a settlement agreement with the record companies, the site promised to shut down globally, not to infringe in the future and to comply with a formal injunction that has now been approved by the US court.

IFPI says that stream ripping is the fastest growing form of music piracy globally. Research conducted by IFPI and Ipsos found that stream ripping sites are operating on a massive scale, with 53% of all 16-24 year-olds engaged in the activity. Stream ripping is a threat to the entire music ecosystem, including digital platforms that are acting responsibly by trying to attract listeners and sign up subscribers to licensed digital services. IFPI says that the recorded music industry will continue to take firm action to tackle other stream ripping sites. To read IFPI’s press release in full, click here.