YouTube is a well-known video sharing website that allows users to view, upload, share, rate, and comment on videos. Generally, the user streaming the video from YouTube cannot download, copy, or save the video.
Stream ripping allows users to save streamed media from websites, such as YouTube. YouTube-MP3.org provides an online stream ripping service that allows users to convert YouTube videos to MP3s. In particular, “the only thing you need is a YouTube URL. We will start to convert the audiotrack of your videofile to mp3 as soon as you have submitted it and you will be able to download it.” (http://www.youtube-mp3.org/).
In the complaint filed Sept. 26, 2016, various record labels allege that YouTube-MP3.org has reproduced and distributed their copyrighted sound recordings without authorization (UMG Recordings, Inc. et al. v. PMD Technologie UG et al., Case No. 2:16-CV-07210, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California).