[codedokode]

There could be valid reasons for fighting downloaders, for example:

- AI companies scraping YT without paying YT let alone creators for training data. Imagine how many data YT has.

- YT competitors in other countries scraping YT to copy videos, especially in countries where YT is blocked. Some such companies have a function "move all my videos from YT" to promote bloggers migration.

[transcriptase]

>AI companies

Like Google?

>scraping YT without paying YT let alone creators for training data

Like Google has been doing to the entire internet, including people’s movement, conversations, and habits… for decades?

[codedokode]

> Like Google?

Like Google competitors obviously.

> Like Google has been doing to the entire internet, including people’s movement, conversations, and habits… for decades?

Yes, but if you allowed to index your site (companies even spent money to make site better indexable), Google used to bring customers and AI companies bring back nothing. They are just freeloaders.

[toomuchtodo]

- Enforce views of ads

(not debating the validity of this reason, but this is the entire reason Youtube exists, to sell and push ads)

[baxuz]

Then they should allow a download API for paying customers.

[balder1991]

But even if you’re a paying customer, the creator is only paid if you watch it on the platform.

[codedokode]

Music labels publish the music on YT in exchange for ad revenue, they won't be happy if someone would download their music for free, and making music is expensive, google how much just a single drum mic costs and you need lot of them.

[baxuz]

> for paying customers

[codedokode]

YT shares income from subscriptions with music labels? I didn't hear about this, and even if they shared the download must be paid much higher than a view because after downloading a person could potentially listen for a track hundred times in a row.

[diet_mtn_dew]

Youtube premium includes Youtube Music, which is alphabet's streaming service, and I assume that they are paying the same fees as everyone else.

[codedokode]

> as everyone else

"Everyone else" do not allow to download music in an unencrypted format, so it makes sense if YT doesn't allow also.

[dylan604]

It's not YT's content though.

[Chris2048]

Who says these are valid?

[supriyo-biswas]

Why is this being downvoted? Are people really gonna shoot the messenger and fail to why a company may be willing to protect their competitive position?