Why can't youtube videos be directly downloaded?

[billdotson]

Why can't youtube videos be directly downloaded, or at least hidden within HTML or some other code to conceal a way to download it? People can do it anyway using some programs or I hear that you can do it using firefox in conjunction with the greasemonkey extension. With youtube being so restrictive about downloading I bet they claim that if you do, you are doing something illegal [-X How stupid.

[NJC]

I've used www.downloadyoutubevideos.com (http://ubuntuforums.org/www.downloadyoutubevideos.com) Save as FLV.

[barbedsaber]

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006


that works with HEAPS of sites. I have only used it on youtube, and google video. it probably is illigle, but then again, so is getting music via p2p and not paying for it. meh.

[magnus0]

keepvid.com is very good site

[blithen]

http://vixy.net/
Converts it to AVI even. :D

[linuxisfree]

I've used www.downloadyoutubevideos.com (http://ubuntuforums.org/www.downloadyoutubevideos.com) Save as FLV.

I use that same site:)

[FuturePilot]

You all forget the best of all :D
apt:youtube-dl

[Cresho]

i just go to my /temp and rename the file to name.flv and drag it into my desktop

[atomkarinca]

Don't forget pytube (http://www.bashterritory.com/pytube/).

[magnus0]

I don't recommend the flv, the new mp4 in youtube has much better quality.

[billdotson]

Yeah, I know how to download them, but I was asking if anyone had any idea of why they were not made so that they could be easily downloaded.

[LaRoza]

Yeah, I know how to download them, but I was asking if anyone had any idea of why they were not made so that they could be easily downloaded.

Most video sites aren't made like that. Google video sometimes allows it.

[keykero]

Vimeo allows downloads of the full mp4 file as well.

[vishzilla]

I use Catchvideo.net (http://catchvideo.net)

[CSMatt]

Yeah, I know how to download them, but I was asking if anyone had any idea of why they were not made so that they could be easily downloaded.

Hit counts and ad revenue, probably. If they allowed you to download the video, you probably wouldn't stream the same video over and over again, opting instead to download it after watching once and viewing it locally every time. YouTube seems to be hoping that most of their viewers won't figure out how to download the clips from their servers.

[-grubby]

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006


that works with HEAPS of sites. I have only used it on youtube, and google video. it probably is illigle, but then again, so is getting music via p2p and not paying for it. meh.

Thanks, that will save me so much time from going on videodl.org!

[the yawner]

I think it has to do with their Terms of Use (http://youtube.com/t/terms).

[D-EJ915]

I think it has to do with their Terms of Use (http://youtube.com/t/terms).
yep, has to do with copyright and such

[CSMatt]

I don't think so. It seems rather that it's just a general prohibition against 3rd party downloaders.

[the yawner]

1. Your Acceptance

A. By using and/or visiting this website (collectively, including all content and functionality available through the YouTube.com domain name, the "YouTube Website", or "Website"), you signify your agreement to (1) these terms and conditions (the "Terms of Service"), (2)YouTube's privacy notice, found at http://www.youtube.com/t/privacy and incorporated here by reference, and (3) YouTube's Community Guidelines, found at http://www.youtube.com/t/community_guidelines and also incorporated here by reference. If you do not agree to any of these terms, the YouTube privacy notice, or the Community Guidelines, please do not use the YouTube Website.

It explicitly mentions you as the user, are subject to the terms.


B. You may access User Submissions solely:

* for your information and personal use;
* as intended through the normal functionality of the YouTube Service; and
* for Streaming.

"Streaming" means a contemporaneous digital transmission of an audiovisual work via the Internet from the YouTube Service to a user's device in such a manner that the data is intended for real-time viewing and not intended to be copied, stored, permanently downloaded, or redistributed by the user. Accessing User Videos for any purpose or in any manner other than Streaming is expressly prohibited. User Videos are made available "as is."