Court Rejects YouTube-Ripping Declaratory Judgment Suit

Yout's argument that its YouTube-ripping software doesn't violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) fails to make a plausible case that YouTube lacks technological measures controlling access to videos there and that Yout software therefore doesn't circumvent such measures, U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill of Bridgeport, Connecticut, said in docket 3:20-cv-1602 ruling Friday. The idea Yout tech has commercially significant purposes other than YouTube ripping isn't plausible given how Yout profits from advertisements and subscriptions, the judge said, granting defendant Recording Industry Association of America's motion to dismiss plaintiff Yout's complaint. Yout had sought a declaratory judgment that its software, which allows users to make copies of streaming video and audio files, didn't violate the DMCA. Yout didn't comment.