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yausername / youtubedl-android

youtube-dl for android
GNU General Public License v3.0
1.03k stars 189 forks source link

Is there any risk in using the YoutubeDL library to put it on Google Play? #271

Open sougoukk opened 7 months ago

sougoukk commented 7 months ago

If I don't update the DL in the background, but download the latest DL and put it locally before publishing, will it not be considered a violation?

BobbyESP commented 5 months ago

Using the YouTubeDL library in an app that you intend to publish on Google Play comes with significant risks, particularly concerning compliance with YouTube's (and other services) Terms of Service and potential legal issues in case that your app grows and becomes quite popular. These are some points to consider:

1. YouTube's Terms of Service

YouTubeDL is designed to download videos from YouTube (and other services), which directly violates YouTube's Terms of Service (ToS). Google has been known to take action against apps and services that enable the downloading of YouTube content without permission (we all know that without ads, Youtube wouldn't be profitable). If Google detects that your app uses YouTubeDL or similar functionality, they are likely to remove your app from Google Play.

2. Google Play Policies

Google Play has strict policies regarding apps that provide or promote unauthorized downloading of content from third-party platforms. Even if you bundle the latest version of YouTubeDL with your app instead of downloading it in the background, the core functionality of enabling unauthorized downloads is still a violation of these policies.

3. Legal Risks

YouTubeDL has faced legal challenges from content providers, most notably from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While the software itself has legal uses, its primary function of downloading copyrighted content without permission can lead to legal disputes, even though it doesn't download DRM protected content. Publishing an app that incorporates YouTubeDL can expose you to similar legal risks.

4. Bundling vs. Background Updates

Whether you bundle YouTubeDL locally before publishing or update it in the background, the fundamental issue remains: facilitating the downloading of YouTube content without authorization. Google and content owners are concerned with the functionality, not the method of integration.

Conclusion

Using YouTubeDL in an app intended for distribution on Google Play is highly likely to result in violations of both YouTube's ToS and Google Play policies, so that we know that Google doesn't like this idea. This can lead to your app being removed from the store and potential legal action against you. If your app relies on downloading content from YouTube, it is advisable to explore other functionalities or obtain proper permissions to avoid these risks.

waqas-334 commented 3 months ago

If your app is only intended to download videos from Youtube then it won't be allowed in first place, if your app is a generic video downloader or something, then adding a check to stop downloading from Youtube or any Google owned site would help.

depezo commented 3 months ago

If your app is only intended to download videos from Youtube then it won't be allowed in first place, if your app is a generic video downloader or something, then adding a check to stop downloading from Youtube or any Google owned site would help.

I would like to publish an application that does not download YouTube videos, but by integrating YouTube Dl, my application will be removed from Google Play? The application will download videos from other sites via the browser (Webview) depending on the user.

alexch33 commented 3 months ago

If your app is only intended to download videos from Youtube then it won't be allowed in first place, if your app is a generic video downloader or something, then adding a check to stop downloading from Youtube or any Google owned site would help.

I would like to publish an application that does not download YouTube videos, but by integrating YouTube Dl, my application will be removed from Google Play? The application will download videos from other sites via the browser (Webview) depending on the user.

hi! i was publish video downloader app with youtube-dlp on play market with blocked possibility to download from youtube and all was good. This app is open sourced in my repo

NewMacPro commented 2 months ago

If your app is only intended to download videos from Youtube then it won't be allowed in first place, if your app is a generic video downloader or something, then adding a check to stop downloading from Youtube or any Google owned site would help.

I would like to publish an application that does not download YouTube videos, but by integrating YouTube Dl, my application will be removed from Google Play? The application will download videos from other sites via the browser (Webview) depending on the user.

hi! i was publish video downloader app with youtube-dlp on play market with blocked possibility to download from youtube and all was good. This app is open sourced in my repo

I saw that your app was removed from Google Play. What is the reason?

alexch33 commented 2 months ago

If your app is only intended to download videos from Youtube then it won't be allowed in first place, if your app is a generic video downloader or something, then adding a check to stop downloading from Youtube or any Google owned site would help.

I would like to publish an application that does not download YouTube videos, but by integrating YouTube Dl, my application will be removed from Google Play? The application will download videos from other sites via the browser (Webview) depending on the user.

hi! i was publish video downloader app with youtube-dlp on play market with blocked possibility to download from youtube and all was good. This app is open sourced in my repo

I saw that your app was removed from Google Play. What is the reason?

Reason is new google play policy about revealing personal address to the whole internet, it's human's right violation, i've removed all my apps from play market