It’s used by millions of people every day to convert videos from YouTube into MP3 tracks.
But users will soon have to find an alternative to YouTube-MP3.org, as the site has agreed to shut down indefinitely following a copyright infringement lawsuit.
While the site currently appears to still be online, it will shortly hand its domain over to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and be shut down.
YouTube-MP3.org allows users to convert YouTube videos to MP3 files – an act that is seen by the music industry as a serious threat to revenues (stock image)
YouTube-MP3.org allows users to convert YouTube videos to MP3 files – an act that is seen by the music industry as a serious threat to revenues, according to TorrentFreak.
But a coalition of record labels, represented by the RIAA, decided to finally take action last year, taking YouTube-MP3 to court.
The complaint filed by the California federal court accuses YouTube-MP3 of various types of copyright infringement, as well as bypassing YouTube’s copying protection mechanism.
The complaint states: ‘Through the promise of illicit delivery of free music, Defendants have attracted millions of users to the [YouTube-MP3] website, which in turn generates advertising revenues for Defendants.’
Now, one year since YouTube-MP3 was taken to court, both parties have agreed to a settlement.
It’s used by millions of people every day to illegally convert videos from YouTube into MP3 tracks. But users will soon have to find an alternative to YouTube-MP3.org, as the site has agreed to shut down indefinitely following a copyright infringement lawsuit
While the details of the deal are not public, it appears that YouTube-MP3 is willing to shut down.
According to TorrentFreak, both parties have asked the court to rule in favour of the music labels on all counts, and Philip Matesanz, owner of YouTube-MP3 has agreed to pay a settlement amount.
A proposed injunction will also prevent YouTube-MP3 from ‘knowingly designing, developing, offering, or operating any technology or service that allows or facilitates the practice commonly known as “streamripping,” or any other type of copyright infringement for that matter.’
The site’s domain will now be handed over to the RIAA.
The injunction states: ‘Defendants are ordered to transfer the domain name www.youtube-mp3.org to the Plaintiff identified in, and in accordance with the terms of, the confidential Settlement Agreement among the parties.’
Record labels, represented by the RIAA decided to take action last year, taking YouTube-MP3 to court. The complaint filed by the federal court accuses YouTube-MP3 of various types of copyright infringement, as well as bypassing YouTube’s copying protection mechanism