A landmark legal battle between stream-ripper Yout and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, with pivotal implications for digital music copyright.

The case centers on whether Yout's service, which allows users to download audio from YouTube videos, violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by circumventing YouTube's "rolling cipher" anti-piracy technology.

Key Points of Contention:

• RIAA issued three DMCA takedown notices to Google, claiming Yout bypassed YouTube's copyright protection measures
• Yout argues it merely automates a process users can perform through web browsers
• The case was dismissed with prejudice in 2022, leading to Yout's current appeal

During recent oral arguments, Yout's attorney Evan Fray-Witzer emphasized the need for YouTube's direct input regarding their technological measures' intended purpose. The RIAA's attorney Rose Ehler contends that even manual downloading through browsers constitutes "hacking."

A notable exchange occurred when Judge Richard Sullivan questioned the RIAA's position:

• Sullivan: "What is the technological measure that would be protecting this copyrightable material if I can do it myself?"
• Ehler: "Your Honor could; I think it would be hacking."

This case's outcome could significantly impact how courts interpret DMCA circumvention and influence the future of stream-ripping services.

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