Global Raid Shuts Dozens of YouTube Ripping Giants
Authorities have dealt a crushing blow to illegal YouTube downloaders by shutting down over a dozen of the globe’s largest “ripping” websites. These sites, used by millions to snatch music and videos from YouTube for offline use, have long frustrated record labels. The targeted operation, centred in Vietnam, took down sites that raked in more than 620 million visits worldwide in the last year alone.
The main casualty? Y2mate.com – the kingpin of illegal YouTube downloaders – now completely offline following the blitz.
Visitors Now Hit with Brutal Warnings
Anyone trying to visit these seized sites now faces stark warnings. A message from the authorities reads:
“Stream-ripping sites that turn licensed streams into free downloads are illegal. Using or operating them can lead to serious consequences, including a criminal conviction.”
The Internet Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global rep for the music biz, led the crackdown and now controls all the shuttered sites.
Big Win for Music Industry Fighting Piracy
- These ripping sites had been stealing millions from artists and labels for years.
- The coordinated international strike shows the growing muscle against online piracy.
- IFPI promises to press on until all illegal stream-ripping is wiped out.
This hard-hitting clampdown sends a blunt message: illegal music rip-offs won’t be tolerated any longer.
