Two more stream-ripping sites shut down in the UK

[Len]

Two more stream-ripping sites have closed their doors to UK users in the wake of YouTube-mp3 being sued out of business.

As previously reported, YouTube-mp3 – which let users grab permanent downloads of audio streaming on the Google video site – officially went offline last month after its operator was sued by the Recording Industry Association Of America. British record industry trade group BPI also put the leading stream-ripping platform on notice as its American counterpart went legal last year, resulting in YouTube-mp3 restricting its service within the UK.

While both RIAA and BPI welcomed the demise of YouTube-mp3, they noted that there are plenty of other sites offering a similar service. The US labels recently had a good old moan about all the remaining stream-ripping platforms in their submission to the American government’s ‘notorious markets’ report. Though the Electronic Frontier Foundation argued back that the record industry was wrong to say that stream-ripping sites were by definition liable for copyright infringement.

Commenting as YouTube-mp3 shut down last month, BPI boss Geoff Taylor said: “Music stands on the cusp of an exciting future in the streaming age, but only if we take resolute action against illegal businesses that try to siphon away its value. The firm action we have taken, led by our General Counsel Kiaron Whitehead and our Content Protection team, has made an impact in the UK, and we are determined to take further action as necessary against other stream-ripping sites to protect the rights of musicians and labels”.

It’s not entirely clear why MP3Juices.cc and YtMp3.cc have decided to geo-block UK users, but it is likely related to the legal action taken against YouTube-mp3. British web-users going to either of those sites now see a message that reads: “This service is no longer available. Thanks for being a part of us. Goodbye!”

The BPI says that the geo-blocking of MP3Juices.cc and YtMp3.cc is not the result of legal action on its part, but nevertheless it welcomed the development. Taylor told Torrentfreak last week: “We are seeing that the closure of the largest stream ripping site, YouTube-mp3, following co-ordinated global legal action from record companies, is having an impact on the operations of other ripping sites”.

That said, it seems unlikely the labels will be happy with simple geo-blocking in certain key markets, given how easy it is for savvy web-users to circumvent such blockades. Which means we can expect to see music industry trade groups, which have now put stream-ripping at the top of their piracy gripe lists, pushing for more shutdowns a la YouTube-MP3.

Taylor added last week: “Stream ripping remains a major issue for the industry. These sites are making large sums of money from music without paying a penny to those that invest in and create it. We will continue to take legal action against other illegal ripping sites where necessary”.