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IFPI Has Requested yt-dlp Be Added to EU Watch List

The industry group claims the popular software tool facilitates illegal stream ripping of protected content.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Software

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The IFPI has formally petitioned the European Commission to include the open-source software tool yt-dlp on its 2027 piracy watch list, alleging it enables mass copyright infringement. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should regulators add open-source software tools used for downloading content to piracy watch lists?

The IFPI has formally asked the European Commission to include the open-source software project yt-dlp on its 2027 Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. The organization alleges the tool enables unauthorized downloading of copyrighted content from streaming platforms.

Why it matters

This move highlights the ongoing tension between copyright holders and open-source developers regarding tools that interact with proprietary streaming endpoints. The IFPI contends that the software's decentralized nature makes it uniquely difficult to regulate.

The yt-dlp project maintains a significant presence on GitHub with over 190,000 stars and 16,000 forks. The software functions by parsing webpage and player data to interact with platform-specific playback endpoints.

The players

IFPI

This international organization represents the recording industry worldwide and works to promote the value of recorded music.

European Commission

This is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.

GitHub

This platform provides hosting for software development and version control using the Git system.

Uberspace

This is a web hosting provider that has previously been involved in legal challenges regarding the software.

The details

The submission identifies four individual developers associated with the software via their GitHub handles. IFPI also flagged the AI-powered music apps Rythmix and MusiQ AI for potential inclusion on the piracy watchlist.

Timeline

  1. October 2020: The RIAA issued a DMCA notice against youtube-dl.

  2. 2021: The yt-dlp project officially launched.

  3. November 2024: The Hamburg Court of Appeal rejected an appeal from Uberspace.

  4. 2027: The European Commission is expected to release the new Watch List edition.

The Tech Race

This effort to regulate stream-ripping software reflects a broader shift as copyright holders increasingly target open-source tools that bypass platform restrictions. It follows the pattern established by the 2027 Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List to address digital piracy methods.

Users of open-source downloading tools may face potential service disruptions if hosting platforms implement stricter compliance measures based on EU findings. Developers working on similar projects could encounter increased legal scrutiny regarding the distribution of code that interacts with streaming endpoints.

The takeaway

The scrutiny of open-source tools like yt-dlp signals that regulators are focusing on the underlying infrastructure of content platforms. Developers should be aware that the legal landscape for tools interfacing with proprietary sites is becoming increasingly complex.

Further reading

For more background on digital distribution and industry oversight, visit the Software section.

Live Poll

Should regulators add open-source software tools used for downloading content to piracy watch lists?