Brazil is Cracking Down on YouTuber Ripper Yout.com

Photo Credit: Yout.com

Yout is a stream ripping website at the center of a high-profile criminal prosecution in Brazil—marking a significant escalation in the fight against online copyright infringement.

This prosecution comes in the wake of the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) legal campaign against all stream-ripping services. Yout is operated by American Johnathan Nader and allows users to download audio and video from streaming platforms like YouTube.

The services bypass YouTube’s built-in protections against downloading its streams. The RIAA has previously targeted Yout in the United States, resulting in a lengthy legal battle over whether stream-ripping violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). That case remains unresolved, but in Brazil authorities are taking action.

Prosecutors in Brazil have filed a criminal complaint against Nader, accusing him of facilitating unauthorized downloads of copyrighted content for profit. The São Paulo court recently rejected Nader’s motion to dismiss the charges, stating that prosecutors presented sufficient preliminary evidence to proceed with the case. If convicted, Nader could face up to four years in prison.

Brazil’s case against Yout is a direct response to the music industry’s global push against the practice of stream-ripping. Industry groups like the RIAA argue that the practice is a major threat that deprives artists and rights holders of legitimate income. In 2022, the prosecution offered Yout a way out in the form of a deal. In exchange for several predetermined terms, the public prosecutor was willing to suspend criminal prosecution.

Those terms include Yout’s operator paying 1.9 Brazilian real ($400K) to be allocated to a special fund earmarked for social programs in Brazil. The deal also required Yout to block all Brazilian traffic and local payments. Nader has declined this settlement deal and decided to take the case to court. Yout instead argues in court that it is ‘internet DVR’ and does not store any copyright infringing material.

Now the case will proceed in Brazilian court with a hearing date set for August 9, 2025. The hearing will be held virtually since Nader lives in the United States—he is not expected to appear. Prosecution will present several witnesses, with at least one music industry representative speaking to the court.

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