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(Belgium) French library network has started blocking Invidious (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by freedomPusher@sopuli.xyz to c/libraries@literature.cafe

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cross-posted from: https://fedia.io/m/Brussels/t/344992

Until recently, it was possible to download #Youtube videos on a library PC & store on USB drive by using an #Invidious front-end. Recently the library has blocked all invidious instances. You can still view videos but when you try to download one it gives a 403 forbidden error.

Why are they doing this?

I can only think of two possibilities: 1. bandwidth limitations 2. copyright issues. Anyone know anything solid about this?

Suggestions on other options would be appreciated. I assume users cannot install their own apps, which means front-ends that need installation are problably a non-starter. It looks like there is a web-based front end called #Piped but many of those instances are hosted with the same domain as Invidious thus may be blocked as well.

#lawfedi

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[–] dingleberry@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe their IPs are getting bans because of Invidious use. Last I checked, YT doesn't share APIs for 3p clients, so this may count as "piracy" and the libraries are just trying to cover their ass.

[–] freedomPusher@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago

Someone on the Invidious project says the copyright issue is “complicated”.. that it’s a murky grey area. I’m not sure a library would research it diligently and might rather block it out of risk aversion.

So this is why I’m looking for concrete information.

[–] alex@jlai.lu 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why was this posted in Brussels if it's about a French library?

[–] freedomPusher@sopuli.xyz 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Brussels has a French language library network and a (Dutch language) Flemish library network. IIUC, every library is in one or the other.

[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 4 points 1 year ago

In addition to shared language, Europeans tend to keep a close eye on neighboring countries, especially France and Germany, which dominate the EU parliament. Whatever happens in those two countries seems to find its way to the rest of the EU eventually.

[–] freedomPusher@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Is this something that should be fought? Or is the library mitigating a real copyright offense?

It seems like quite a hit on the library benefits that we cannot effectively “check-out” #Youtube videos.