> By now it is clear that the RIAA’s takedown notice backfired badly. With the ‘Streisand Effect’ in full swing, there are now probably more copies of YouTube-DL online than there ever were.
Did it though? Sure, the Streisand effect caused more distribution of youtube-dl, but that's never really been an issue. Open source software as widely used as youtube-dl is mirrored in a hundred different places.
The issue here is what does future development of youtube-dl look like? It sounds like the rolling cipher stuff is going to have to go if development is to remain on Github, and that's a win for RIAA.
It annoyed me enough to put me back into a buying position. I looked at Gitlab pricing after paying Github every month for a long time (hey, Business Guy: we'll switch in a heartbeat) and I started thinking about what it would take to host code in a decentralized fashion.
In a free market it is important that when you are displeased with a supplier that you truthfully tell that supplier why you are displeased (ideally very vocally) and are actively considering alternatives. It is one of the few early-warning signals that might change their behaviour.
But ideally, just stop giving them money immediately and tell them, but mention that you are willing to change your mind if they change their behaviour. And if they vascillate too often between what is right and what is profitable, inform the entire system even if it is a great personal expense. As long as it benefits the system, you will come out okay in the end.
> I started thinking about what it would take to host code in a decentralized fashion.
May I introduce you to GitTorrent?
Last updated 5 years ago, with no obvious successor. :/
Also relevant if you go the p2p route: