On October 23, Microsoft-owned Github took advantage of an alleged DMCA removal to remove 18 projects from the code hosting portal. According to sources, the removal was due to a request submitted by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Github’s recent move has made the crypto community suspicious of the platform, and some advocates fear the code bases of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin will be wiped out by government forces.
This week the RIAA asked Microsoft-owned Github to remove several projects from the code hosting portal
. The deleted code repositories come from a project called Youtube-dl protocol. he the software is a python library which allows people download source files
Before disposal, the Youtube-dl Python library had over 72,000 stars on the repository platform. Github published the reasons for the DMCA removal but some people wondered if it was real or not. For example, General Counsel John Bergmayer said that “it’s not really a DMCA request”.
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“I don’t see any allegation that Youtube-dl is infringing the job. On the contrary, it is claimed that it is illegal in itself, ”Bergmayer wrote on Twitter.
It’s not really a DMCA request. I don’t see any claim that youtube-dl is a counterfeit work. Rather, it is claimed that it is illegal in itself https://t.co/vQ16nVleCf
– John Bergmayer (@bergmayer) 23 october 2020
In addition to Bergmayer’s statements, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) also tweeted about Github’s compliance with the RIAA.
“Youtube-dl is a legitimate tool with a world of legal uses,” explains the EFF. “To demand his removal from Github is a disappointing and counterproductive move by the RIAA.”
Github’s move sparked concern among many cryptocurrency advocates as various bitcoin supporters discussed the situation. On October 24, Sideshift.ai founder Andreas Brekken tweeted: “The threat is real”, after sharing a tweet that Pierre Rochard wrote to his followers on September 9, 2020.
It’s a real threat https://t.co/Pv5vL5O3TK
– Andreas Brekken (@abrkn) October 24, 2020
Of course, after Github removed Youtube-dl, several other crypto advocates discussed the possibilities what crypto repositories have been deleted and what types of alternatives are available. Software developer Chris Troutner responded to Brekken’s threat tweet and explained how he was backing up his code.
This is why I mirror my GitHub repositories to @IPFS. This is why I save my YouTube videos to @LBRYcom and @IPFS.
– Chris Troutner (@christroutner) October 24, 2020
“That’s why I mirror my GitHub repositories to IPFS. This is why I save my YouTube videos to LBRY and IPFS. Others have discussed the use of alternatives like Gitlab, since the Youtube-dl project already has a support on the code hosting portal.
However, the Youtube-dl DMCA removal is not for everyone and follows the recent arctic permafrost project in which Github
It’s also important to note that Git is a form of distribution and not a centralized protocol. Github is a centralized protocol owned by Microsoft, but the bitcoin / bitcoin repository can be mirrored at any time.