Removing YouTube ads

[molendijk]

Hi everyone,
Do you think I can publish my way of removing the ads in YouTube videos? I'm using it since a long time on a couple of my own sites, but I thought it would be improper to tell people about it, since it seems to violate the YouTube TOS.
On the other hand, there are (more complicated) plugins around for doing the same thing with Firefox, such as Tube Stop.
I'm also afraid that, as soon as YouTube knows how easy it is to remove their ads, they will find a solution to keep them.
Arie.

[bernie1227]

Which part of the TOS does it violate? I can't seem to find anything about it. On the note of other people creating plugins in order to block ads, there appears to be an extremely high proportion of ad blockers which block YouTube ads, just for Firefox and chrome alone. As per that I think it would probably be fine to post that here.

[djr33]

There's a question of morality and legality, and it's not entirely clear. I don't think youtube is happy about any of those plugins; they just haven't found a way to stop it.
However, those are meant for blocking ads in general, not just targeting youtube. Not sure if that matters much...


I'm also afraid that, as soon as YouTube knows how easy it is to remove their ads, they will find a solution to keep them.That's what I'd be most worried about!

[bernie1227]

I can't seem to find anything about it at all actually, here's the TOS (http://www.youtube.com/static?gl=US&template=terms) maybe you'll more luck than me, but I've also scoured google and can't find anything on the topic.

[molendijk]

Which part of the TOS does it violate?
Par. 4F:
If you use the Embeddable Player on your website, you may not modify, build upon, or block any portion or functionality of the Embeddable Player, including but not limited to links back to the YouTube website.

[bernie1227]

well that's that then, the TOS is against it, so doing it would violate them, which can result in some strife.

[molendijk]

There's a question of morality and legality, and it's not entirely clear. I don't think youtube is happy about any of those plugins; they just haven't found a way to stop it.
However, those are meant for blocking ads in general, not just targeting youtube. Not sure if that matters much...

[About my worries...]That's what I'd be most worried about!
My script just blocks ads that are shown on top of certain YT videos.
Daniel, I'm glad you are sharing my worries about YouTube finding out their vulnerable spot. So I won't publish the script.
Arie.

[molendijk]

well that's that then, the TOS is against it, so doing it would violate them, which can result in some strife.
On the other hand, TubeStop (http://www.chrisfinke.com/addons/tubestop/) still exists, so blocking ads on YouTube videos may not be referred to in the TOS.
Arie.

[jscheuer1]

Ad blocker add ons to browsers are for end users, not for content providers/middlemen such as yourself or anyone who puts YT content on their site. They're existence has no bearing on this question.

[bernie1227]

That would make sense, as it appears that youtube is restricting people with youtube videos embedded in their websites, rather than individual users viewing the websites.

[djr33]

John and Bernie, I think that's what I was trying to work out in my original post. Users blocking ads vs blocking ads for users. Makes sense to me!


Interestingly, there is the possibility of giving users a choice on your website. I'm not sure why that would be too different. I guess it would be making it too easy for them? "Click here to remove ads", rather than requiring that they go out and install a browser plugin?

[bernie1227]

Yes, we'll in the legal sense, you're out of the ballpark in that situation, as with add-ons, it's not the middle man doing it, it's the user doing it, you are simply providing the facility to do it, as do these ad-blocking plug-ins.

[keyboard]

I'm pretty sure if you give them the option, you'd still be braking the rules...
According to that part of the TOS, your not allowed to remove adds... If you give the user the option to remove adds using your script, it's still your site that's responsible...
Agree?

[bernie1227]

I disagree, because it's not the middle man who's getting rid of the ads, it's entirely the user, which brings it into the same category as ad-blockers.

[jscheuer1]

If you do it live, it's you that's doing it regardless of whether or not it requires the user to opt in.

I think a certain amount depends upon how difficult it is to remove the ads. YT does have a chromeless mode that they support as well as a supported limited branding mode. If this is just a matter of using a supported switch, then I would think the case can be made that it's still part of the interface. If on the other hand it's some kind of trick to get the YT server to think it shouldn't show the ad, then it's something that this forum's rules wouldn't support, and that therefore shouldn't be shared here. A gray area would be if it's something like using the start switch, which allows you to start a video at a certain point. If - say starting at 1 instead of 0 and then seeking immediately to 0 would prevent ads, that would be completely fine to do, but probably not a great thing to publish here because it would both be potentially a violation of the TOS of YT and the forum, as well as potentially alerting YT to a hole in their ad scheme.

[bernie1227]

But it's the same with plugins and they're allowed aren't they? Whoever made them are responsible for them, but it's the user who is turning off the ads.

[jscheuer1]

You can use a DVR or similar device that you've bought or lease to 'zap' commercials from TV programs. That's legal. But you cannot make your own TV channel, cable, satellite, or web service that allows users to opt into a commercial zapping scheme live as they watch over your service. Well perhaps you could, but securing the requisite permissions would probably be expensive. Some content providers might not sell you those rights under any circumstances though.

[bernie1227]

The fact is, youtube is making money off the ads, so , if(ads == 'disabled'){youtube_profit -= ad_profit}, ergo youtube don't want people to get rid of the ads when the thing is embedded, although they appear to have no qualms against the users disabling ads themselves. What we don't know though, is whether youtube have a problem with the people who provide the means for people to disable the ads. Anyone feel like e-mailing youtube customer service?

[molendijk]

... If on the other hand it's some kind of trick to get the YT server to think it shouldn't show the ad, then it's something that this forum's rules wouldn't support, and that therefore shouldn't be shared here. A gray area would be if it's something like using the start switch, which allows you to start a video at a certain point. If - say starting at 1 instead of 0 and then seeking immediately to 0 would prevent ads, that would be completely fine to do, but probably not a great thing to publish here because it would both be potentially a violation of the TOS of YT and the forum, as well as potentially alerting YT to a hole in their ad scheme.
It's a way to fool the YT server alright, not a switch from embedded to chromeless. Btw, I remember having tried your suggestion about manipulating the starting point of the videos, but that didn't work.
Thanks everybody for the useful comments. I'm convinced now that I should keep the script to myself.
Arie.