Can sharing YouTube links violate copyright laws?
<p>Suppose an app has a collection of links to YouTube videos about a particular topic (e.g., sports). Users can watch video by clicking on the Play video button. This will open up the YouTube video in the official YouTube app or browser if the user wishes to do so. </p>

<p>Could this violate any copyright law, or the YouTube terms of service?</p>

<p>Copyright Law:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CB8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fir.lawnet.fordham.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1442%26context%3Diplj&amp;ei=SBmOVdXjKoLjoASBy62wDA&amp;usg=AFQjCNGCCELntR3FMouvNSSKt5EKkmqcDQ&amp;bvm=bv.96783405,d.cGU" rel="nofollow">Probably Not</a> so long as you are not hosting anything other than a link. (This is a secondary source)  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Even if academics and technology enthusiasts prefer an absolute right to link on the Internet, the business world has an interest in regulating what information is shared.66 Businesses will protest free linking to their materials if it interferes with their sales or marketing messages.67 If a website operator *1090 desires to restrict certain content from being linked to or integrated in another site, the operator can require a password to view the site or can technically disable outside sites from in-line linking to images or media hosted by the site.68</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Youtube ToS:
You may have an issue with ToS 4. D. if you have ads on your webpage. Service here is defined as "by using or visiting the YouTube website or any YouTube products, software, data feeds, and services provided to you on, from, or through the YouTube website "</p>

<p>But it does seem to allow you to use an embedded player in your site if you wanted. ToS 4. F.</p>

<p>Generally, providing links to websites will not violate copyright law. This would include YouTube videos.</p>

<p>It is possible that if the sole or primary purpose of your app is to facilitate copyright infringement - for instance, by linking to copyright-infringing material - you may be liable under local laws. This would depend on your jurisdiction, and the amount of copyright infringement required to be facilitated will vary.</p>

copyright terms-of-service