Engadget argued that Groovy may have gotten away with using YouTube’s API if not for the optional $3.99 monthly premium subscription that the bot’s owners offered to their followers. YouTube normally allows API-based services like Groovy to stream the platform’s content, but as the YouTube spokesperson previously mentioned, modifying or monetizing the service for commercial gain is not allowed. They probably just didn’t know about it, to be honest,” Nik Ammerlaan, one of Groovy’s owners, told The Verge. “I’m not sure why they decided to send now. YouTube is owned by Google parent company Alphabet AFP / Robyn Beck The bot is currently present in over 16 million Discord servers, providing quick and easy access to music on YouTube via Discord’s voice lobbies and chat commands. Groovy’s owners complied with the order and they confirmed that the bot will permanently shut down on Aug. A YouTube spokesperson emphasized that the platform’s APIs are reserved for users who comply with their terms of service. Google said that Groovy’s owners were “modifying and using it for commercial purposes,” which goes against YouTube’s rules. YouTube, a company owned by Google, issued a cease and desist to Groovy’s owners over TOS violations, according to The Verge. The owners of the popular Discord bot Groovy has been asked to cease operations by YouTube over an apparent breach in the streaming platform’s terms of service.
However, it is not clear if the crackdown is solely focused on music bots or if it will also affect movie streaming on Discord servers. If a bot running on the platform violates the rights of others, Discord will take action. The removal of the bot will leave a hole in Discord's bot list.Ī spokesperson for Discord stated that even though the decision came as a shock, they take the rights of other companies seriously.
Groovy Bot's discontinuation came weeks after several sites that allow people to download YouTube videos via links disappeared from the web. However, it can be assumed that if Google went after Groovy Bot, it is only a matter of time before it goes after Rythm. Rhythm is installed on 20 million Discord servers, and it currently has more than 560 million users, according to PCGamer.Īlthough the owner of Rythm refused to release an official statement regarding the issue, it is safe to say that they have not heard from Google regarding its service. Jet, the co-owner of Rythm bot, said in a statement that they do not have any plans to shut down, and they've not received any letter cease and desist letter yet. The most popular Discord music bot is Rythm, and it is still working, but no one knows for how long. Google's move to force the bot to shut down could mean that Discord users will see similar action against other bots on the platform. While the bot supports other platforms such as Soundcloud, Spotify and others, 98% of the songs played on Groovy were straight from YouTube, according to Gizmodo. He admits that when happened, he saw something coming, and he wasn't surprised when they received the cease and desist letter. Because of its popularity, it has caught the attention of Google.Īmmerlaan said they are not sure why Google is now taking action against the bot when it has been available for years. The bot has become very popular within the community, and it is estimated to have 250 million users. Groovy Bot also allows users on Discord to have a social listening party while using the audio from YouTube videos. The Groovy Bot sources music from platforms like Spotify and YouTube, and it allows Discord users to play and share them in servers when the music bot is installed. Nik Ammerlaan, the owner of Groovy Bot, said in a message announcing the discontinuation of the bot that Groovy was able to function properly for five years before this issue.Īlso Read: Hackers Use Discord For Spreading Malware - 14,000 Malware URLs Reported The search giant added that its APIs are only for those who can comply with their terms of service. This includes modifying the service and using it for commercial purposes. According to The Verge, the search giant notified Groovy about the violations done by the bot.