When you sign up for the YouTube (YT) service you're required to agree to follow their rules and regulations. Most downloaded programs on the Internet require the same promise -- that you'll play by their rules or not play at all. If you don't check the little box saying you agree with their terms of service, they won't let you in. In order to download YouTube videos you must first agree NOT to download them (terms of service forbid it), and then go against your word and do it anyhow.

If you didn't read the terms of service maybe you're not even aware that downloading is forbidden. Well, now you know. By checking the box, you already told them that you read and understood the terms, so feigning ignorance won't work in this case. You just have to be willing to fudge a little, kind of like going 60 in a 55 mph speed zone.

How many times have your heard, "rules were made to be broken, " or, "what they don't know won't hurt them?" Maybe those adages apply here. But still, that being said, if you copy music or video from YT you're breaking the rules and subject to the penalties. They include no longer being able to use the service.

There is a single exception to this. If you've uploaded your own material onto the YT site, it's okay to download it back. They give you the option of doing this, in the form of an MP4 file. Just go to your account on YouTube and look for the download button next to your video. But how about downloading someone else's material?

If you Google the keywords found in this article's title you'll find numerous sites which make it possible to download from YT. Some are free but a few have a fee you must pay to use their service. Some are easy to use, requiring that you only put in the URL for the content you wish to download and then pressing the download button. All that's left to do is to save it and play it.

Others are a little more involved, necessitating that you change the title and add an extension, such as . FLV. Some of these sites are clean and hassle-free. Others are chock full of pop-ups and ads which can be distracting and sometimes fake you out into clicking a wrong button.

After trying a few of the different methods of downloading, the one that was easiest and didn't require anything but typing in the URL and clicking the download button seemed to do the job with no problems. The downloaded video played right away and was just as clear and loud as the original. What else could you ask for?

If you want to download YouTube videos it's easy and there are lots of options available. It's a great way to fill an MP4 with your favorite content. If you do it for your own enjoyment it shouldn't be a problem. YouTube was meant for sharing. If you're doing it for some other purpose, such as financial gain, that's different. It's all about intent.