legal,india,copyright · 2026-08-13

Is it legal to download Instagram or YouTube videos in India?

This is not legal advice. Under the Copyright Act, 1957, the default is that the creator (or their assignee) controls reproduction. Saving your Reel or a video you were hired to produce is ordinary record-keeping. Saving a film, a song, or an IPL clip to re-upload on your channel is infringement — a downloader UI does not launder that.

Fair dealing (sections 52) covers things like criticism, review, reporting, and some education. It is not a blanket “I am a student so I can keep everything”. When in doubt, ask the creator. When you are the rightsholder and want a page gone, use the DMCA inbox.