A short checklist before you download anything

I added the rights checkbox on Grab Media because typing a URL is easy and thinking is harder. These five questions are what I run through before I paste anything—even my own uploads. Takes under a minute.

1. Do I own it or have written permission?

Ownership means you created it or bought a license that includes downloading source files. Permission means an email, contract, or license page that says you may copy the work—not just watch it in a browser. Liking a post is not permission.

2. Does the platform allow offline copies?

Read the terms of service section on downloading, caching, or automated access. Some platforms forbid any extraction even for the uploader; they want you to use their export button only. Others allow personal backups but ban redistribution. If the terms are silent, that is not a yes—it means you should assume default copyright law applies.

3. Is this URL public without my login?

Open an incognito window. If you hit a paywall, classroom login, or age gate that requires an account you cannot share with a server, do not queue it here. We do not bypass those gates by design.

4. Am I in the right region?

Geo-blocked streams may play for you on VPN but still fail in our datacenter. That is frustrating yet correct—circumventing geo restrictions is not what this service is for. If the content is yours, upload to a host without territorial blocks instead of fighting the player.

5. Would I be comfortable explaining this download to the creator?

Gut check. If the answer is no, stop. If yes, note why in a sentence somewhere (ticket, spreadsheet, release form) so future-you remembers the reasoning.

Print-friendly summary

• Rights or permission documented
• Platform terms reviewed—not assumed
• Public URL verified logged-out
• No geo or DRM circumvention intended
• Comfortable defending the action to the rights holder

Deeper legal wording is on legal information. Step-by-step mechanics are in how it works.