Thx. Well we're just embedding video links so it's just like what you see here on Steemit, Reddit and everywhere else online. The only difference is the UI/UX where videos are aggregated together in one place instead of mixed in with articles & blogs. The Youtube search API just makes it easier to replicate the Youtube UI and access its video database. (I'm surprised someone hasn't already gotten big creating an alternative video UI/UX already) If they shut down the Youtube search API users would have to individually search Youtube and embed. If Youtube shuts down embedding well that's like shutting down half the Internet. Youtube makes money on ads so they don't care where it's seen, as long as people upload originals on its platform.
There are separate issues to consider for copyright and blockchains in general, but for the initial effort we're just embedding.
What happens if people use IPFS to host content that is copyrighted and then use links on STEEM?
You might want to write a separate blog on Blockchains & Copyrights and post it here because it is an interesting issue that involves all blockchains. I can collaborate with you on it. If you're a website you can censor or be asked to remove content and do so. You can't censor a blockchain and some have argued blockchains are just as important for freedom of speech than for money & payments. It's a fascinating topic to discuss. So if someone puts up copyrighted content on SteemTube and it's not just an embed, then the platform can censor it I assume. Someone can of course create a SteemTube (uncensored) if they wanted and store it on IPFS, Maidsafe, Storj etc. and that's probably going to happen so I guess the world will have to come to terms with a world without copyrights. I have my own opinions on IP, but I'll save that for another day.
You've piqued my interest and always excited about collaborations. This is now on my to-do list (unless someone else gets to it first). I look forward to future discussions.