The YouTube Video Identification system "will help copyright holders identify their works on YouTube, and choose what they want done with their videos: whether to block, promote, or even -- if a copyright holder chooses to license their content to appear on the site -- monetize their videos," Google said on its company blog.

The new system -- which will be used in tandem with an existing copyright filter from Audible Magic -- does not block users from uploading copyrighted material, but rather identifies such content after it is posted.

It also requires a major commitment from copyright owners; namely, that they provide copies of every piece of content they own for indexing into the system, so that they may be properly identified if uploaded by users.

The Associated Press reports that nine firms, including Disney and Time Warner, submitted some portions of their content libraries for a test of the YouTube Video Identification system.

"We really need the content community to work with us," YouTube product manager David King told AP. "We need them to help us help them."

Related Links:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/latest-content-id-tool-for-youtube.html

http://tinyurl.com/2jeyzr (AP)

http://www.youtube.com/t/video_id_about