Google to begin screening YouTube vids

Google is to launch a system in September designed to prevent copyrighted material from appearing on video sharing site YouTube, according to one of its lawyers.  

Philip Beck said Google would have a library of video 'fingerprints' that would be used to screen new material posted on YouTube, rather than waiting for copyright owners to alert the site's management.

He made the statement during a hearing in the copyright infringement lawsuit that Viacom has filed against Google, claiming $1bn in damages.

Google's Eric Schmidt said earlier in the year that it would offer anti-piracy technology, but not a system that would filter videos automatically.

Google seems to hold the view that brand owners should police their trademarks and content, so these statements seem to point to a change in policy.

Further reading:
MySpace to test video filtering
Google may face YouTube copyright battle

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