NEW YORK - YouTube's decision to offer anti-piracy tools to only those companies that have a deal with it has raised hackles in the media.
Owned by Google Inc, YouTube is one of, if not the, most popular video-sharing networks on the Internet.
But some media majors have objected to their videos being posted on the site by users.
Earlier this month YouTube took off all videos owned by Viacom Inc from its web site. A spokesman for Viacom said that the move to offer anti-piracy tools only to those companies which are in business with YouTube was unacceptable.
However YouTube said in a statement that the process of identifying material protected by copyright was being automated and that it needed the co-operation of its media partners. For example, if a video contains music copyrighted by another company, then ownership becomes difficult to identify.
"These matters are very complicated and we are working with our partners to identify and solve these problems," YouTube said in a statement.
Meanwhile the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is anxious to hear from users who were unfairly blamed in the Viacom takedown. The EEF said that it was aware of two instances where a group of friends eating ribs and another documentary unrelated to Viacom were taken down.
CNET News.com reported that it was in possession of a copy of a statement that explained the removal of videos. "This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner Viacom International because its content was used without permission," the message reads.
