YouTube, the largest online video-sharing website, has announced that it will be conducting an experimental run of its new video identification technology that will prevent users from uploading copyright videos on the website.
YouTube said that the technology has been developed by owner Google, and will hopefully identify videos that have been uploaded without the copyright holder's permission. The technology records some of the unique attributes of the videos when a user, who is the copyright holder of the video, requests YouTube to remove it from the website.
This prevents other users from uploading the same video, since YouTube will be comparing each video with the recorded attribute. Copyright holders can also exercise the option of allowing the video to run on the website by entering into a revenue-sharing deal with YouTube.
YouTube has been riddled with copyright problems by a number of media companies. The Google-owned website has been dragged to the courts by Viacom for allegedly allowing the circulation of the media company's videos on its website without prior permission. Viacom is demanding $1 billion in damages.
The English Premier League has also filed a copyright lawsuit against the website, in which it alleges that YouTube allowed users to upload videos of matches even though it knew that it would be against copyright laws.
YouTube has denied all allegations, but added that it is taking steps to stop users from uploading copyright protected videos on the website. YouTube executive Chris Maxcy said that the fingerprinting technology will be tested some time next month and if it is a success, will be operational by the end of the year.
