Google Rolls Out YouTube Video Identification Video Fingerprinting to Nail Copyright Infringement on YouTube   - 2,403 Views,

Google’s YouTube has been the subject of several copyright violation lawsuits, including with giant Viacom due to, it is alleged, copyright infringing material being posted to YouTube.

By creating the YouTube Video Identification program, Google hopes to halt video copyright infringement in its tracks. “YouTube Video Identification will help copyright holders identify their works on YouTube,” announced YouTube. “We have worked with Google to develop one-of-a-kind technology that can recognize videos based on a variety of factors. As its Beta status indicates, our Video Identification is brand-new, cutting-edge stuff, so we will be constantly refining and improving it. Early tests with content companies have shown very promising results. As we scale and refine our system, YouTube Video Identification will be available to all kinds of copyright holders all over the world, whether they want their content to appear on YouTube or not.”

But in addition to allowing copyright holders to block infringing content, the YouTube Video Identification program also gives those copyright holders greater control in other areas. For example, once establishing that they are the copyright holder, they can permit YouTube to host a copy of the video material, and have YouTube display advertising along with the video clip - advertising which the copyright holder will get a share of.

Explains the YouTube site, “Copyright holders can choose what they want done with their videos: whether to block, promote, or even - if a copyright holder chooses to partner with us - create revenue from them, with minimal friction. YouTube Video ID will help carry out that choice.”