YouTube Misses Deadline for Anti- Piracy Tool

Popular and controversial video sharing site, YouTube, now owned by Google, is getting too hot to handle for the search giant, considering the number of copyright related lawsuits and warnings hurled at it.

The video sharing site had promised to develop an anti piracy tool before it was bought over by Google, but has failed to deliver a system to prevent piracy of copyrighted material on the portal.

As reported earlier, the 'advanced content identification and royalty reporting system' was the crux of the agreement between YouTube and Warner Music Group in September, before it was acquired by Google.

The YouTube press release, dated September 18, 2006 stated:

By the end of the year, professional content creators, including record labels, TV networks and movie studios, will have the opportunity to authorize the use of their content within the YouTube community by taking advantage of YouTube's new content identification and royalty reporting system.

In a complete turnaround now, a YouTube spokeswoman said the company had never promised general availability by the end of the year. YouTube representatives have not divulged any details as to when the content identification system would be made formally available, but said that the system is being tested and is "on track".

The delay and denial on YouTube's part could mean trouble for Google, which has been trying to negotiate partnerships with content providers such as media and entertainment companies.