About 10 months after the anticipated roll out of a video ID filter, YouTube (GOOG) has launched a filtering tool called simply "Video Identification."
The new technology works in conjunction with content owners who provide copies of copyrighted video content so it can be compared with uploaded video on the site. It looks for matches of video with the provided files.
The general counsel for Viacom (VIA-B), Mike Fricklas, said concerning the video filter launch, "We are delighted that Google appears to be stepping up to its responsibility and ending the practice of infringement."
Google has been working with existing partners Time Warner (TWX) and Walt Disney (DIS) for six months to test the new tool.
Even though it's launched, the company did say it needs some more fine tuning.
On Viacom's part, they said they'll have to wait and see if the new tool will affect the current $1 billion lawsuit by them against Google and YouTube.
The whole question will probably come down to how much involvement a content provider will have to engage in with the site to protect their copyrighted material. If it takes care of the bulk of the content, most companies will probably be happy with letting things drop. If not, the lawsuits will continue until they are resolved.
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