YouTube rolls out filtering tools

Video site YouTube is launching filtering tools to clamp down on the sharing of video without permission.

The tools, called Video Identification, will block copyright material from appearing and spreading on the site.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is currently fighting a billion-dollar legal battle with Viacom over the spread of pirated files.

The firm says it currently removes copyright works when it has been told of their existence on the website.

The new tools, which are being tested, also give copyright owners the chance to leave their video on the service and to sell advertising around the content.

Google and YouTube began working on the copyright protection technology six months ago and have partnered with Walt Disney and Time Warner in testing the tools.