(17 October 2007 3:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Internet giant Google has unveiled a test version of a much-awaited anti-piracy system for its video social networking site YouTube.

Media reports state that copyright holders, many furious over persistent bootlegging on Google’s video-sharing site, are being called to submit their content so it can be digitally 'fingerprinted' by the new proprietary YouTube system.

The process is designed to make a copyrighted video identifiable if it passes through YouTube again. Content owners will then be able to block a clip if a member of the public tries to post it on the site illegally.

YouTube product manager David King wrote in the company's official blog: "Video identification is the next step in a long list of content policies and tools for copyright owners to more easily identify their content and manage how it is made available on YouTube."

King has claimed that the system beings together several new and existing initiatives, such as the repeat-infringer policy which has been in place since the site's launch.