YouTube's Video fingerprinting.

YouTube is to test a new video fingerprinting technology to address copyright concerns.The software will identify unique attributes in video clips and could be used to prevent copyrighted clips from being uploaded without permission.

Breach of copyright has been an ongoing issue for the Google-owned video sharing site. In March, media company Viacom launched a lawsuit against the company for $1bn (£507m).
The firm charged Google and YouTube with "massive intentional copyright infringement" for alleged unauthorised use of its clips.

It is also being sued by the English Premier League over alleged copyright infringement.
YouTube has denied these claims, but it has vowed to take a tough line on copyright violation.

One of these measures has been to research new technologies, and this latest video identification software has been developed by its parent company Google. By identifying a video clips' unique "fingerprint", the software would be able to spot copyrighted material.

The owner would then have the option of removing it, or it could leave it on the site in exchange for a share of the advertising revenue.