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Google has seemingly backed down in its fight with Hollywood over copyright violations on YouTube. But it has a new strategy for dealing with video producers who want to sign up to have their clips yanked from the service: red tape. The company which famously automated the buying of online ads can't seem to figure out how to streamline its video-identification service. Instead, it's asking people who want to stop YouTube from hosting their copyrighted clips to answer an eight-point email questionnaire, sign a series of legal documents, and undergo four separate pieces of training. No wonder Viacom is proceeding with its $1 billion lawsuit. YouTube's bureaucratic nightmare, after the jump.

Hi there,

Thank you for your interest in the YouTube Video Identification program. This email is in response to your completion of the Video Identification interest form following YouTube's public announcement on October 15, 2007. Our intent is to provide more information on the steps required to obtain access to the tool as well as collect more information from you that will help us best meet your needs.

Next Steps to Obtain Access to the Video Identification Tool:

1. Please reply to this email with additional information regarding your Video Identification needs. Your answers to all the questions that are listed below will help us to properly assess your application and identify the necessary technical information, legal documentation, account set-up, and training that you require:

- A more detailed description about you or your organization
- The nature of the content that you want to manage via the Video Identification tool
- The number of videos you want to manage via the tool
- Do you have rights to your content in certain countries only?
- How often will you be providing your content to YouTube? (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Whether you wish to block and track your content only, or also monetize it
- Whether you have an existing licensing arrangement with us
- What is your level of technical expertise? (not technical, somewhat technical, I have an IT department)

2. Once we have a better understanding of your requirements, you will need to sign the necessary legal documents.

- If you are interested in using the tool solely to block and track matching uploads, you will need to sign our Content ID & Management Agreement.
- If in addition to blocking or tracking, you want to license your content to appear on YouTube and do not currently have a licensing arrangement with us, you will also need to sign the Content License Agreement.

3. Prior to activating the tool, you will need to complete training listed below to ensure that you maximize the features of the tool:

-How to claim your content through the main YouTube.com website.
-Participation in an online demonstration of the YouTube Content Manger interface.
-Read the Content Manager Documentation and Best Practices.
-Certify you understand how to efficiently and appropriately manage your content.


Once you have signed the legal documentation and completed the training, you will then need to provide us with copies of your content so we can use this as reference files and begin to implement your policies for matching uploads.

Remember this is a beta launch of this program. We are committed to expanding participation in this program to everyone who has a need for it. However, while we are in beta we may not be able to accommodate everyone who is interested in using the tool immediately. Please be patient while we continue to process your request.

Thank you again for your interest in the Video Identification Program.