YouTube Blocks Music Videos For UK Users

Posted March 10, 2009 at 05:32 PM · March 10, 2009 at 05:32 PM

YouTube Blocks Music Videos For UK Users

UK YouTube viewers will no longer be able to view copyrighted music videos on the site... for now

Google and the Performing Right Society (PRS) were unable to reach a new licensing agreement, so all UK YouTube viewers will lose access to premium music videos.

The head of the PRS, Steve Porter, is "Outraged... shocked and disappointed" by YouTube's decision, he said in a statement. Furthermore, the decision "punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent."

"PRS for Music is outraged on behalf of consumers and songwriters that Google has chosen to close down access to music videos on YouTube in the UK," a statement from PRS reads, mentioning Google's revenue is in the billions. "Google has told us they are taking this step because they wish to pay significantly less than at present to the writers of the music on which their service relies, despite the massive increase in YouTube viewing."

Both sides are currently engaged in a blame game, with the PRS saying YouTube is punishing users, and YouTube saying the PR was seeking more money than what was previously agreed upon.

"The costs are simply prohibitive for us -- under PRS's proposed terms, we would lose significant amounts of money with every playback," YouTube fired back in an official blog post.

The blanket ban on thousands of music videos for UK viewers is now in effect.

YouTube has been forced to deal with record labels and copyright holders as more and more people head to the web site to watch music videos and artist interviews. Many record labels and musicians have official accounts where they post music videos, exclusive interviews, and other content.

The Google-owned company and Universal are working together to create a new premium video music web site, with other companies also interested in working with YouTube.

YouTube in the UK, however, has had nothing but trouble, as the UK copyright holders have been reluctant to allow their content to be shared over the Internet. Pandora, a popular online radio site, tried to crack the British market, but eventually bowed out of the country in 2007. Even though it has agreement with EMI, Warner, Sony BMG and Universal, the PRS has control over the lyrics and music, so live or pre-recorded songs still cannot be played.