YouTube owner Google Inc. announced a new plan to cut down on copyright infringement last Monday.

Beginning this fall, media companies may need to provide YouTube with original videos so YouTube can use a new software program to detect restricted material, resulting in the elimination of the clip.

Sophomore undecided major Crystal Arevalo believes YouTube’s new plan to eliminate copyrighted material will affect the way people use the video-sharing site.

“I think that getting rid of all copyright material is a terrible idea,” Arevalo said. “Especially music videos, because having them available on YouTube helps bands expand their audience and get their music heard.”

If the new plan is successful, Arevalo said she will not watch videos on YouTube half as much as she does now.

Junior history major Tony Garcia believes the new plan will not change the way he, or other people for that matter, use the Web site.

“[YouTube] has been getting rid of television shows for a long time, so [the new plan] really wouldn’t affect much,” Garcia said. “We still have watchtvsitcoms.com and other sites like that.”

Though junior English major Alexander Arens said he will be slightly affected by the change, he believes that if YouTube fails to keep television shows available, people will move to other sites.

Several options remain for media companies fighting YouTube. While companies ask Google to delete posts containing their material, they can also ask that ads be placed in the clips for further promotion.

Arevalo said she supports ad placement in videos if it keeps them on the Web site. Although YouTube does not place ads in its videos, Arens believes it maybe a worthwhile option.

“Ads would be a good compromise, generate good revenue for the companies, and allow users to keep viewing the same content they’ve grown accustomed to,” Arens said.

Currently, YouTube only deletes copyrighted material when reported by users or encountered by YouTube staff.

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