It looks like the “wild west” days of video sharing may be over.

YouTube as you know it is dead. The company plans to remove all videos that infringe on music industry copyrights, and is working with music companies to promote ad-supported distribution of music videos.

Now the music industry is going after other video sharing sites to either force them into similar deals, or shut them down.

Universal Music has announced that it’s suing two video-sharing websites in the US. The firm has accused both Grouper and Bolt of allowing “mass infringement” of copyright by letting users swap videos that feature unlicensed Universal music.

Universal wants damages of up to $150,000 for each video distributed on the websites without permission.

“There’s no question that people upload copyrighted content from time to time,” said Bolt CEO Aaron Cohen. “Occasionally we receive official notices to remove content and we do. “Cohen says that his site removes copyrighted material as soon as it is notified.

“Grouper and Bolt cannot reasonably expect to build their business on the backs of our content without permission,” said a Universal spokesman.

Universal Music claims that the sites have built their value through “use and exploitation of copyrighted material”.

Video Podcasting News, via BBC NEWS