The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has recently set it’s sights on YouTube and Google Video. YouTube seems to be getting the brunt of the attacks as RIAA is now going after people who lip synch to copywrited songs or merely dance to a clip in the background. YouTube apparently is taken steps to prevent any further legal troubles, but those steps may prove to be too much for it’s users.

The first major change with YouTube’s service is that registration now requires your SSN, street address, and phone number. The new information is verified upon sign up and is stored in case of legal issues. YouTube representatives are saying that this new step will help hold copywrite violators more accountable.

Another new change is that all YouTube videos will now begin with a 10-15 second clip that discusses the problems with piracy and copywrite violation. These clips look to be similar to the ads that are cropping up in movie theaters and DVDs that talk about illegally downloading movies.

The last modification of note is that uploading and viewing YouTube movies will require downloading and installing DRM (Digital Rights Management) software. This software will not only be required to play YouTube videos, it will also prevent downloaded MP3s and movies from working properly on the installed computer. DRM software probably became most widely known with Sony’s rootkit disaster.

As expected, YouTube users are in quite an uproar over the proposed changes. Probably the most controversial is the required DRM as many computer users are very strongly against software that restricts their capabilities to use even legally downloaded movies, music, and software.

YouTube reps say that the measures proposed are necessary if they wish to be able to continue to provide their service for free and that further legal troubles with the RIAA would most likely put the company out of business.

Tags: RIAA, YouTube, Google Video, copywrite, piracy