Orange County – Google has finally caved into the mounting pressure from Congress and the entertainment industry to be more proactive in the war against online copyright infringement.  It has released new copyright policies to YouTube users requiring those who’ve used unauthorized copyrighted materials in their videos to view a copyright tutorial and pass a test before they can continue using the service.

In the past, the world‘s most widely-used web-based search engine has faced much criticism over its alleged lack of intellectual property enforcement.  Just last week, lawmakers had harsh words for Google after it failed to crack down on websites that were illegally promoting copyrighted works and counterfeit goods, claiming that Google has procrastinated on the issue.

Under the new copyright policies, Google hopes to better educate YouTube users on copyright rules and the consequences of infringing on unauthorized works such as movies and music.  Users will be able to view a copyright tutorial video and will have access to an improved copyright help center.

In a statement a YouTube spokesperson said, “We want to help our users operate within the law and within the guidelines.  Requiring that people complete copyright school after receiving a copyright notification means they’ll understand why their actions were wrong, come away with a better understanding of the law, and be more likely to comply with YouTube’s guidelines in the future.”