Analysts say while such measures could allay concerns Google has about spending $US1.65 billion ($A2.2 billion) on the internet video site, but may kill off its massive appeal with consumers.
While YouTube is known as the place to find almost any kind of video clip, recent agreements with high-profile content creators require YouTube to deploy an audio-signature technology that can spot a low-quality copy of a licensed music video or other content.
YouTube would have to substitute an approved version of the clip or take the material down automatically.
Analysts say that stepped-up monitoring by entertainment companies raises the likelihood that YouTube fans won't find what they're used to getting -- and will go searching for the next online video rebel.
"There's very little that holds YouTube's audience to YouTube except the belief that whatever they want to see, there is a very good chance YouTube will have it," said Joe Laszlo, senior analyst with Jupiter Research.
"If the video migrates to other places, I fear the audience will too, so YouTube needs to be really careful about how it does this,"
he said.
YouTube offers a gold mine of clips depicting all manner of amateur hijinks and tonnes of unauthorised commercial videos.
Kevin Davis, a 16-year-old from Torrance, California, likes to peruse YouTube for music videos by R&B singer Chris Brown and rappers Lil Wayne and The Game.
"I find what I'm looking for most of the time," he said.
YouTube has licensing deals with CBS and three major recording companies -- Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The entertainment companies will get a cut of YouTube ad revenue each time someone views a video licensed by them.
YouTube stressed that it will not be filtering content itself.
Instead, the technology it is developing will allow copyright owners "to identify their content, locate it and then make a decision based on whether they want to remove it", said spokeswoman Julie Supan.
The new technology will be designed to scan a digital audio file, such as an MP3 or video, and compare the electronic "fingerprints" to databases of copyright material.
But copyrights can be tricky on sites like YouTube. Even a homemade video can run afoul of the law if it has a professional song playing in the background. Amateur concert footage and other video may be pulled from sites as a precaution simply because it is unclear who owns the rights.
"We're going to probably see a lot of instances like that," said Michael McGuire, a technology analyst for Gartner Inc. "It's going to be a constant game of cat and mouse."
YouTube did not provide further details on the technology, which it expects to roll out by the end of the year.