Hamburg's regional court in Germany today ruled that YouTube must use filters to prevent users from uploading music videos whose rights are held by GEMA, a German music-royalties collecting body.

GEMA, which represents more than 64,000 German composers, writers and musicians, took YouTube to court over 12 temporarily uploaded music videos for which no royalties were paid.

YouTube claimed that that it bears no legal responsibility for the uploaded content.

"Our primary goal has been fully achieved. YouTube has to take reasonable measures to protect our repertoire", said Dr. Harald Heker, Chief Executive Officer of GEMA.

It is not clear whether Google's Youtube will appeal.