YouTube has announced changes in the way its Content ID system works for copyrighted videos, which may draw mixed reactions from rightsholders. Google’s video site has rolled out three specific changes to the way Content ID works.

Rightsholders will like the promise of “improved matching quality” in YouTube’s system, which scans uploaded videos to identify those that may be infringing.

Details are thin on the ground about the improvements, beyond “better algorithms and a more comprehensive reference library” though.

The more significant changes focus on Content ID and copyright infringement claims. There’s a new appeals process that “gives eligible users a new choice when dealing with a rejected dispute. When the user files an appeal, a content owner has two options: release the claim or file a formal DMCA notification”.

Meanwhile, YouTube is also improving its algorithms to “identify potentially invalid claims” – for example, when a rightsholder’s content isn’t actually included in a video.

Overall, the developments are welcome, but we’re interested in the appearance of formal DMCA notifications in the process, given Google’s plans to downgrade sites in its search engine results if they receive lots of successful DMCA takedown requests.