Beverley Rouse

Music fans will no longer be able to watch their favourite videos on YouTube after Google blocked viewings during a dispute over licensing.

Google started to block UK viewers from watching "premium music videos" last night but said it would take several days until all professional music videos were covered by the restriction.

The internet giant described it as a "painful decision", which it knew would cause "significant disappointment" to users.

PRS for Music licenses Google to make music videos available to UK users on YouTube, but the firms are currently negotiating a new licensing deal.

The collection society, which issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of copyright holders, said it was shocked by Google's "drastic action", which it said would "punish" music lovers and songwriters.

It said Google wants to pay "significantly less than at present to the writers of the music" while Google said the deal it had been offered would result in it losing money every time a video was played.

A statement from Google said: "Our previous licence from PRS for Music has expired, and we've been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us."

Steve Porter, chief executive of PRS for Music, said: "We were shocked and disappointed to receive a call late this afternoon informing us of Google's drastic action, which we believe only punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent."

While negotiations continue, Google said it would be working "to create more ways to compensate musicians and other rights-holders on YouTube".