The video sharing site's decision mirrors its decision last month to stop blocking premium music video content in the UK, after failing to agree royalty rates with PRS For Music.

YouTube's agreement with GEMA apparently ran out last Thursday and the two sides have been unable to agree a new deal, with YouTube EMEA director of video partnerships Patrick Walker telling Der Spiegel that GEMA's rates are 50 times higher than those demanded by PRS.

GEMA disagrees, however, claiming that ...