MySpace.com said Monday that it is offering free software tools that will allow media companies to block the uploading of unauthorized video clips, expanding on an earlier program to block unauthorized music.

The Beverly Hills-based company said it has licensed audio fingerprinting technology which helps identify the digital audio signature in a video file. The software can then establish if the material is authorized to be shown on the popular networking site or if it is pirated and illegally being shown.

“Video filtering is about protecting artists and the work they create,” said MySpace.com Chief Executive and co-founder Chris DeWolfe in a statement.

Last year, MySpace implemented a similar filter to detect illegally uploaded music files and also offers a tool for copyright owners to request the removal of unauthorized content. The issue of illegally uploaded videos is a top concern for sites like MySpace.com, mainly due to the massive popularity of video sharing site YouTube, owned by rival Google Inc.

The move by MySpace.com comes a few days after Viacom Inc. ordered the removal of more than 100,000 copyright-protected clips from YouTube and criticized the Web site for not establishing effective ways of protecting material.

MySpace.com was purchased last year by News Corp.