• Reuters, Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:15 PM

YouTube on Wednesday announced that it will offer Web developers tools that will help them create their own YouTubes on other sites. The Google video unit is now providing access to its content library, its audience and its video hosting and streaming network. The move significantly expands upon the current means of distribution that involves copying and then embedding selected videos onto another Web page.

Allowing users to create their own YouTube means they can upload videos straight to YouTube from their site, as well as fetch video feeds, comments, responses or playlists from the company. The move parallels Yahoo's decision to open up Flickr to outside developers so that they could embed Flickr features in other sites.

Among other things, Web developers can customize their Flash video playing software and let users rate videos or add them to a favorites list embedded on their site. They could also, for example, create programs that let users publish videos directly from their mobile phones.

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