Updated below: A number of major media and tech companies are banding together to issues “guidelines” for combating the use of unauthorized online content, WSJ reports. The news comes a few days after Google (NSDQ: GOOG) finally unveiled its copyright protection filter for YouTube; Google considered taking part in discussions over copyright issues, but ultimately did not join the group. The members of this ad hoc consortium drafting the guidelines include CBS; Microsoft; NBC Universal; News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) through its Fox and MySpace divisions; Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) Co.; Viacom; and Dailymotion, according to the Journal’s unidentified source. In March, Viacom (NYSE: VIA) sued Google for $1 billion over copyright violations on YouTube.

Among the group’s demands: a call for purveyors of online video to use tools that will block any infringing material. As Google said in its announcement, its YouTube Video Identification system will let it ban accounts belonging to repeat violators, add a unique “hash” of every video removed for copyright violations and provide content owners with an electronic notification and takedown tool. But it added that the system, currently in beta, cannot prevent a user from posting illicit material. However, Google did say that once aware of a violation, it can take action against it within minutes. More to come.

-- Update: The official statement contains 15 points that offer variations on the theme of companies cooperating and monitoring sites for illegal content. Point number two is more specific. It calls for user-generated content providers to issue a warning about copyright infringement before someone uploads material. It also asks users to affirm that they are not knowingly sharing unauthorized content. Aside from that, in addition to the companies mentioned above, video site Veoh is also a member of the group and has signed on to the statement of principles. The group said it expects all members to have implemented the principles in some form by the end of the year.

-- FT: James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research, says it’s now clear why Google was so eager to unveil its anti-piracy tool this week – “because once an industry initiative is formed, Google will be forced to accept the common model.”

The report also says that Disney led the discussions, while Microsoft’s (NSDQ: MSFT) participation reflected efforts to build up its Soapbox video sharing site.

-- Reuters: Google’s YouTube YouTube Identification tool met with qualified approval from Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, speaking at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. He said the introduction of copyright violation filter represents an “positive evolution” in Google’s thinking. And despite the pending lawsuit between the two companies, Dauman said he expects Viacom will work with Google at some point in the future.

• YouTube Copyright Protection Tool Launches Finally; Initial Unauthorized Posting Still Possible