Warner threatens to pull stars like Clapton from YouTube

Anyone used to logging on to YouTube to watch Eric Clapton (pictured) thumping out Cocaine, or Madonna contorting her 50-year-old frame in a top hat and tails on her latest Sticky and Sweet tour, are soon to be disappointed. A legal row between Google and Warner music means that the label is pulling material by their artists off the video sharing site.

The two companies had reached an uneasy ceasefire two years ago, but a fresh dispute has broken out over the fees that YouTube is prepared to pay when music videos are watched. "We simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide," said a Warner spokesman.

YouTube was created by two Silicon Valley 20-somethings, Chad Hurley and Steve Chan, in 2005. Now owned by Google, it has become a hugely popular sharing site, but one which continues to be the focus of rows over royalty fees. Viacom, the owner of MTV and Comedy Central channels, is suing the company for more than $1bn, claiming it is responsible for more than 1.5 billion copyright infringements.

A YouTube blog admitted over the weekend: "Sometimes, if we can't reach acceptable business terms, we must part ways with successful partners."

Other artists from the Warner stable whose work will be removed from the site include James Blunt, Led Zepplin, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Grateful Dead.