YouTube follows the DMCA (and does ContentID or whatever). Google search probably doesn't get very many requests to remove links to YouTube.
This policy shouldn't have much impact at all on any large site that discourages copyright violations and responds promptly to DMCA takedowns, because it isn't worth bothering Google Search about that content.
I agree this is probably what's happening but I'm worried this might change in the future. Right now I think all that happens is that the link is removed from the search results but if the site itself is also penalized, I'm afraid content owners can now see the value of sending both a DMCA and copyright takedown notice simultaneously.
This policy shouldn't have much impact at all on any large site that discourages copyright violations and responds promptly to DMCA takedowns, because it isn't worth bothering Google Search about that content.