Youtube Starting To Ban "Let's Play" And Game Review Videos

[DrRipley]

Youtube has been relatively cool for a long time now, from my perspective, but some of their recent changes is really starting to create quite the kerfuffle among its users. First, there was the change of Youtube comments which angered a lot of people, both content creators and users alike, since they are basically forcing everyone to have a Google+ account to participate. Then just a few days ago, their automated copyright checker has started to flag a lot of videos that seemed to affect video game uploads the most, specifically, LetsPlay and game review videos. The good part is that some game companies are seemingly taking notice and are even seemingly rushing to protect their fans' interests. Here is an article that contains more details about the situation:

YouTube’s copyright cops are coming after gamers’ ‘Let’s Play’ videos

Under constant pressure and foot-stamping from copyright holders, Google has implemented a new system within YouTube that automatically flags videos that may contain copyrighted material. The trouble, as Computer and Video Games reports, is that the new system is flagging a lot of gamers’ “Let’s Play” videos where they give multipart walkthroughs of popular video games overlapped with their own commentary. While such videos may technically violate gaming companies’ intellectual property rights, game publishers have long tolerated and even encouraged them since they’re great ways to promote games online.

The good news for gamers who have had their videos flagged is that the gaming industry has their back. Computer and Video Games notes that big-name developers Ubisoft, Capcom, Blizzard and Deep Silver have all pledged to help their fans resolve their issues with YouTube’s auto-flag algorithms and are encouraging them to contest all claims made against their videos so the companies can approve them. All the same, gamers can’t be happy that their videos are constantly getting flagged for takedown and gaming companies can’t be looking forward to going through thousands of videos each week to get them approved for YouTube viewing.

Also see Youtube's response in defense of their new policies:

Tidal Wave Of YouTube Copyright Claims Underway

Update: YouTube has responded to our request for comment, defending the recent wave of copyright claims. The company explains the event as having to do with a change to multi-channel networks (MCN).

"Nothing illustrates the incredible growth and evolution of YouTube better than the enterprise class of businesses being built on the platform today," a YouTube spokesperson told Game Informer via email. "As these networks grow, we’re making product and policy updates that will help them operate at scale. We are also rolling out tools that will provide more transparency for creators and networks alike. This is part of our commitment to ensure that all enterprise partners can continue to thrive and be successful on YouTube."

Furthermore, the spokesperson shared details about how these new copyright claims were issued. "We recently enabled Content ID scanning on channels identified as affiliates of MCNs," the representative told us. "This has resulted in new copyright claims for some users, based on policies set by the relevant content owners. As ever, channel owners can easily dispute Content ID claims if they believe those claims are invalid."

What do you guys think of this fiasco?

 

[Haze]

I think it's terrible. I basically have to agree with everything Angry Joe had to say about this issue:

 

[lucas5987]

Honestly, its going to be devastating for a huge percentage of youtubers. I know SOOO many people that actually make a living off of doing lets plays and game reviews, and they are going to be out of a job. Youtube doesn't realize that they are destroying peoples full time jobs. Its awful.

 

[DrRipley]

I think it's terrible. I basically have to agree with everything Angry Joe had to say about this issue:

I've had some time to learn more about this and think it over, and I think I'd have to respectfully disagree. I like AJ, but he is a little too self-important most of the time and on that video he kind of exposes himself (IMO) as self entitled and self righteous like Youtube would never have made it big without his videos.

Risks come with every job, especially if you're self employed (which is personal choice BTW). If he were smart like the others, he would have used the income that he was fortunate enough to get thus far to invest in a backup. People lose their jobs all the time and businesses fail and get screwed over all the time too, it's the exact risk and reward ratio that attracts people to self-employment and entrepreneurship in the first place. If he wanted stability, he should have become an accountant or a lawyer.

Youtube is a private company which means to me that they can and should be able to do so as they please within the realm of legality. I mean, take this forum for example. I can come in waving my legal rights all I want on what I can or can't post, it still wouldn't matter because the owners can and should be able to ban me for whatever reason they see fit no matter how unfair because it is their forum, not mine - no matter how long I've been a member or how much traffic and ad revenue my posts have generated for the site.

Additionally, the copyright bot is apparently not a new thing and it's been targeting film reviewers years before this happened, but those people just moved on and built their own websites instead.

Don't get me wrong, I hate that this is happening too, but I think it is as it should be. Youtube should have the right to protect itself (and its users) from future litigation. This is just my opinion, but it's not set in stone. I'd love to hear some arguments that might make me see otherwise if there is something I am missing.

Here are some videos that expound on what I've mentioned, but I've pretty much summed it up if you don't feel like spending 20 minutes watching each. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts on these points.

[video=youtube_share;qFJAsWmgfxo]http://youtu.be/qFJAsWmgfxo[/video]

 

[daimashin]

I don't see what's the big deal with using game footages to do reviews. The reviewers bought the game, so they are using their own gameplay footage for reviews. Same goes with Let's Play videos, what is shown is individually unique and does not appear anywhere else so there's no violation. The stupidest of this whole thing is that these claims are not made by game publishers or developers, they are made for those soundtrack companies. Youtube is digging their own grave on this.

 

[Derri]

This indeed is troubling news for all content creators alike.

 

[DrRipley]

I don't see what's the big deal with using game footages to do reviews. The reviewers bought the game, so they are using their own gameplay footage for reviews. Same goes with Let's Play videos, what is shown is individually unique and does not appear anywhere else so there's no violation. The stupidest of this whole thing is that these claims are not made by game publishers or developers, they are made for those soundtrack companies. Youtube is digging their own grave on this.

I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not too sure, but I think when you buy a game you only have the license to play it but technically you still don't own it nor have the right to broadcast it for monetary gain. You are right though, game companies seem to like that their games are being uploaded and talked about and most of the claims look illegitimate, but like the guy in the first video I shared said / theorized, maybe Youtube just doesn't want to take the chance, meaning just because game companies are playing it cool now, doesn't mean they will always stay that way.

 

[mauricioq]

I don't really know how can they benefit from this? This video were completely fine, and only provided free advertising...
They're are ruining youtube... I won't be surprised if another video hosting website becomes the "leader".

 

[SpaceTiger]

Apparently they're working with some of the people with content pulled since a couple of them actually got permission from companies.

 

[SS42A]

I've watched these "Let's Play" videos from several games and so far it's a form of fair use where players show off or display their gaming skills on these particular games. These gamers' videos have a profound effect on viewers who are very much interested in these games, from buying or renting to playing. Once more and more people buy the game, it will generate revenue for the gaming companies. On that point I would concur with Angry Joe. However, I have likewise heard the dissent of TheArchfiend, and he makes valid counter-arguments to Angry Joe's rant. Deflecting the issue of the Content ID system as a smokescreen, the real issue is Angry Joe's lost income as stated by TheArchfiend. Be that as it may, the fact remains that YouTube was within its rights to protect itself from any form of litigation. YouTube already had issues with Viacom, so it's not surprising that these kinds of videos would be next. We may not like what YouTube is doing, but it's their call amd their website and no one can tell them how to run their business.

 

[jbepp]

I hate that this is happening, but not for the people that everybody knows, like Angry Joe or PewDiePie, but for people with small channels that dedicate to play older video games or games that are not so well-known. Angry Joe should stop this stupid fight and realize that it was his fault because he was relying on a private company and think that something like this wasn't possible. If I were him I would just buy my own server and host my own videos.

 

[MorgUK]

So many people use YouTube for games, it's ridiculous that YouTube is doing this. Ah well, more viewers for Twitch. When a website tries to control it's users too much it opens up space for a competitor. We're all waiting..