Games Companies That Allow YouTube/Streams

Google/YouTube’s ContentID scheme uses algorithms to match video content with registered, copyrighted content, such as film clips, music and game footage. They’ve recently put out a whole lot of copyright warnings on game footage, which is a problem for many people who earn money through streaming games or publishing Let’s Play videos. If you get a copyright notice on a video, it’s quite difficult to get a response from YouTube on which part of the video is allegedly infringing copyright.

Many games companies do not have the resources to take applications for the thousands of people who produce gameplay videos every day. To make things easier for everyone, games companies have started putting out notices stating the terms under which people can stream or publish videos and whether or not they can be monetised. Having these to hand is a useful way to get ContentID matches lifted from your YouTube channel.

[Note: Cram Gaming and have also been tracking this. I don’t know how frequently they are updated.]

Bossa Studios

“You can monetise the videos that you make from our games”

Ubisoft:

The full statement is here with key extracts below:

Using the guidelines below, please feel free to make videos (walkthroughs, Let’s Play, reviews, etc.) with Ubisoft game content and publish to your website, YouTube or similar digital services.

Specifically:

• Do not take assets from our games (e.g. voice, music, items) and distribute them separately.
• Unless approved by us, the use of our content in videos must be non-commercial.
• Do not charge users to view or access your videos.
• Do not sell or license your videos to others for a payment of any kind.
• Behave like a decent human being. Absolutely no racist, sexist, homophobic, or offensive content.
• Please keep your videos focused on our games, and away from overtly controversial topics.

Failure to abide by these content guidelines may result in Ubisoft taking action to have your video removed.

You are free to monetize your videos via the YouTube partner program and similar programs on other video sharing sites.

Maia

The full copyright notice is here. Extract below.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO USE FOOTAGE OF MAIA FROM ALPHA VERSIONS 0.27 ONWARDS FOR LIVE STREAMING, CRITICISM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, IN A NON COMMERCIAL MANNER.

WE ARE HAPPY FOR YOU TO MONETISE THIS CONTENT, HOWEVER IT MAY NOT BE CHARGED FOR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY (FOR INSTANCE PLACED BEHIND A PAY-WALL). YOU MAY NOT SELL OR LICENSE IT TO THIRD PARTIES.

Starbound

Full statement

Chucklefish LTD hereby grants permission for the use of in-game audio & video for “Let’s Play”, “Preview”, “Review” and/or “Commentary”-style videos on YouTube, including ad-supported channels/videos. The creator of the video may use in-game audio & video for as many videos as desired.

Please include a link to www.playstarbound.com OR any online store selling the title involved. Specific permission is required for any soundtrack use outside of captured gameplay.

Rockstar

I’ll update this list with more over the next few days. If you’re a developer who’s done this or you know of a published statement on monetising and publishing gameplay videos, post it in the comments below and I’ll add it to the list.