A big point of contention following almost any new release is how the game’s developers and publishers will react to YouTube content creators uploading video footage of the game.
While footage being uploaded to the video sharing platform prior to a game’s release date can be justifiably removed by its creators, some companies also look to remove video footage uploaded by users either on or following its time of launch, and they can easily do so due to YouTube’s mixed-up copyright policies that essentially give an unfair amount of power to those looking to initiate a copyright strike.
Also See: The Witcher 3’s Performance Issues and How CD Projekt Red Pulled a Ubisoft But Remain Respected
To ease the potential worries of any YouTubers who may be concerned that they’ll one day see their The Witcher 3 videos be removed from the site, developers CD Projekt Red have released a statement confirming that videos of The Witcher 3 are fair game, as long as they aren’t hidden behind a paywall.
The statement reads:
“We encourage everyone to create videos using content from our games. We think it’s awesome you guys make all those fantastic walkthrough/playthrough/Let’s Play movies, clips showing how to unlock certain achievements and video reviews of our games. We love seeing them all out there and in fact love watching them ourselves, so please feel free to publish them on YouTube and other video sharing websites. Please remember that the use of our content in your videos has to be non-commercial, meaning you can’t charge users to view your work nor can you sell or license it to others in exchange for any kind of payment.
“You can, however, become a part of the YouTube partner program and monetize your videos with content from our games by participating in it or in similar partnership programs used by other video sharing sites.
“Other than that, all we have to say is: create, have fun and be awesome!”
While this may impact upon sites that place some of their videos behind paywalls as subscriber-only content, such as the popular gaming website Giant Bomb, this at least confirms that YouTube videos are safe from harm and people can continue uploading footage of their experiences with the game as they see fit.
Kudos, CD Projekt Red.
