Hot Topic Updated Monetization Terms for YouTube Partner Program

[LemonLorraine]

Logged on today and got a blue note at the top saying the Monetization Terms will change on June 15th. What exactly are the changes?? Does this mean based on subs you get more? I don't get the legal jargon.

YouTube Partner Program Terms

Together with the YouTube Terms of Service and the YouTube Partner Program Policies (each of which may be updated from time to time and are incorporated herein by reference), the following YouTube Partner Program Terms apply to your participation in the YouTube Partner Program (the "Terms"). Please read the Terms carefully. If you do not understand or accept any part of these Terms, you should not upload Content for monetization on YouTube.

Monetization Revenues. YouTube will pay you as follows:

Advertising Revenues. YouTube will pay you 55% of net revenues recognized by YouTube from ads displayed or streamed by YouTube or an authorized third party on your Content watch pages or in or on the YouTube video player in conjunction with the streaming of your Content. YouTube is not obligated to display any advertisements alongside your videos and may determine the type and format of ads available on the YouTube Service. For clarity, YouTube reserves the right to retain all other revenues derived from the YouTube service, including any revenues relating to ads on search result pages.

Subscription Revenues. YouTube will pay you 55% of the total net revenues recognized by YouTube from subscription fees that are attributable to the monthly views or watchtime of your Content as a percentage of the monthly views or watchtime of all or a subset of participating content in the relevant subscription offering (as determined by YouTube). If your Content is included in and viewed by a user in multiple subscription offerings, YouTube will pay you based on the subscription offering with the highest amount of net revenues recognized by YouTube, as calculated by YouTube.

Payment Account Requirement. In order to earn or receive payment of any revenues hereunder, you must at all times have an active AdSense account associated with your YouTube user account(s) (or such other payment method as required by YouTube). YouTube does not owe you for any revenues that may be associated with your Content during any period in which you do not have a valid method of payment.

Payment Terms, Limitations and Taxes. YouTube will pay you for any revenues due within approximately sixty (60) days after the end of any calendar month, so long as your earned balance is at least US $100 (or its equivalent in local currency) at the time payment is due. You are not entitled to earn or receive any revenues in connection with your Content in any of the following circumstances: (a) if one or more third parties claim rights to certain elements of your Content except in cases where YouTube’s policies or systems support sharing a portion of the revenues with you, as determined by YouTube; (b) if monetization is disabled on your Content by either you or YouTube; or (c) your participation in the YouTube Partner Program is suspended or terminated pursuant to Section 4 below. YouTube will use reasonable efforts to notify you if any of these circumstances should occur.

Termination. Either party may terminate these Terms for convenience with 30 days prior written notice to the other (including via electronic means). YouTube may either suspend or terminate your participation in the YouTube Partner Program immediately upon written notice (including via electronic means) if YouTube reasonably determines or suspects that you have violated these Terms. For clarity, in the event of any termination of these Terms the YouTube Terms of Service will survive and continue to apply to your use of the YouTube service.

Governing Law. The governing law and dispute resolution provisions of the YouTube Terms of Service will also apply to these Terms.

Miscellaneous. Capitalized terms used but not defined in these Terms will have the meanings given to such terms in the YouTube Terms of Service. These Terms replace all previous or current agreements between you and YouTube relating to the YouTube Partner Program, including any prior monetization agreements that are in effect between you and YouTube as of the effective date. Except as modified by these Terms, the YouTube Terms of Service remain in full force and effect. YouTube’s right to modify or revise the Terms of Service (as described in the YouTube Terms of Service) will also apply to these Terms.

 

[Fezstar]

The real change I can see there is a 5% reduction in the amount of revenue content creators earn!

 

[iBreakMatter]

I always wish the net revenue is higher but I suppose this is fine

 

[Wreckless Eating]

There's no real change except that YouTube has specified an exact number (55% going to you) that was widely known but previously unpublished. They also spell out the terms of the subscription model and how the money is distributed.

 

[PinProject]

Interesting, finally nice to see the percentage in writing. Other than that I didn't notice any new changes.

 

[JustSomeGermanDude]

They also spell out the terms of the subscription model and how the money is distributed.

Well, that's the big change here. That the rumoured paid ad-free subs are coming between June 15th and the end of the year and how the money gets distributed.

FAQs:
Updated YouTube Partner Terms FAQs
What does this mean for my ad-supported business?
The same ad-supported, free version of YouTube we all know and love won’t be going anywhere – and is a core focus of our company. All of your videos will continue to be there. A paid offering will simply give your fans new features that they don’t have today and you an additional source of revenue.


Why is YouTube considering launching new paid offerings?
Your fans want choices. Not only do they want to watch what they want, whenever they want, anywhere and on any device they choose, they want YouTube features built specifically with their needs in mind. Over the past several months, we’ve taken bold new steps to bring these experiences to life, launching the new YouTube Kids app and YouTube Music Key Beta. By creating new paid offerings, we’re taking another big step in favour of choice and we’ll generate a new source of revenue that will supplement your growing advertising revenue.


Which future offerings do these terms cover?
These terms allow you to share revenues from any future YouTube paid offering. This year we plan on offering fans an ad-free version of YouTube for a monthly fee. We will share more details when we get closer to launch.


When will YouTube paid offerings launch?
Please stay tuned! We have not yet announced the dates for new paid offerings but are working hard on exciting new developments for 2015.


You mentioned ad-free. Which ads are you referring to?
When we refer to an ads-free experience we are specifically referring to YouTube advertising formats. There are no changes to any other agreements that you may have in place, which may include things like product placements or branded advertising within your videos.


Are you requiring partners to upload a certain amount of content or guarantee exclusivity?
There are no minimum content requirements or exclusive arrangements with YouTube in connection with this agreement unless otherwise agreed upon with YouTube.


Can I continue to restrict my videos to certain geographies?
Yes, partners who already geo-restrict their videos can continue to do so under paid offerings. The restrictions that you place on your ad-supported videos will apply to the same videos under a paid offering.


What happens if I do not want to participate in new paid offerings?
If you choose not to participate in our new paid offerings, you can change your video settings to private to keep videos hosted on YouTube. Though you can always choose whether to host any or all of your videos on YouTube, we strongly believe that any fan who's willing to pay for a feature like an ads-free experience on YouTube deserves access to the exact same content that exists on the ad-supported site. A paid YouTube offering will give fans a compelling new way to enjoy their favourite content uninterrupted while offering partners a new way to earn revenue from their videos, benefits we feel are overwhelmingly positive for everyone.

What happens if I don’t want to monetise my videos under the new paid offerings?
As always, YouTube partners have the choice to disable monetisation for an existing or newly uploaded video, or entire channel, in the Creator Studio at any time. Partners can decide not to earn revenues, but videos will appear in both YouTube's paid and non-paid offerings.

 

[PinProject]

Okay whoa! So when they launch the paid version which removes all ads how are we supposed to make money??

 

[JustSomeGermanDude]

Okay whoa! So when they launch the paid version which removes all ads how are we supposed to make money??

Like it says in the original post:
"Subscription Revenues. YouTube will pay you 55% of the total net revenues recognized by YouTube from subscription fees that are attributable to the monthly views or watchtime of your Content as a percentage of the monthly views or watchtime of all or a subset of participating content in the relevant subscription offering (as determined by YouTube). If your Content is included in and viewed by a user in multiple subscription offerings, YouTube will pay you based on the subscription offering with the highest amount of net revenues recognized by YouTube, as calculated by YouTube."

 

[HeatherWells]

Just saw a notice on my dashboard.
What exactly has changed? From what I am reading, it looks like youtube/ google will do a 55 - 45 split now rather than the 60 - 40? Is that basically the full info. I didn't fully comprehend the subscription revenue portion
I am pretty swamped at the moment with closing down my online shop.. so my brain is a bit tired.
Was there any big differences from the old agreement? I am fine with the change in the revenue split. Not complaining at all, just trying to understand.

How if at all do you think this will affect your channel?

 

[Fezstar]

Ya so they're lowering the share to 55/45 and also adding a feature wherein viewers can pay a subscription fee to not have advertisements shown on the videos, which means more money for you!