What companies should I avoid making gaming content on and why?

Elrenu

Official Completionist Seal of Approval
The Title says it all. I'm personally really picky about getting 3rd-Party Matches and Copyright Strikes, I think anyone would be, but it would seem a lot of companies don't agree with a lot of content and don't explain the reasoning.

For example, companies like Activision I really don't understand. I don't think they really have a policy, or at least not a straight forward one. Many Activision titles have had copyright problems, and it appears those problems may relate to specific missions in games and glitches. I don't think it's really stated anywhere what you can and can't post. And I'm afraid to email companies like them about it for lack of reply, or for a reply such as "Looking into it."

I shouldn't have to email them, it's a good idea but I feel it should be stated elsewhere to email them.
 
i recieved this reply from EA and i don't really understand if they allowing me to monetise or not from my gameplay without commentary

Code:
Greetings:

EA appreciates the passion that players have for our games, and we’re always excited to see the creativity that comes out of our community.  EA doesn’t object to fair uses of video footage or screen shots from publicly released versions of our games, including on YouTube channels which are commercialized.  We do reserve the right to address any inappropriate use of our content.  Additionally, because many of our games include content that is licensed or may otherwise have usage restrictions, and because of the large volume of inquiries we get from the community on videos, we aren’t able to grant specific approvals or respond to all follow up inquiries.  Thanks, and have fun! 


EA Permission Requests Team
 
i recieved this reply from EA and i don't really understand if they allowing me to monetise or not from my gameplay without commentary

Code:
Greetings:

EA appreciates the passion that players have for our games, and we’re always excited to see the creativity that comes out of our community.  EA doesn’t object to fair uses of video footage or screen shots from publicly released versions of our games, including on YouTube channels which are commercialized.  We do reserve the right to address any inappropriate use of our content.  Additionally, because many of our games include content that is licensed or may otherwise have usage restrictions, and because of the large volume of inquiries we get from the community on videos, we aren’t able to grant specific approvals or respond to all follow up inquiries.  Thanks, and have fun!


EA Permission Requests Team
Says they do
 
i recieved this reply from EA and i don't really understand if they allowing me to monetise or not from my gameplay without commentary

Code:
Greetings:

EA appreciates the passion that players have for our games, and we’re always excited to see the creativity that comes out of our community.  EA doesn’t object to fair uses of video footage or screen shots from publicly released versions of our games, including on YouTube channels which are commercialized.  We do reserve the right to address any inappropriate use of our content.  Additionally, because many of our games include content that is licensed or may otherwise have usage restrictions, and because of the large volume of inquiries we get from the community on videos, we aren’t able to grant specific approvals or respond to all follow up inquiries.  Thanks, and have fun!


EA Permission Requests Team
It says they do allow you to post content of fair use. You cannot upload the game and say it is your creation and get money for it. However, fair use allows you to review, remix, news reporting, scholarship, teaching, and research, (and YouTube says commentary as well). Let's Plays are covered about this. Although, you might not be a Let's Play channel, you could still upload a gameplay as a tutorial (under the teaching part of fair use). A commentary over gameplay is you just showing your reaction to the game (doesn't have to be vocal) and you commentating about a completely different subject, which falls under two categories, one more than the other. Though, that is about the video game itself. For example Grand Theft Auto has radio stations in the game and has only licensed the use to Rockstar to use in the game, and not any YouTube videos (especially monetized ones) that upload the game with the song in it. Just be careful.

If you Google "is let's play fair use" and click the link second from the top, which is iplsrutgers, then you should read it.
 
Activision are a bit odd, they have their policy up but it applies to Blizzard more than anything. I've never been able to find anything definitive on their CoD games. Nintendo are slowly, very, very slowly, starting to ease into the 21st century so I'd still stay away from them. SEGA are also a no go at the moment, there was a massive controversy with them which you might want to look up. Disney are a no go cause apparently anything you make they own (which is why I died a little when they bought the Star Wars IP), so if you do anything with their footage it may as well just be pure unedited gameplay footage with 0 effort put in. Warner Bros. is another 1 to stay away from, they like to put content IDs on nearly everything. I still have a full LP of Arkham Origins un-uploaded because of that xD Konami is another 1 to avoid, they only allow reviews to my knowledge but you can email them to see if that stance has changed.

There's a few lists that give you an idea:
http://www.alloyseven.com/videocreators/75-monetize-youtube
http://www.wholetsplay.com/wiki/doku.php

But you still have to email the publishers for that added safety net. Some publishers will also have an official policy on their website.
 
i recieved this reply from EA and i don't really understand if they allowing me to monetise or not from my gameplay without commentary/QUOTE]

Doesn't appear to say anything about Monetisa
Activision are a bit odd, they have their policy up but it applies to Blizzard more than anything. I've never been able to find anything definitive on their CoD games. Nintendo are slowly, very, very slowly, starting to ease into the 21st century so I'd still stay away from them. SEGA are also a no go at the moment, there was a massive controversy with them which you might want to look up. Disney are a no go cause apparently anything you make they own (which is why I died a little when they bought the Star Wars IP), so if you do anything with their footage it may as well just be pure unedited gameplay footage with 0 effort put in. Warner Bros. is another 1 to stay away from, they like to put content IDs on nearly everything. I still have a full LP of Arkham Origins un-uploaded because of that xD Konami is another 1 to avoid, they only allow reviews to my knowledge but you can email them to see if that stance has changed.

There's a few lists that give you an idea:



But you still have to email the publishers for that added safety net. Some publishers will also have an official policy on their website.

This is very helpful. I mentioned I wanted to avoid this in my Contra One-Off where I beat it without dying, but then it got content-matched for footage.

It's weird, I've stuck with Nintendo, Sega, and Konami for a while but I personally removed a lot of stuff so I could reboot, but I'm finding it hard getting comfortable with more recording with these rights. My other reason is my channel was supposed to be for Collab, I know Konami has stated to Email first, and I will. It would seem a lot of Indie developers enjoy the attention though. As they are small and develop the games without a publisher to screw them over.

I suppose I could get around this by not using YouTube, and instead live streaming such games on Twitch. Would that work? It doesn't sound like it would simply because it's the same sort of content.

I also suppose a Content match isn't the same as a flag on my account. Content matches pretty much just limit monetization and it's not like I plan on making money.
 
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Nintendo is the main company you shouldn't make a videos from it for NOW. They have issues with copyright and stuff. Better avoid it...
 
Activision are a bit odd, they have their policy up but it applies to Blizzard more than anything. I've never been able to find anything definitive on their CoD games. Nintendo are slowly, very, very slowly, starting to ease into the 21st century so I'd still stay away from them. SEGA are also a no go at the moment, there was a massive controversy with them which you might want to look up. Disney are a no go cause apparently anything you make they own (which is why I died a little when they bought the Star Wars IP), so if you do anything with their footage it may as well just be pure unedited gameplay footage with 0 effort put in. Warner Bros. is another 1 to stay away from, they like to put content IDs on nearly everything. I still have a full LP of Arkham Origins un-uploaded because of that xD Konami is another 1 to avoid, they only allow reviews to my knowledge but you can email them to see if that stance has changed.

There's a few lists that give you an idea:



But you still have to email the publishers for that added safety net. Some publishers will also have an official policy on their website.

I have a full playthrough of Batman Arkham Asylum, City and Origins and never got problems with Warner Bros.
 
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