Gamers Beware - YouTube Takedowns on "Let's Play" Videos

Written By Tamera H. Bennett

Guest Post by Gaming Lawyer Zachary Strebeck

Gamers beware - YouTube will take you down for "Let's Play" videos.  A flurry of activity occurred in early December as YouTube users posting “Let’s Play” videos, which generally feature recorded gameplay with running commentary by the user, were hit with Content ID takedown claims resulting in thousands of blocked videos.

To battle copyright infringing content on Youtube, YouTube’s Content ID system matches up content with the supposed copyright owner and then allows copyright holders to

  1. automatically block the third-party posted infringing content; or
  2. divert any ad revenue from the third-party posted video to the actual copyright owner.

According to reports, some takedown claims did not come from the actual copyright owner.  What's more interesting is YouTube activated this round of Content ID matches without the support of the game developers. So far, many game developers are united in allowing the "Let's Play" videos on YouTube.

 

Tamera H. Bennett

Tamera H. Bennett is a wife, mom, lawyer, mediator, blogger, podcaster, and legal writer. For two decades she’s helped clients protect what they create by practicing trademark, copyright and entertainment law in Texas and Tennessee.

Tamera has co-hosted more than 85 episodes of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast since 2009. And, she’s been honored to write for BILLBOARD magazine and the TEXAS LAWYER.

In the summer of 2015, Tamera backpacked 100 miles over 10 days with her son's Boy Scout Troop. Tamera walked her first half-marathon in 2012 and walked the Cowtown Half Marathon in February 2016 and February 2017 with a PR each time. You can visit Tamera’s blog at createprotect.com and follow her on Twitter @tamerabennett.

http://www.tbennettlaw.com
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