Microsoft to disallow use of footage of their games in for-profit enterprises?

10/11/12 4:00pm

tl;dr

Microsoft says people that use footage from its video games to make content are no longer allowed to make a profit from it?

Editor's Note: It appears that this will only affect sites that have built a business around capturing and streaming Microsoft Studio's game footage. Partners with Microsoft appear to be unaffected and it shouldn't hurt anyone that isn't monetizing the content. Jessica Shea, community manager at Halo 4 developer 343 Industries had this to say about Microsoft's position.

"The majority of everything the community makes currently is fine, as long as they are not basically running a big Halo-based business or using Halo as if the IP was its own property."

I admit, I'm not sure what to make of this. In Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules page it seems to indicate that using any footage from a Microsoft Studios game (basically any game where Microsoft owns the copyright), Microsoft says you can make content with it and post it on a site with advertising as long as you don't make a profit from said advertising or content. Am I totally misreading this? Please say I am.

If this is the case...where does that leave review sites when it comes to reviewing Microsoft Studios' content? Surely there's something in there about that...

Will ScrewAttack be affected? 'Cause that would SUCK.

» Source: http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/new-microsoft-rule-bans-machinima-directors-from-using-their-games/
» Tagged In: #advertising, #community showcase, #Microsoft, #Red Versus Blue, #Screwattack, #Xbox, #YouTube

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g1 DISCUSSIONS

Hozama

October 11, 2012 - 4:52pm

I'm of the opinion that if someone makes any money of someone elses designs, characters or worlds, they should be stopped unless they recieve specific permission from the original designer. It doesn't matter if how you use it is unique, you're still basing your work off someone elses, and using their designs to premote your work. Nintendo has said before that they enjoy the parodies and skits and even little flash games, as long as they're being made for fun and not profit.

Sam Nail

October 11, 2012 - 11:13pm

so you don't enjoy red vs blue?

Hozama

October 12, 2012 - 11:56am

I do enjoy Red vs Blue, I'm not dumb enough to say otherwise. What I'm saying is that the people doing it shouldn't recieve money for it. It's a fan product first and formost,using a Microsoft IP, some that they don't own. How can you make money off something someone else owns? I can't make money off a buisness my neighbour runs just because I like their product, can I? If you remix a song, you can't sell it without owner permission. Books, music, movies and video games, it doesn't matter, you can't lawfully make money off someone elses creations that they have a copyright on without permission.

Of course, I'm not ultimatly the one who decides what they'll allow or not.