MSFS 2020 Videos On Youtube - Is It Legal?

[HiFlyer 9,359]

8 hours ago, Gregg_Seipp said:

If it's not legal then there are thousands of other games on youtube and twitch that would also be illegal.  And it's free advertising for them too.

One may also remember that many companies, including Microsoft, give away not only free games but also free equipment to Youtubers to have them showcase products.

In fact, I remember quite a bit of angst here regarding the unworthiness of numerous Youtube influencers being given tons of expensive equipment when MSFS was on short final.... 🛬

[Matthew Kane 1,343]

Either the gaming companies can pay Advertisers to do advertising for them , or YouTubers can get paid by YouTube to do advertising for gaming companies without them getting involved. Seems to me that this is a great scenario for the gaming companies

Majority of my Steam purchases are researched on these sort of channels before I buy

[virtuali 4,421]

32 minutes ago, HiFlyer said:

One may also remember that many companies, including Microsoft, give away not only free games but also free equipment to Youtubers to have them showcase products.

Considering how much money Microsoft saved JUST with two E3 shows canceled due to the pandemic, that expense was really nothing. 

Paying Youtubers or YouTube ads, is one of the cheapset advertising there is.

[Antipodeslonghaul 79]

For some reason this reminds me of filming the Eiffel Tower at night. Apparently it's legal, but even if you're in a public space and you film it and make money with your footage, it's some type of copyright infringement. You need to get prior permission.

But as far as simming goes, I think you can screen record almost anything, other than it might be slander if you purposely portray some product unfairly in a bad light.

Mainly I'm amazed that the top flight sim videos on Youtube get so few views and subscribers compared to some of the other seemingly meaningless stuff on that platform, like somebody throwing rocks into a pond.

[goates 576]

While I do think it is very shortsighted for a video game company to try to shut down people streaming video from games on Twitch or YouTube, the reality is, copyrights laws do technically give them the right to do so in some jurisdictions. It has certainly been a problem with other game publishers and developers over the years. Although I think a big part of that is the game company wanting a cut of any profits generated, more than wanting to outright stop it.

https://venturebeat.com/2017/05/27/the-emerging-legal-battle-over-video-game-streaming-rights/

[birdguy 3,943]

It's been so long go that I forgot the details.  But at one time when MS was the only game in town one of the airlines (TWA or AA???) forbid the use of it's livery on simulator airliners.  Do any of you remember that?

Noel.

[fppilot 4,371]

45 minutes ago, birdguy said:

It's been so long go that I forgot the details.  But at one time when MS was the only game in town one of the airlines (TWA or AA???) forbid the use of it's livery on simulator airliners.  Do any of you remember that?

Noel.

I recall something like that, but it has become quite immaterial now, has it not?  Neither is even representative of what they each were in the day....

[GSalden 4,657]

13 hours ago, Rob_Ainscough said:

There is nothing in the MSFS EULA that prohibits it.

What's with those cloud reflections on water and weird small cloud puffs Gerard?  🙂 

Cheers, Rob.

Welcome to the wonderful world of popcorn clouds when there are clear skies ….. 🧐

Edited March 31, 2022 by GSalden

[n4gix 4,947]

10 hours ago, birdguy said:

It's been so long go that I forgot the details.  But at one time when MS was the only game in town one of the airlines (TWA or AA???) forbid the use of it's livery on simulator airliners.  Do any of you remember that?

Noel.

Peter Tishma and American Airlines. 

 

[birdguy 3,943]

1 hour ago, n4gix said:

Peter Tishma and American Airlines. 

Right you are Fr Bill.  Peter Tishma and American Airlines.  That was so long ago.  Two of my best internet friends from those days are gone now.  Jesse Callahan and Cpt Bala.  Both have been guests in my home.  Capt Bala and I stayed up all night the weekend he was here talking about his experience flying MIG when h was in the Indian Air Force and the UFO encounter he had over the Assma Vally.

Noel

[Concodroid 84]

I know that game devs have the right to remove gameplay from youtube - some companies, famously nintendo, fiercely pursue legal action (DMCA takedowns) on their soundtracks (for example).

But gameplay is fine - it's news if a company decides to take action against a youtuber. I can't remember it ever happening, and the reason is - like other said here - it's free advertising. It doesn't matter how much gameplay it is - by virtue of being an interactive medium, games aren't like video, you get different enjoyment out of playing it versus watching it. Especially since watching games being played makes you now want to play it.

Even games that specifically request to not record gameplay - like Getting Over It, for example - don't pursue legal action, as it would a) result in less popularity and b) result in an absolute PR nightmare.

Tl:dr: Can they? Yes. Will they? No.