Content creation is already a tricky business for artists, streamers, videographers and so many more folks in the space. Online content creation has always been trapped in a very risky grey area when it came to how to make money especially, since so many laws surrounding IP rights and copyright come into play at once.
One of the best ways to avoid problems, assuming the platforms you’re using are stable, is to get permission for the content you’re making. This has not always been easy. When it comes to gaming content, like the ever-popular “let’s play” that continues to dominate gaming content online, there are some added hurdles. You can’t always reach out to every developer or publisher before covering a game. And sometimes, you can’t even get a clear answer. It’s best to try and find a friendly company that has a clear and concise set of guidelines for what you can and cannot do with their stuff when making videos or whatever.
With that in mind, it seems like Capcom is going for the clarification route now. The company has just announced a major overhaul of its content creation policy
The important bit for LPers is that Capcom says that “you may make walkthroughs, tutorials, Let’s Play, speedruns, reviews, reactions, instructionals, and other ‘commentary’ style videos using our game footage” as long as you abide by some rules.
Here are some of the basic things to keep in mind:
- Fan content may not be promoted as official Capcom content.
- Content creators must not spoil game elements or footage before a game’s release, and that includes breaking embargo.
- Content creators cannot share soundtracks of Capcom games apart from gameplay footage.
- Content creators cannot charge for exclusive access to content created using Capcom IP.
- Content creators may not reproduce any official Capcom footage, art or other properties for unlicensed redistribution.
- No direct footage of printed published materials like collector’s edition art books or other printer materials allowed.
- Hacks, cheats, DRM bypasses and other third-party programs are not permissible.
The company also asks content creators to refrain from using Capcom titles to create content that is illegal, racist, sexist, prejudicial to sexual orientation, sexually explicit, disparaging, promotes hate crimes, or is otherwise offensive. So that means the company is opening up the guidelines a bit, but reserving the right to go after offensive stuff. So that SFM project might be safe, depending on what you’re doing.
The Capcom content creation policy also exempts universal protection from bans by Capcom. So if you’re covering a game in an undeserved and blatantly incorrect or misinformed way, you might get blocked out by the publisher/developer. They stress that this will be often reserved for the worst offenders, so you shouldn’t be afraid as long as coverage is fair and honest.
Source: Capcom