Nintendo’s Internet-friendly side continues to warm up, with a few qualifications.
YouTubers Will Get Cut of Ad Revenue From “Appropriate” Clips of Nintendo’s Games
The company confirms that it’s still splitting video makers’ ad revenue, but its policies are changing.
Nintendo / Mario Kart 8
The company said today it’s preparing an affiliate program that will let video creators on YouTube make money from videos that use clips of Nintendo games. Currently, Nintendo grants video permissions to YouTubers “under appropriate circumstances” and splits ad revenue with YouTube, according to a statement.
Nintendo declined to say what “appropriate circumstances” means, but promised to share more details about the changing policy soon.
The company courted controversy last year when it began claiming ad revenue on others’ videos, but it has not previously spelled out a general policy for online videos about its games. Gaming content is big on YouTube, with companies like Maker Studios and Rooster Teeth racking up millions of views for playthroughs, often called “Let’s Plays.”
Here’s the full statement:
Nintendo has been permitting the use of Nintendo copyrighted material in videos on YouTube under appropriate circumstances. Advertisements may accompany those videos, and in keeping with previous policy that revenue is shared between YouTube and Nintendo. In addition, for those who wish to use the material more proactively, we are preparing an affiliate program in which a portion of the advertising profit is given to the creator. Details about this affiliate program will be announced in the future.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
