GTA V videos - legal by default, or licenses required?
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Guys, I need your help.
I'm seriously considering creating a small YouTube channel dedicated, in large part, to GTA-related content.
However, my question is - can I just keep uploading GTA footage, no limits, if I own the game?
Or do I need to buy or obtain some additional licenses to do that?
Is putting a "Grand Theft Auto V" tag in the YouTube's video editor "game" section enough? Or not?
Just to be clear - I intend to put just a game footage in my videos. No music, no TV shows or any of that whatsoever.
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This is Rockstar Games' policy on the matter: https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/200153756/Policy-on-posting-copyrighted-Rockstar-Games-material
Specifically it says:
Generally Take-Two Interactive does not object to fans using materials for non-commercial uses
Which means you can use the footage if it is for non-commercial uses. I don't know if "commercial" includes monetizing your videos, but I know that there are many YouTubers making money off of GTA V videos, and I have never heard of any special license they have to agree to.
TL;DR: No special license required, you're fine just uploading the videos as long as they are not only cutscenes, spoilers, in-game entertainment, or encouraging cheating.
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@Jitnaught said in GTA V videos - legal by default, or licenses required?:
This is Rockstar Games' policy on the matter: https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/200153756/Policy-on-posting-copyrighted-Rockstar-Games-material
Yes, that's what I found after some confusion. It would be counter-intuitive for R* and T2 to include an editor in the game and then penalize players for using it! But you know... One wants to be 100% sure.
From my understanding of this text, one can imply that non-commercial use is any use that is not aimed at monetizing or selling the content itself. Like game assets, save files etc.
If one puts adverts in their videos, then obviously they are making money from advertising space. Not even video as such...
